Title: Visitors from the Future
Genre: General/Romance/Friendship
Rating: T
Pairings: Zero/Kaname
Disclaimer: No, I do not own Vampire Knights. It belongs to Hino Matsuri - I only borrow the characters from the series and use it in my own fic. However, I do own the three original characters featured in this story.
Author's notes: In this chapter, Rido Kuran appears… the newly returned Shiki, and with him brings new troubles along to the school. What would be happening next? Also Takuma's increasing frequency of having a headache in keeping the possessed Shiki in line…and also Yuuki's awakening to her pureblood heritage towards the end.
Chapter 36 – In which Kuran Rido arrived at the academy…
Takuma Ichijo felt his worries grow with every step he took; he was now leading Shiki Senri towards the direction of the Moon Dormitory. Now, if the Shiki Senri behind him was the usual one he would not be this worried – but no, the Shiki behind him was actually the uncle of his pureblood friend, Rido Kuran.
He might have appeared to be unfazed on the outside, but deep inside him – it was another matter entirely. It would not even be exaggerating to say that he was a ball of nerves. The coffin containing the body of Kuran Rido was already 'shipped' in by his grand-father's servant through the back entrance of the dormitory building in prior, after being camouflaged as part of his luggage from home. Currently, if nothing went wrong with the 'moving' process – it would be sitting in his shared dorm room with Shiki now. Another sigh left his lips as he thought about his room-mate, seems like ever since his knowledge of Shiki was being possessed by Kuran Rido – this has being all he ever done.
Initially, he had been hoping that Rido would not be gaining access to Shiki's memories following his possession of the teen. Unfortunately, his silent pleas were left unanswered when Rido suddenly brought up the topic of one Touya Rima for discussion. Rido had asked if Rima was actually the girlfriend of Shiki, a justified question to be asking – since those two are always sticking together. One would never be seen without the others… And then the dreadful questions came, Rido had inquired about Akane and the twins' presence.
"Welcome back, Ichijo Vice-President." The maids, whom had answered the door, greeted the green eyed blond vampire – drawing him back into the reality plane.
"Good afternoon, sorry for the late return… was there anything that required my immediate attention?" Takuma had asked, trying to sound like his usual cheerful self.
While Takuma get himself re-accustomed back to the duties of the Vice-President, Shiki Senri or rather Rido Kuran was busy surveying the environment.
"Ichijo…"
The sudden sound of his name being called jolted the green eyed blond back to his senses, hurrying to sign some documents – he went back to the awaiting teen, and started to direct them both up to their shared dorm rooms. Earlier on, he had made use of the memo pad of the maids and jot down some questions pertaining to the whereabouts of the night-class members in general. The maid, though bewildered by his sudden desire to play 'passing message' had gladly indulged him in it this once without questions being raised. The answer he received was a simple and clipped one, with only the sentence 'President Kuran sends them out to do something.'
"So where are the lots of them? Don't try to fool me by telling me they had all retired for the night, because I can't sense any of their presence around here. Those that I sensed were mainly from the Common Class." Rido started, dropping his pretence image of being that son of his – once Ichijo closed the door leading to their shared room, almost immediately.
"They are out for the day…" Takuma eventually said.
"Oh…? Under my nephew's orders…?" An arch of the eyebrow as the man questioned.
"Yes." The green eyed blond responded in a flat-tone.
"Inform me when that Rima girl is back then…" Rido then said, causing the Vice-President of the Dormitory building to turn immediate eyes towards him.
"Well… seeing as Shiki and that girl are on very good terms, it would be weird for me not to meet her now that we are back in the academy – right? Why are you so jittery?" Rido asked, eyeing Takuma intently with his blue and green orbs respectively.
"…Let me kindly remind you of one thing also, while we are inside the school compound there are some things which you have to follow. I'm certain that you do not wish to have your cover blown this easily and this fast, right?" Takuma throws back at the man who is now hogging on to the body of his friend, though annoyed by that sheer fact – there was nothing he could have done at this current point of time.
If Rido Kuran was being irked, he did not showed it then – he merely choose to dismiss the presence of Takuma Ichijo from his sight with a mere wave of his hands. With that, Takuma exited the room which he would be sharing with that Rido Kuran character for an unknown period of time and made his way back downstairs to fret some more.
"Kaname-sama, they have reached." Seiren's voice whispered as she resumed her position with the group making their way back to the Moon Dormitory with stealth.
"I see…" Kaname's reply was in a flat-like manner, his features a mask of indifference. He was trying his hardest to reign in his overflowing urge to lash out, but because of the twins' presence – he had silently willed himself to curb it down.
"Akane…" Kaname then started, stopping the sandy-haired girl in her steps as she turned inquiring eyes towards him.
"Ichijo has returned…and with him, Shiki Senri."
"…I see; I give you my word that I will protect them with all I have." Akane then said her face solemn.
"Good. Ruka and Risa shall assist you, and with that – I gave you the right to command the Common Class under my wing." Kaname responded then, obviously the girl had a very clear idea of what was to happen. Her solemnity pertaining to the return of Ichijo and Shiki had speak volumes, and because he would be pre-occupied with the issue of Yuuki and probably Zero then. The responsibility that befalls on the girl would be heightening to a new level…
"Akane…?" Subaru and Akira looked up to their elder sibling with a questioning gaze, and it was returned by one of Akane's serious ones.
"Boys… it's time to get your-selves familiar with the family history of both the Kurans and the Kiryuu Clan." Akane decided, the only way to get the twins to distance them-selves from the newly returned duos – in particularly, their favourite uncle Shiki… it was to educate them on the bloodied past of both clans.
In order to prevent anyone from listening in, Akane had smuggled the two boys and the two vampire female guards of the boys into the Sun Dormitory for girls – specifically into the room of one Wakaba Sayori and Yuuki Cross.
"Honestly, I didn't keep my room window open for this particular purpose – you know?" Wakaba Sayori commented with dried sarcasm.
"I know… but desperate times calls for desperate measures. Surely, you won't mind – right?"
"Just my luck for being the one getting the only room that would not be subject to any spot check by the dorm manager…" Sayori muttered under her breath, as she 'removed' her presence from the room leaving it to the privacy of the future trio plus the two bodyguards send in probably by the pureblood prince to guard them.
"Surely you had take advantage of it at certain times too, isn't that right?" Akane throws back at the girl.
"Gees… hurry up with the story telling, I do not wish to have to end up explaining the reasons why I am outside of my own room after curfew hours when the dorm manager came by in a while time." Sayori throws back just as evenly.
Meanwhile, an exhausted Touya Rima had returned to the Moon Dormitory only to throw herself onto the sofa couch situated in the front hall of the building.
"Ms. Rima – you have a guest waiting for you since afternoon." The maid come front to greet the exhausted female.
"Can't you just tell the person to come back later?" Rima grumbled, too tired to bother with anything at the current moment.
"Rima…I'm back." The sudden sound of Shiki's voice jolt the female vampire into a sitting position as she turned wide eyes towards the teen who had vanishes from sight for the whole vacation.
"Shiki…where have you been all these while, and what happened with your eyes?" Touya Rima who had taken the time to observe her friend from head to toe, suddenly frowned and asked with concern.
"Aa… nothing for you to worry about, just something that has happened during vacation." Rido responded, before steering the conversation towards his hunger for blood and attempted to get Rima to feed him some.
"Shiki, that's enough already. Have you forgotten that these kinds of acts are not allowed within the school? Besides, we still have other pressing matters on hand to be dealing with." Ichijo Takuma stepped forth then, interrupting the situation before it worsens.
"AH… there you are; Kaname-sama says for you two to go and look for him over at the rooftop of the old school building." Akane suddenly spoke up from behind, startling the duos out from their eye-contact.
"…Akane…"
"Yo! What's with that gloomy expression? Did your grand-father force you on another match-making session back home?" Akane asked, cheerfully as she greeted the green eyed blond vampire in front of her.
Takuma Ichijo was completely thrown off-guard by Akane's question, since when did his grand-father ever put him through any match-making session? However, before he could even question the girl about her previous statement – he nearly stumbled upon Akane's words towards Rido Kuran in general.
"Woah… Shiki, you did not vanish for the whole vacation to get a pair of new contacts – did you? But why did you get contact lenses that are of different colours?" Akane cocked her head slightly in a quizzical manner, causing Rido Kuran to let out a rich tone of laughter.
"Quite an interesting comment you have there…Akane – right? I'll speak to you again." With that said, Rido beckoned for Takuma Ichijo to join him as they ventured off in search for one Kaname Kuran.
Akane mentally heaved a sigh of relief as she witnessed the duos going away for the time-being, during which period of time whereby she had distracted the newly returned Shiki and her own cousin – the twins have safely entered the premises of the pureblood's room through the use of the windows. That is, of course, only after they masked up their presence by concealing their pureblood auras. It was kind of hard, especially with the case of Akira – but eventually they managed.
Kaname Kuran stood tall and proud atop of the old school academic building's rooftop; staring down at the whole school compound. He had sent the twins back to the Moon Dormitory building, under the protection of both Ruka Souen and Risa Miyazaki. Though, he felt bad about having to sends Akane off to distract that uncle of his – he still had to do it. Thankfully though, the eldest of the future trio had not minded that fact and in fact, was volunteering for it – herself.
"It has been a long time, hasn't it? My dear nephew…" The sudden sound of the greeting message jarred the resident pureblood of the academy out from his thoughts.
"Indeed, but even now – the sound of you greeting me as your nephew still managed to send chills down my spine. My dear uncle Rido…" Kaname then started to turn his eyes upon the new-comer.
"By the way, I would just like to have you known – those wounds that you'd given me on that fateful night are indeed quite painful to say. The day you literally tore my body parts to shred, the aftermath of it was so serious that it took me till now to finally be able to recover from them." Kuran Rido said, from the lips of one Shiki Senri.
"…" There was no response from Kaname just yet, because he knew the other is not quite done with the words yet.
"Speaking of which, over the past 10 years… quite a lot has had happened. Even my ex-fiancée – Shizuka Hiou has died. Well, that alone to me was quite a relief. Even if I do have the intention to convert her to be as obedient as the mother of this particular son of mine – I probably do not have the patience around to wait it out." Rido said as he pointed to the body which he was currently in control, smiling sadistically as he said.
"What a relief to see that you hasn't changed a single bit over the past ten years, at least that will make it easier for me to kill you – again." Kaname Kuran said, as he allowed his aura and fury to leak out from him – lashing out at the speaker.
"Now wait a minute, Kaname! I'm sorry to say this, but I can no longer stand aside and watch. I would not allow Shiki to be trapped in between the two of you anymore." It was at this particular point of time, Takuma Ichijo – who had been witnessing silently on the sidelines dashed into the attack range by placing himself directly in front of Rido Kuran as he addressed Kaname.
"I see… and so may I interpret this act of yours as your desire to stick by the council for this?" Kaname commented, his face devoid of emotions making it hard for Takuma to read his actual intention on this issue.
"I can't help but accept if that is what you intend to think me of…" Takuma responded, he disliked the idea of having Kaname thinking him as a potential enemy but still he could not stand by and watch the poor Shiki being dragged into this whole muddy area without any consciousness of his own.
"Now now… Ichijo, you worried a little too much. Kaname hasn't been serious in his attack earlier on. It would be kind of pointless for him to be damaging a body which I'm only borrowing for usage." Rido Kuran speaks up from behind the green eyed blond vampire.
"However, basing on my judgement – there is still a high chance of Kaname being serious with what he did earlier on." Takuma surmised, his pureblood friend certainly would not be joking on such matters.
"…Whatever, so long I can get my hands on the ultimate ingredient for my revival… and speaking of which, has that kid awaken from that long peaceful 'sleep' of hers? I am certain that you are quite aware of what I am talking about… don't you?" Rido mused.
"Rido… do not assume that you would be able to get your hands on her that easily. I would never let you!" Kaname started warningly.
"Well… that might be the case if there is no distraction of sort, but it seems like recently – the amount of items that you valued had somewhat increased, hasn't it?" Rido started.
Kaname eyes harden and narrowed into slits upon these words pouring forth from Rido, not even bothering to hide the amount of fury leaking out from him – Kaname said. "Don't you dare to lay a single finger upon them, or I would not hesitate to tear you down to shreds – again."
"We shall see about that, shan't we?" That was the last thing Rido had said towards Kaname, before leaving the area with one hesitant Ichijo Takuma in tow.
Later on in the night around eleven p.m. perhaps, Zero felt a presence sneaking into his room through the open window of his dormitory room within the Sun Dorm.
"Good heavens, Kaname – why the hell are you here? You shouldn't be here, you know?" The silver-haired teen muttered aloud, when he turned and acknowledged the intruder of his room.
There was no response from the pureblood, and the next thing Zero remembered was the feeling of him being pushed against the wall while Kaname's lips was upon him in a rough and bruised like manner.
Minutes fleeted them by before Zero could finally breathe again; a frown marred his features as he took in the sight before him. The black trench coat of Kaname that was left unbuttoned on purpose flapped wildly as the wind blown in through the open window-way, the expression on the said person's feature was a mix between anguish and raw unmasked desires.
"Kaname…?"
"He's here…" There was no need for Zero to ask for the identity of the person in Kaname's response, he knew it well enough – Rido Kuran.
"Okay…so what's next?" The silver-haired hunter questioned, because he had absolutely no idea as to what Kaname had planned in mind to do.
"It's probably time to wake Yuuki up…" The pureblood then said.
"Right… then why are you here? Yuuki's over at the Chairman's place, I'm sure you know that." Zero commented dryly.
"That would mean I would have to bite and marked her, same thing after she wakes – she would have to bite and feed from me." Kaname responded, sounding slightly troubled by it – which baffled Zero to no end.
"And…?" Zero pressed on, wanting to know just what exactly was plaguing the mind of Kaname Kuran.
"Can we complete that bond of ours now?" Kaname asked then, he did not want to force himself upon Zero and that was why he had thought to ask. He wanted the bond to be complete under willing terms, because only then would they be bond in the manner which he had yearned for.
"…Kaname, you know how I feel about that." Zero responded, his tone exasperated.
"Then come with me." Kaname sighed, Zero's response was kind of within his expectations and since he can't have what he desired most at this point of time – he would have to bring up the alternative.
"Excuse me? You're not telling me to watch the entire process of how you waked Yuuki, are you?!" Incredulity apparent on Zero's feature, as he voice his question across to that dark-haired pureblood facing him.
"Zero…you know how it gets after the marking process…I need you there to stop me before I had it in me to go all the way with her." Kaname replied in a deadpanned manner.
"I thought that was how it initially should be?" Zero throws back at the pureblood, sounding a little sarcastic. Of course, he knew how it would be like after the marking process – horny is the term for it.
"Zero…! You know how I feel about you, don't you?!" Kaname snapped, before he managed to get his tone under control - again.
"…I know…and as much as I hated to admit it, but it would appear that I felt the same way for you too…" Zero's response was almost inaudible, if it were not for the fact that Kaname still had the former pinned against the wall – he would have missed it altogether.
"…" Kaname stared; stunned at what he had heard coming from the silver-haired teen… this is the last thing he thought he would have heard under the current situation.
"Granting you the permission to complete the bond as of current would be impossible for me to handle at this point of time, so I'm just going to pick the lesser of the devil." Zero then started speaking again, this time his tone even despite the slight tinge of pink in his cheeks – a direct result from his earlier words of confession to the pureblood.
"Huh…?" Kaname blinked, was there anything he had missed when he zoned out earlier on?
"Well… didn't you say you want to go and retrieve Yuuki in order to wake her up or something?! Speaking of which, where are the twins?" Zero asked, making a grab for his uniform jacket and tucked his 'Bloody Rose' into the gun holster of his pants.
"They are most likely back in the Moon Dormitory, no point trying to hide them. If Rido wanted to find them, he will – no matter where we tried to hide the kids. In which case, we might as well just leave them be." Kaname responded, sounding weary of it even.
"Will it be safe for them to …" Zero frowned, wishing very much that he could be staying by their side 24/7 but he knew that is impossible. Lessons have to go on as per normal, until the inevitable came for them to fight.
"I've asked Ruka and Risa to guard them at all times, I've even entrusted the command of the common class vampires to Akane for that purpose."
"Would it be enough to keep them safe?"
"I don't know… but we could hope. For now, let's get the issue of Yuuki settled first…" Kaname said, and soon the duos were on their way over to the Chairman's place to retrieve the most likely distressed female guardian.
It seems like Kaname's decision to wake Yuuki was a right one, after all. The moment Zero had strolled through the door; he was tackled down by the distressed girl whom had her hands around his neck – in a very convenient position to strangle him. Throwing a look over to the pureblood, Zero shoots the man a look that says 'Wait'. Then, he tried to calm the distressed girl down.
Once the light of recognition dawns in on Yuuki, the girl started her incessant apologizing acts again. This time, Zero had kindly stepped aside and allowed the pureblood prince to take over his initial position. He watched in silence as Yuuki pleaded and begged to remember her past, and pressing on the pureblood – the reason behind her emptied past and his long-time affections for her.
"It's okay already… it has been long enough, and now is time for you to wake up to the reality." Kaname had told Yuuki before he shared a look with Zero, then making his exit with Yuuki in his arms using the window. Zero followed suit, but using the normal door-way instead.
"Zero…?" The Chairman started, most likely to ask about Zero's rushing stance.
"No time to explain, I'll tell you later." Zero throws over his shoulders as he ran across the school compound, allowing his vampire senses to lead him to where the pureblood was.
However, halfway across the lawn – he run smack into the figure of his mirror image. His steps faltered for a spilt second, as they stared right into the eyes of one another before Zero snapped back to his immediate task on hand and zoomed right past his twin without even bothering to demand for an explanation from his twin. Even as he passes right by the figures of Ichijo Takuma and the possessed Shiki Senri – he did not bother to acknowledge them.
"I see… my blood hasn't been put to use at all." Rido commented, retrieving the bottle of blood he had passes to the younger Kiryuu twin through the uncle of Shiki Senri prior to the boy admittance to the academy.
"Yes, Rido-sama…" Ichiru responded in the perfect aristocrat way of mannerism.
"Well… it doesn't matter, I guess. So long that girl had the blood of the Kuran ingested in her…" Rido muttered to himself.
"In which case, I shall head off to guard the coffin. I sincerely hoped that your revival ritual would be complete without hurdles and then help me out in the avenging for Shizuka-sama." With that said, Ichiru took his leave from the site.
Zero arrived at the scene shortly after Yuuki was bitten and 'turned', but it seems like the girl still looked a little 'out' from it. The silver-haired hunter observed from where he stood, as Kaname used his sharp fangs to draw some blood of his own using his mouth then he leaned down and captured Yuuki in a 'kiss' or sort. The sight disturbed Zero greatly, far more than the sheer fact that Yuuki was 'turned'.
"Kaname Kuran!" Zero yelled aloud and narrowed his eyes as he trained his gun upon the pureblood prince, alerting the duos of his presence.
"No wait… Zero! You can't shoot him, he's my elder brother!" Yuuki cried out in a distressed manner, staring up at Zero with those pitiful eyes of hers.
"…" The two male vampires fell silent; the pureblood was fighting a twitch in his lips while Zero fought the urge to face-palm.
"Yuuki… when did I say anything about shooting him?" Zero eventually managed in a tone that spelt exasperation.
"Eh…?" Yuuki's eyes widen at Zero's words, half in shock and half in bewilderment.
"Never mind, so what's next?" Zero throws his words over to where the other Kuran stood, annoyance clearly visible when he detected the slight mirth in the other's eyes.
"Now we retreated back to the Moon Dormitory, lessons for the night-class will be suspended till further notice. Yuuki would need some time to sort through the torrents of memories flooding through her as well… and also, a talk would need to be scheduled – between the three of us. I believed." Kaname then said.
"So were you jealous of what I did with Yuuki earlier on?" The pureblood whispered as he passes Zero by, taking his lead in the front of the trio.
"…" Zero's only response is a glare of irritation, now he only wished he had taken a shot at that infuriating pureblood before. How he hated that man teasing him about such things, so what if he was indeed jealous?! Why did the man have to point it out to him, when the former knew that is exactly what's irritating him.
Meanwhile, Kaname remained unfazed despite the number of death glares he was receiving from a certain irate Zero Kiryuu from behind. Thankfully, Yuuki was too pre-occupied as of current to be noticing that little detail. If not… the girl would be panicking all over again over the possibility of Zero shooting her beloved elder brother.
Date started: 9/1/2013
Date completed: 10/1/2013