Vampire Knight

Innocence

A VK Fanfiction

Vampire Knight

Innocence

Night 22

Battle

The snow fell from the sky, slowly submerging the earth below in a beautiful blanket of white. In anyone's eyes the snow might have been a breath-taking sight but to Zero it was a bad omen. Yuuki had been hunted in the snow – twice. And the Kiryuu Family was murdered in snow. The once joyful and playful cold weather was now a sign of bad luck. But in honesty, Zero didn't know what else could go wrong…

He'd already abandoned Kira. Already separated himself from his now resurrected twin and decided to leave Cross Academy behind him. There was just one thing that he had to do. Well, three things. The first would be to cut ties with Yuuki. The second would be to sign over everything to the Hunters Association and the third would be to hunt down dear old Grandpa…

The first was now laid before him. Behind a wooden door. Alone in a room with another. Zero knocked loudly and waited for Yuuki to open the door. She opened it quickly and greeted him with a smile.

"Zero," she grinned. "I'm glad you're here! The Chairman just called and told me that Kira's heart got started again and that she's alive––"

"Kira is dead," he snapped quickly. His violet gaze drifted to Yuuki, "Kira isn't Kira and I want you to stay away from her."

"Zero? Why would the Chairman lie to me––," Yuuki stopped and her eyes fell down to the old duffle bag Zero had on his shoulder, "Zero, where are you going?"

"I'm going to the Association," Zero replied coolly, "And I don't know when I'm coming back. So I need to ask you something before I leave."

"Zero, you're scaring me," Yuuki replied but Zero grabbed her shoulders and forced her to look at him, "Zero, please."

"It won't be like last time, Yuuki. You won't be able to stop me this time," he said quickly. "So before I go, I need to know," he took a deep breath. It was good. It was finally going to happen, but not the way he wanted. "Was there ever a chance between you and me?"

Yuuki's kind brown eyes widened. Zero couldn't believe that she was surprised but that was how Yuuki's brain worked. Obvious things had to be made blatantly obvious to her. Yuuki's eyes fell down to her hands and she began trembling beneath his fingers.

"Will my answer make Zero stay?" Yuuki whispered in a broken voice. Zero shook his head and Yuuki sighed, "In the future there may be, Zero. In the future we can be together."

Zero squeezed his eyes shut, "Not in the near future. Yuuki," he took a deep breath. "I'm going home," her eyes snapped to his and he offered her a very small smile. "I've been away long enough but I have to go home. So there will be no future for us now. So I will go."

"What about Ichiru-kun? What about Kaito-kun? What about Kira-chan?" Yuuki cried, she clung to Zero's jacket but he slowly took her hands off of him and shook his head, "They don't matter to you anymore?"

"They matter to me but where I am going, there is no place for them," Zero hugged Yuuki tight to his chest, "And there is no place for you. So I have to go."

"But––"

"Kiryuu," Zero turned to see Kaname standing in the doorway with that hooded figure behind him from the park.

"It's you," Zero faced the man. He remembered how he'd helped them at the park while Kira was dying in their arms, and he also remembered him vanishing into thin air, "Kira didn't make it. So we don't need you."

"You don't need to lie to me kid," he held out his hand. "And the plans have changed. You are not going anywhere, but you are coming with me," the hooded figure stepped forward and pulled out a gun. "Even if I have to take you by force."

§Vampire Knight§

Innocence

It would be better to have disappeared…

To vanish into thin air…

I could have avoided this life completely like my siblings had I just gone and vanished after the first time I died but I came back and decided to be a hunter. And I never regretted that decision once until now because it cost me my twins and Kaito. How stupid. This power that was inside of me, that helped me resurrect the dead, had frightened off the very thing I had set out to find…I was alone now, all alone because of who I was. I didn't want to runaway anymore…I could quit being a hunter…

I can't do that.

I heard the door open and I frowned, glad that the infirmary had drawn my curtains so I could at least have some privacy staring out the window. When I heard the heavy footfalls I froze thinking Bakemono had returned. I was angry now, beyond frustrated because I couldn't stop running away if he continued to chase me.

I reached over onto the night stand beside me and grabbed a vase that had no flowers. I held it between my knees as I used every ounce of my strength to break the vase apart. The sharp glass cut into my skin and the water spilled onto my lap but at least I had a weapon.

I could tell it was Bakemono because his scent filled the air. I gripped my makeshift weapon tightly. Bakemono pulled the curtain back and I leapt off of my bed and tackled him to the ground, slashing the sharp glass as I did. I finally managed to stab it into his chest.

Bakemono stared back at me with wide eyes, his cuts bleeding all over his pale skin. I glared at him, "If you stop the bleeding now you'll survive but you know I can't kill you, Monster. But I won't let you use me anymore…I'm done with you. I have other monsters to kill."

I stood up quickly, still uneasy on my feet but faster than my chaser. I was in the empty corridor before I knew it, my shoulder slammed into the opposite wall. I ran down the hall and took the stairs two at a time. My knees buckled underneath me…

I crumbled to the ground, hitting my already sore body on the hard concrete. I took a deep breath, dragging the precious air into my lungs even though it hurt. I lifted my head only to see that the main foyer of the Hunters Association was completely empty. There was only the muted glow of the oil lamps. What time was it that this place was empty?

"Do you want to know how I found you, my Kira?"

I was on my feet before I could stop myself. I searched the darkness for the source of the voice that I knew belonged to Bakemono but I only saw shadows and darkness. I ran to the door and pulled it open…except it didn't open. The doors didn't even budge.

"It was easy to find you. When you came to register, a spy on the inside let it leak that you were here to find your precious Kiryuus. That is how Ramona found them and how I found you…it's always good to have a man on the inside…"

Suddenly there was a fire on the third floor. Giant flames erupted from the stone balconies and the heat hit me immediately. And descending down from the staircase like a demon from hell, Bakemono came to me, his face and clothes were stained with blood and bits of his flesh hung from his body. The sight was truly sickening.

He stood below and held out his arms, "There is no place to run, Kira. If you run, you'll die. But if you come with me, I can save you."

"I'd rather die," I hissed. I bolted to the right, through one of the many double doors that took you to one of the Association's many rooms. The fire spread to the rooms below and blocked off my path to the back door.

I passed through another door and I was suddenly tackled to the floor and thrown into a wall. I cursed and looked at the arm that was now wrapped around my throat. And I swear I saw––

No time for that! I threw my head back, knocking my head against my attacker's nose and was instantly released. I whirled around and came face-to-face with Takahiro Kiryuu, one of the Kiryuus I had brought back to life. He looked so much like Uncle Kiryuu and Zero and Ichiru, and the pain of being abandoned by my twins hit hard, just like Takahiro's punch to my cheek. He was strong, stronger than Zero and Ichiru. It was unexpected.

Takahiro grabbed my hair and pulled out a sword, a familiar looking sword. Kiryuu Senji's sword. My eyes darted to his, "I am the way I am because of a Pureblood. According to Zero, that makes me a Vampire."

Takahiro was completely expressionless as his spoke, his dark eyes showing that he had no heart or soul, "I am killing you, Sudikako, and draining you of your blood," he put the sword's blade close to my throat and now I was certain that I saw the Vampire Hunter's tattoo on his forearm, the exact same tattoo that Zero had on his, "Because I am a Vampire, too."

§Vampire Knight§

Innocence

Zero was thrown into the backseat of a car. His shoulder slammed against his twin's and the door was slammed and locked behind him. Zero sat up and watched as the hooded guy climbed into the front seat. Kaito was beside him in the passenger seat. He started the engine, shifted into first gear and drove off like a bat out of hell.

"Where are we going?!" Zero demanded angrily, he pulled himself forward, "Stop!"

"You listen to me because this is an order from the president of the Hunters Association!" the hooded figure yelled. He never looked at any of them, "Ramona is still hunting the descendants down but recently she made an attack against the Hunters Circle and the hunters and gave away that there was some corruption within the association. The last Kiryuu is planning on tearing the association apart, killing all the vampires and bringing the worst hunters back from the dead to start an organisation a new. As Saisho."

"So what do you want us to do?" Ichiru demanded, "We're not part of the Hunters Circle."

"The Hunters Circle will handle the Hunters Circle's business," the hooded figure replied, "Your mission to take Kira away from here. Far away. To where Saisho Kiryuu cannot get to her blood," he turned the corner. "You are to take her far away and disappear…"

"We're done with Kira," Kaito snapped back, but he never looked at the hooded figure.

"I can't allow that," he replied. He never justified his answer, but he did explain. "The Kiryuu Clan long ago was the best hunter clan around. They were almost impossible to defeat. They are strong and powerful and they hold a lot of influence for the Hunters. However, Saisho Kiryuu Takahiro holds too much influence and has a lot of hate in his heart…if he were to kill the Hunters Circle, you need to be safe so you can kill him."

"Why would we do that?" Zero asked.

"Because you are descendants of the Hunters Circle and if Ramona is successful in harvesting Kira's blood, then not only will you have to fight against your grandfather but your father as well. And he will have to die a second time," the hooded figure said slowly.

Ichiru froze and glanced at his twin. Zero wondered if he thought of his father coming back from the dead would be a reason to keep him alive. But bringing back all the bad hunters – and there were a lot of them – would most certainly kill Kira. And then they would come for them…

"Where is Kira?" Ichiru asked.

"The Hunters Association," the hooded man replied.

Zero sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. They would be hunted now and his father's friends would be on the front line. Kira would be drained and his father would return from the grave, but he would be his enemy…

"The Association's on fire!" Kaito suddenly yelled.

The car came to a hard stop and sure enough, the magnificent building before them was engulfed in flames. Hunters stood on the sidewalk staring up at the building, helpless while their headquarters burned down. The hooded man jumped out of the car and slammed the door behind him. The other hunters followed and stared at the building before them. Zero watched the hooded man as he weaved past the hunters to get to the front door. He pushed against the door but it didn't budge.

"Where is Kira?" Zero demanded, he turned to the hunters around, "Has anyone seen Kira?"

"The whole building has to be evacuated because of some breach. Bakemono went to get Kira. I haven't seen them come out yet," a hunter explained.

"Bakemono?" Ichiru asked. He turned to Zero, "Kira's still inside, Zero. We have to get her out!"

"How are we going to do that?!" Zero demanded. Then Zero remembered the back entrance. He grabbed his twin and dragged him to go around the building to the back. They could see flames in the windows but Zero knew that it was the easiest door to break down.

He drew his Bloody Rose and aimed the barrel of the gun at the lock of the door. He fired three, maybe four rounds and then threw his shoulder against the door. When the door flew open, all Zero could see was flames consuming everything the Hunters worked for.

Zero grabbed Ichiru's wrist, "Stay close," he drew the collar of his jacket up and ran through the flames, dodging the larger ones and weaving past burning and broken furniture.

Their boots crunched on some glass and that's when Zero actually looked at the ground and noticed that a lot of the furniture had been destroyed and consumed by flames. All evidence pointed out to a fight but Zero couldn't see anyone around. He hoped he'd smell blood but all he could smell was burning wood and cloth, it was messing up his senses. He tried to hear for Kira but the roar of the blames just hurt his ears. He held onto Ichiru tightly, determined to sift through the flames blindly until they could find Kira.

Suddenly, there was someone standing in the doorway to the main foyer, someone that mirrored Zero and Ichiru. And in his hand, he held a familiar blood drenched sword. Zero could smell the blood now, it was as clear as day. Rage burned inside of him like the inferno surrounding them but their grandfather just stared at them.

"You look so much like Senji. It's remarkable, really. But you have that woman's eyes," he raised the blade of the sword, "But there are two of you. It shows what curses can do."

Ichiru suddenly grabbed the Bloody Rose from Zero's grasp and aimed the barrel at their grandfather, "Kaien told us what you did to our mother, and what you did to our father! We won't let you shuffle us around so easily!"

Takahiro chuckled, "Are you really going to kill your own blood, child?"

"We've done it before," Ichiru loaded the gun, "Don't tempt me to do it again!"

Takahiro stopped and stared. His dark eyes landed on the twins, studied their faces, "When I returned, Ramona told me that a Pureblood had killed Senji. I never believed her until I saw him for myself. Instead, I've met the mess that caused his death," he walked towards them. "Senji was a strong, capable hunter. He would've been the best – strong enough even beat that rejected son of Cross. But he decided to fall in love and let his heart get in the way. Hunters don't fall in love. Hunters reproduce."

"Don't come closer to us or this bullet is going straight to your head," Ichiru warned.

Takahiro stopped and stared at the twins, a smile playing on his bloodstained lips, "You know, Mago 1Ichiru, if you kill me you might very well kill your little Sudikako hunter, too."

Ichiru lowered the gun but Zero grabbed his hand and hoisted it back up, "Don't let your guard down Ichiru! I don't believe you, now tell us where Kira is!"

Takahiro smirked again, "Do you always do that? Refer to yourself as we? Lord knows that Kasaragi woman probably encouraged it. You are not a team, you are an individual. You don't need your brother!"

Zero frowned, refusing to dwell on his words, but even the words seemed to hit Ichiru in a soft spot because he wanted to lower the gun again but Zero forced his hand up and made sure it stayed there.

"Don't lose focus. Don't lose sight. Aim straight," Zero whispered to his twin. Yagari told him once some Saisho use manipulative words to try and force the other Hunter to let their guard down. This wasn't going to work, Zero wouldn't allow it, "He's trying to get you to drop your guard."

"I wanna shoot him," Ichiru hissed.

"So shoot him. He's a Vampire. Shoot him so we don't kill him," Zero whispered back.

"You're too late," Takahiro was in front of them, bring his sword down to slash their arms. But Zero grabbed Bloody Rose and pushed Ichiru back and used his gun as a shield.

It was a good time for his powers to come through but instead Zero only had his own strength to rely on. Usually his vampire side would've taken over by now but no vines came to the rescue. Shit! What could he do? Takahiro launched forward and Ichiru ran around him and disappeared behind the doors. He knew he was going to find Kira, Zero just hoped that he'd do it quickly.

§Vampire Knight§

Innocence

Kaito had always hated that stupid stone garden on the right side of the association but tonight he was grateful. He picked up the stone statue that was placed lazily on the side and threw it against the window. It shattered and he climbed into the burning building. He didn't know where the twins went or why the other hunters didn't question where Kira was but he was going to help her.

He was in a wing that hadn't caught on fire yet but he could smell the smoke. He ran through the corridors, searching for Kira when he ran into Ichiru. Ichiru grabbed his shoulders, "Tell me you've found her!"

"I just got here," Kaito replied. He searched behind him, "Where's Zero?"

"Zero is with Takahiro. I'm finding Kira," Ichiru pushed past Kaito and called out for her but there was no response. Kaito followed and called for her too. He felt bad for writing her off just because her blood mutated. He even felt guilty for rubbing her kiss off of his lips.

Kaito and Ichiru stopped as a loud scream tore through the burning halls and vines erupted around them like an explosion. The dodged the sharp thorns and Ichiru pulled Kaito out of the vines' treacherous path. There was another scream. A girl's. Ichiru launched himself forward, dragging Kaito behind him.

The burst through a door to see an unconscious Bakemono pinned to one of the burning walls and Kira was on a steel table, wires sticking into her skin and drawing her blood, and the flames was burning the floor beneath her. One of the thorns had trapped Kira to the table, piercing through her flesh on her arm and through her thigh. She looked up.

"Ichiru!"

Ichiru leapt over one of the vines, "I'm here. I'm here," he looked at the thorns that had trapped her but he could also feel the heat beneath her and he had no idea when the floor was going to burn away, "We're going to help you. I promise."

Ichiru positioned himself underneath the vine and tried to push it off of Kira, hoping to move the thorns as well. Kaito ran to the other side of Kira and moved to push the other thorn out of her skin. The heat was unbearable and Kaito could feel it through his boots. He accidentally touched the steel table and leapt back. It was boiling hot. Kira was probably suffering.

"We're gonna get you out Kira," Ichiru called out. Kira had her eyes screwed shut, tears streamed down her bloody face.

"Why are you here? I thought you were all done with me," Kira cried out.

"We're here now," Kaito snapped as he drew out his gun and aimed it at one of the barrels. He ignored Kira's cries and looked directly at Ichiru, "Always carry your sword, Kiryuu," he pulled the trigger multiple times and the bullets pierced the thorns, tearing it slowly and releasing Kira.

Her arm was free and she reached over and pulled the thorn from her arm and then started with the needles and tubes from her wrist, her blood spilled everywhere. While Ichiru helped Kira sit up, Kaito got to work on the other thorn in her thigh, while he watched them from the corner of his eye.

Ichiru tore the bottom of his shirt and wrapped it around Kira's wounds tightly so they wouldn't bleed out. While he attended to her he explained what the hooded man had told them in the car and that they were going to take Kira away. Kaito wasn't sure he could take Kira way because of what she was and what she could do, but Ichiru explained in such a way that it seemed that he had no choice.

"Who is he," Kira asked as she pulled tight a piece of Ichiru's shirt around her hand that was also bleeding.

"Who is who?" Ichiru asked as he threw off his coat and put it around her shoulders. She was barefoot and only wore a blood stained hospital gown.

"The man in the hood. Do you know him?" Kira asked just as her thigh became free. Kaito grabbed the thorn from her thigh and watched as Ichiru quickly got to work to tend to her wound.

"I thought you knew him," Kaito said. He shook his head. He was drenched in sweat, and there was no time to discuss her hero now. He picked her up, "Let's get out of here first before we turn to a crisp. Then we can discuss Zorro, okay?"

"Fine," Kira snapped, "But I can walk on my own. You can put me down."

"You have no shoes on. Your feet will burn," Kaito scolded. He held her tightly, "So stop bitching so we can get out of here!"

"Fine," Kira pouted. Kaito moved her so she carried her on his back.

"What about Bakemono?" Ichiru asked. Kira stared at him for a long time but Ichiru shook his head, "Leave him here. Let him burn."

"We can't do that––"

"Let him burn!" Ichiru shouted at Kira. She stared at him with wide eyes while Ichiru pointed at the unconscious doctor, "I don't know exactly what he did to you, Kira, but obviously he's been hurting you and I – we – cannot forgive him for that! For hurting you, he'll suffer just as much as you have," with every word Ichiru spoke, the vines wrapped around Bakemono, pressing him against the wall, closer to the flames, "He should suffer more! No one hurts the Hunters Princess. No one hurts you!"

"Ichiru, enough," Kira snapped back and she climbed off of Kaito's back and stormed towards Ichiru. Her blue stare was even, calm but she was furious. Ichiru stared at her for the longest time. The heat burned her feet, they could smell her flesh burning. She grabbed Ichiru's hand, "I won't let what he did to me turn me into a monster. He'd win that way. I don't want to hurt anyone. I don't want to do that…"

"He hurt you, Kira!" Ichiru exclaimed but Kira put her hand on his cheek and for the first time ever, he saw tears fall from her eyes. Ichiru lost all train of thought as Kira stared at him, bloody and broken, more broken than his own twin who was damaged by his very own hands.

"You hurt me, too, Ichi," she whispered and it felt like she physically ripped Ichiru's heart apart.

There was a crack beneath them, loud and fierce and the floor broke beneath them. Ichiru grabbed Kira and ran into the corridor, pushing Kaito out of the breaking floor's path. They were in the corridor, watching as the room they were just in was consumed by angry flames. Bakemono vanished completely without a scream.

Kaito picked Kira up again and he and Ichiru ran down the corridor as the flames rushed towards them. The path they took earlier was engulfed in flames so they had no choice but to go downstairs to the battle below between two Vampire Hunters…a battle between two Kiryuus. Ichiru was prepared for the worst.

§Vampire Knight§

Innocence

He'd had many great battles but this one was by far the most difficult. His opponent would get hit over and over again but still he would not back down. Blood and fire surrounded them, but still he fought on while his old alma mater burned to ash around him.

His opponent never took his eyes off of him, countering every move of his and even landing a few blows of his own. The violet of that woman's touch that was once in his eyes was now replaced by the red eyes of the Vampire that marked him forever. Kiryuu Zero even surprised his grandfather by unleashing his vampire ability and suddenly sharp thorns and vines surrounded their battle like an arena. His grandson was quite strong for an ex-Hunter. He was surprised.

"You have Senji's determination when in battle. It mirrors my own. It's remarkable," Takahiro hissed as he held his sword tightly.

"My father was nothing like you," Zero retorted, wiping the blood out of his eye from the cut that Takahiro's mighty blade had made, "He was kind, and loyal and strong. The exact opposite of you."

"I doubt it, boy," Takahiro hissed. "You forget that Senji was trained as a Saisho, to be a Saisho, even though he claims to have discarded that title it was burned within his blood. And tonight, one of us will walk away a Saisho. And I do hope that it will be you."

"If I have to carry that title for killing you grandfather, just as my father had done, then I will wear that title with a big smile," Zero smirked and stared at his grandfather, "After all, I promised to kill all the vampires, too. And you are a vampire, too!"

Zero fired off a few rounds and two bullets lodged into Takahiro's shoulder and stomach. Takahiro slashed his sword, cutting right across Zero's shoulder. Zero launched himself backwards right into the foyer––

"Zero!" he stopped and turned to the stairs seeing his comrades coming down. Kira was on Kaito's back and his brother was leading them. Their eyes met and suddenly Ichiru reached out, "Zero! Watch out!"

Takahiro has launched himself at Zero, but when Ichiru raised his hand, so did Zero and two powerful vines seemed to explode from their bodies and move right to Takahiro. The vines were powerful and knocked against walls, collapsing the building around them. The entire building fell in on itself, heavy stone walls and floors bowed under the weight of the fire. A wall fell on Takahiro and just as Zero reached his comrades and circled his arms around them, and the floor collapsed beneath them, and the building fell on top of them and the descendants were no more…

§Vampire Knight§

Innocence

The dust cleared and Kaien stood on top of the rubble, staring down at the remnants of his precious home away from home. There were bodies that were discovered in the building, and piles of ash that could've been vampire or furniture.

His heart ached for his Association and he knew he had to relocate the headquarters. Ramona was still at large and Kira's blood had been found as well which meant that some of it was stolen and Ramona would go ahead with her plans to be rid of the Hunters and the Vampires with or without Takahiro.

Kira was gone…

Kaito was gone…

Ichiru was gone…

And Zero was gone…

Kaien collapsed to his knees, his broken heart felt the absence of his son's absence and he wanted to scream and punish all those that had hurt him. That would take him back to his old ways and he couldn't do that. He had to send Yuuki away with Kaname because they would surely be hunted not only for being the last descendants but because they were Pure blooded Vampires.

He was all alone now. His children were gone. A hand was placed on his shoulder and he looked up at Yagari and Wana. He had to remember that he wasn't the only one who'd lost his precious children, his brothers had lost them too.

Kenni-kun stood beside Katsue and Sasuke, sifting through the rubble like the other hunters. Kenni agreed to be a Hunter which meant that that poor child would see a lot more darkness in his life as well as deal with the loss of his sister.

"We have to prepare for Ramona's attack," Yagari announced as he slowly sat down beside Kaien. "One part of her plan has been completed. She'll come after us now."

"And we have to be prepared for the worst," Wana fell beside Kaien. His eyes were red from crying and he hadn't slept in weeks, "We can't let them down. We have to stop her."

"That would mean that we'd become something else," Yagari blew out a cloud of smoke and sighed, "We were trained as Saisho for a reason."

"Then a Saisho will kill a Saisho," Kaien said as he stared ahead, "A Saisho will be waiting if we fail," he stared at his glasses and threw it to the rubble in front of them. "I hope it doesn't come to that because we have them to think of."

"Maybe we'll be lucky and Ramona will let it go," Yagari suggested. He started up at the clear blue sky and shook his head, "But Hunters never let their prey go."

To be continued…

The End

§Vampire Knight§

Innocence

1 Mago means Grandson in Japanese apparently. Thank you Google Translate.

A/N: It has been a beautiful journey and a wonderful adventure! But my dear, dear readers it is not yet over! I do hope that you've enjoyed my story as much as I have enjoyed writing it but it is time to move on to greater things. Like the sequel! I do apologize for long breaks and mistakes but we've all had a good run!

I hope you'll follow me to the sequel (Hint, hint, its called CONVICTED) and I hope you continue to enjoy my writing as I have grown! Thanks for all your support!

That's all for now! Please read and review, favourite and follow!

- SBDI