Blood Candy 27- Battle Preparations…
"Hanami! Did you…I think it's time for you tell me." I look up from the board and sigh, moving a pawn from the other side.
"You ran into Kaname and Yuki, right?" He nods. "And he's already awakened her."
"What?"
"Ten years ago, when my parents were killed…" I shake my head. "I'll start from the beginning. And that's fifteen years ago."
"What?" I sigh.
"Before my parents were killed, I'd only seen my baby sister twice besides the day she was born. Fifteen years ago, a third child was born into the Kuran family. But at that time, we couldn't let it be known that there was a new little princess. Because the Senate would have been trying to control us even more. Using the Purebloods for their own designs, trying to limit our movements so there would be no risk to their power. So, my parents hid her away in a basement room. She didn't see the sky except through stories, and her first glimpse of the snow and sky was through human eyes."
"What does this have to do with Yuki?"
"Everything. Yuki is my baby sister. That night, I was at your house. You remember. Maru and I were over to watch you and Ichiru while your parents were out working."
"Yea. And your brother showed up, covered in blood and totally out of it." I nod.
"Okay then. That night, my uncle apparently showed up at the house. My parents went outside to handle him, and he overpowered my dad. Mom went inside to get Yuki and Kaname went out. Mom's last act was to suppress Yuki's vampire blood and her memories of us."
"How do you know this? You were at the house the whole time."
"Kaname told me everything but what happened to Yuki the next day. I found out what happened to her from Kaien."
"So he knew?" I nod. "The whole time."
"Yes."
"How? You said that your parents kept her a secret."
"Kaien…met my mother when she was pregnant with Yuki. And because of the fact that he's a Kurosu, he was in contact with me and I requested him to act as security when Yuki was born."
"Huh?"
"Old family friends. I wasn't as close to the Kurosu as I was to the Kiryu but still. I never liked being in close proximity to a Kurosu. They seem to all be genetically insane and unthinking." I look at the window. "They're back. I'll be right back…" I only now notice the scent of Zero's blood. Was I that engrossed in my memories that I didn't notice. "Your hand…what happened?" I touch his arm and lift his hand so I can see his palm. "Were you that mad…?"
"Mad, shocked…surprised that that was the big secret. And glad that you didn't tell me before. But…Kaname said that he wasn't really her brother. What did he mean?" I shake my head.
"I don't know."
"I think you do. Or is this something that you can't tell me yet?" I nod.
"Yes…" My eyes are locked on his palm.
"Go ahead." I smile slightly and lift his hand to my mouth. I lick the blood away from the cuts and move to his wrist. Blood flows into my mouth as I slightly slice the skin of his wrist with my teeth. I smell something and lift my head. "What?" Zero looks toward the window and we both stand very still.
"Shiki…and Toya…" I close my eyes and concentrate. There's a third scent there. And all three are hateful, like in combat. "Maru!" I almost run to the window, but Zero stops me.
"Don't. What's going on?" I shake my head.
"A fight. Between Shiki, Toya, and Maru."
"Why would…?" I frown.
"Damn that guy! I swear I'm going to rip him out of Shiki's body and kill that bastard."
"Hanami, what the hell are you talking about?"
"My stupid, bastard of an uncle. He's taken over Shiki's body." I smile slightly. "Well, at least Shiki's fighting back."
"How can you tell?"
"Technically, Shiki is my cousin. I can hear the thoughts of blood relatives and the few people that I've shared my blood with."
"Like me." I nod.
"But it's not as clear as with family. Anyways…let's go to the Sun Dorm."
"What's wrong?" I shake my head and change into some casual clothes. I check my weapons systematically and nod. I tie my boots and slide a knife in each one. "Come on, Hanami. Tell me what's going on."
"More than likely, either today or in the night, a battle will start." I go to the chess board and move a piece on Kaname's side. "What will you do now, Rido?" I sigh and pull a handgun from the drawer in my desk.
"Is it normal for a Kuran to be able to use Hunter weapons?" I nod.
"Yes. But there are weapons that vampires use, nobles only really, that have the same effect on a pureblood as a hunter's weapon would have on any vampire." I spin the gun around and put it in a holster behind my back, hidden by my hair. I put a second gun in the other holster and grab a couple of ammo refills.
"You're acting like you're about to go into battle." I nod.
"Because I am. Let's go." Zero nods and we leave through my window. I land softly and start running to the Sun Dorm. Zero follows me, keeping up easily. We get there and Zero goes up to his room via the window. I circle around and spot Akatsuki and Aido. "Kaname told you to protect Yuki right?" They nod.
"She's in there." I nod.
"I thought so. I'll join in protecting the dorm."
"Hanami-sama! You shouldn't involve yourself in this!" I scoff.
"I can do what I want. More than that, I'm a Hunter. I can't stand by while humans are at risk."
"But…" I pull one of my knives out of the sheath and point it at Aido.
"I am a Hunter. My duty to protect humans from rampant vampires is more important than my bloodline." I sit on the rail of the stairs and turn my knife in my hand. I smell something and smirk. "Here we go again." I sheathe the knife and stand up. The question is, who does Kaname intend to kill Rido? Either me or Zero probably. But unless Zero consumes Ichiru, he won't be able to escape the curse of the Hunter Twin. I look towards Zero's room. Yagari should be moving him to a holding cell under the school. And Ichiru will know that. That will be where the curse is ended. I look over and spot Yagari.
"You're not going to do anything about Zero getting locked up?"
"It's all in the plan. Kaname isn't the only Kuran that plots things. You might want to be prepared for a fight."
"Why? Is there going to be a battle?" I nod and pull one of my guns out, checking the ammo. "I didn't know you used guns."
"Only in an emergency."
"And this is an emergency?" I nod once and put the gun back.
"The students are coming." I sigh and pull my gun out again.
"Hanami-sempai! What are you doing here?"
"Get back inside, boys." I aim the gun at a tree. "You've been found. Come out and I might kill you gently." The guys back into the door and a guy emerges from the trees. Well, three guys to be exact. I sigh and aim for the head. "Day Class students are to stay in the dorms until further notice. Please, get back inside." They nod and hurry inside.
"You've taken away the Master's meal…" I frown.
"No one is going to feed on the students here. Get out of here." They stand their ground and I sigh. "Ugh. Rido's servants are so similar to him. It makes me sick." I shoot two in the head and the third runs at me. I pull out a knife and stab him in the heart before he can attack me. I smirk and lean on the stair rail. "And to think, this is just the beginning." I look towards the dorm and sigh. "He's awake." I watch the trees and a sudden pain in my chest causes me to double over. I look around. Nothing. Zero? It hurts…have I become that linked to him? That I feel the same pain he does? Strange. I straighten up, enduring the pain. I wasn't expecting Ichiru to harm Zero in an attempt to force him to devour him. It doesn't take long for the pain to stop.
