Chapter 38: Return
by lightpathetic
ICHIRU had only a moment or two of satisfaction, though. He wasn't surprised when he felt rather than heard the presence behind him on the ledge. He looked down only to confirm his suspicions. Kaname's broken body was no longer on the rocky pile below him and the rich, dark aura of an irritated pure blood began to seep into his bones. Ichiru started to tremble, only because it was too exhausting fighting the urge not to. He turned to face him, his fists and teeth clenched however, to minimise the shaking.
Kaname was furious. That fall could have killed him! What if there had been an inconvenient spike or wooden stake? He could have been killed! After how many years of carefully orchestrated survival? And by what? A child? Damn, he had been too careless. If it had been any other person, what wouldn't he be doing to them now...?
"Care to try that again with me conscious?" he sneered. Ichiru shook his head.
"No. I know wouldn't get very far, hence the cheap shot. You know, you don't look so good, Kaname." Ichiru nodded smugly to the arm that was tucked in an awkward manner into Kaname's body. "I think that shoulder needs some atten..."
Ichiru was cut off by a swift jab to his throat. He couldn't even cough as he was get aloft, a hand squeezing his throat. Ichiru's mouth gaped in futility as blood red eyes stared up with some relish at his anguished face.
"I'll be fine afffter a mmmeal. Pperhappss you wisshh to vvolunteeerr?"
"Kaname! No!"
"Kaname!"
Kaname looked down and around him as both Zero and Yuuki yelled up at him, running toward the ruined wall. His hitherto steady stance weakened, especially at the look of fear in Yuuki's face and he turned away from it, dropping Ichiru back onto the ledge, "steadying" him so he didn't fall onto – for instance – an uncomfortable pile of rubble he'd had the misfortune to test out beforehand...
"You were in no danger. I lost my temper, that's all..."
"I don't believe you," Ichiru spat, rolling in order to push onto his feet, one hand still massaging his neck. "This is you. This is what you are. Worst... than anything... we could have ever imagined..."
Kaname grabbed the boy's shoulders but the youth shrugged them off violently.
"Get off me!"
"Ichiru! Stop it! I... I was upset and shaken! You could have killed me...!"
"I wish I had. I wish we had. That first day. If I'd had... any idea... of what you were...! What you would do to us...!"
"Ichiru, if this is about what I did earlier... I'm sorry. I get... belligerent when I'm unhappy and drunk. Zero understands. He's forgiven me...!"
"Has he? Well, that's good to know! But I haven't! And you know why, don't you?!" Ichiru screamed, pushing at the still hovering vampire to gain enough space to stand. His eyes glowed with anger, his fangs sprouted tentatively. Another of those odd occasions when his newly minted nature came forth unbidden. He swore in frustration, tears coming to his eyes. He was already sick of this. Sick of not being able to be normal. He'd once looked forward to the morning, to the prospect of greeting the sun full on, the heat of it on his face, the glare of it in his eyes. Now he shrank from it. Now he couldn't stand to be in his own skin. At the lowest point of his life he'd seen his family as food. Food!
Kaname, though, saw this with a pride he didn't deserve. He literally ached to take Ichiru in hand. To teach him. Show him. Everything he could be and more. He felt a father's pride and ambition for a son he loved without reservation; the need to show him what the world had to offer creatures like them. He saw pain and shame in Ichiru and nothing could be more unwarranted. His heart ached to see Ichiru full of regret at not being a man when he could be so much more...
"Why didn't you just let me die? Huh? Why did you curse me like this? I can't stand the thought that I'll be like this for the rest of my life. Worst of all that I could become like you. Zero's forgiven you? He can afford to. He doesn't have to face what I do!"
"Ichiru! You know I had no choice! You were changing… I'm sorry I wasn't there for you but I am now! I can help...!"
"I don't want your help! I don't even want you to touch me! They don't know what you really are, what you are capable of. But I do! Do you think I haven't figured out by now that those people who took us were actually the good guys? That they were trying their best to rid the earth of such evil, such depravity like they've never known before...? To think they died knowing that they failed. That there was no justice for them in this world because you still live!"
"Ichiru, listen to me...!"
"What?! Are you going to deny it? What you almost did to us just now? What you did to Patrice? Or Rido? Or countless others before them or since? Are you going to deny that besides your Aunt there is hardly anyone else to mourn you when you are gone? What is it, Kaname?! Are you actually going to deny it's true?!"
Kaname had turned away during Ichiru's speech, growing quiet as he looked off into the distance as if deep in thought. His hands hung at his sides as he stood there transfixed, his body fully healed. Ichiru wondered if he'd heard him, if he was going to ignore him. He looked below him at the gathered spectators, they watching as if they could sense the serious conversation that was occurring but unable to hear the details. Zero met his eyes in a silent, worried query and Ichiru gave him a resigned look as he made to climb down. So much for the grand confrontation. So much for Kaname answering his questions himself as Aidou had promised. But he was certain of one thing. He would get his family away from him even if it was the last thing he did...
"I don't have to justify myself to you, Ichiru. You aren't even a new-born compared to me. You cannot possibly imagine what I've seen or experienced, what I've learned about my people, the world or about myself. You come to me after speaking to a few people, with you naïve, human notions and presume to know anything about me. To judge me..."
"Then you do deny it..."
"I. Deny. Nothing!" Ichiru nearly fell off the ledge as Kaname suddenly swung towards him, snarling, eyes blazing. "Nor do I confirm it! I don't have to! Certainly not to you! I did what I needed to! And I was damned successful! I have lasted longer than any other in my position. You wail about evil. You will never know what true evil I have prevented from taking my place! Never! Thanks to me!"
"Fine! Have it your way. I'm getting down. My family is worried..."
"What?! No naïve, asinine come back? You won't even try to make this a memorable conversation?"
"Fuck you," Ichiru slid down to a lower outcropping, ready to drop to the ground. "I'm done talking to you. You aren't worth my breath. You stay here. We're leaving and I hope we never see you again!"
"No! Ichiru! Ichiru, wait..."
Ichiru stopped. Why did he stop? That moment Kaname had shown himself to be truly the thing he'd despised. His arrogance dripped from his entire demeanour, his heartlessness presented itself. In those few moments he'd glimpsed Kaname at his worst and loathed him. He could see what Patrice had hated with every fibre of her being. He should go. Take his family and leave this place. But. But then...those words. A plea. Said with such softness. Such anguish. It was familiar. Touching. Ichiru turned back to face the vampire. The one whose eyes now lost the coldness and now pleaded with him to understand.
Kaname saw as Ichiru paused and sighed in relief, looking down away from those distrustful eyes. He couldn't blame him. He couldn't believe that was him just now. What an idiot. He couldn't believe he'd once been that way.
"But... If I were to try to... explain what I was to you..." Kaname began, speaking quietly, as if to his feet. "I would try to explain that... I made a decision, a long time ago, to never end up like my parents. To make the ones that betrayed us pay, those same people that came begging to me to save them. I used fear, allowed it to be my ally. I grew to be despised but as long as I was feared I gained what I wanted: respect and power. And I had lots of it. Physical as well as authoritative. Enough to... Enough to feel as though... I was above everyone else. To feel as though... I was a god among the living. It was soon apparent I could do as I pleased without serious opposition and... it consumed me. To the point where... I could not be redeemed. It became so normal to be loathed that I stoked it. It was the one thing that was constant: not being able to trust anyone. Having everyone as an enemy, whether or not we were at least in an armed truce. And hell, I could always be counted on to betray even those. I was... am... despicable."
"So it's all true then? Children and..."
"Yes. And much more."
Ichiru too looked away. What did he do with this knowledge? He couldn't believe this was the same person he had liked to grope. Harmless, sweet Kaname. What a joke...
"I'm going down..."
Kaname bounded forward, his eyes beseeching…
"But I've changed, Ichiru! Believe me...!"
"How much could you have changed if you were willing to do that to us just now...?"
"That's just it! I didn't! That's how much I've changed! The old me would still be having his fun with you all! The old me would have killed you before you could have gone back to the others and poisoned their minds against me. But instead... I want to beg your forgiveness. To beg you to give me a chance!"
"I guess I should be grateful for this mercy..." Ichiru ground out sarcastically. Kaname abruptly turned away, running his fingers through is hair to soothe his nerves. He was trying. Heaven knew he was... trying...
"The turning point... was when Kara was born. Something happened inside of me. It was like the ice fell away from my mind, my heart and I began to see clearly. But then, for the first time there was someone beside myself I truly cared about. I felt such protectiveness, such hope in her. Such pride. I wanted her to see me and know me and never be afraid, never hate me. I wanted..."
"Her love."
"Always," Kaname replied, turning back to Ichiru. "The moment she looked up at me I felt that there was something more to this life than conquest, more to this life than even me. It's when I began to think about what was wrong, what I should change, to make her safe; to always have her love. It was then I became stupid... careless..."
"What do you mean?"
"I began to trust people I shouldn't have. I began to let my guard down. My policies softened. News of a plot reached me but instead of annihilating the suspects, I moved. I wanted to be better. I wanted to give them time to realise I was no longer a threat..."
"It didn't work."
Kaname squeezed his eyes closed and threw back his head. The familiar but still unbearable wash of pain came over him. He covered his face with his hands and had been unaware that he had been wailing until arms pulled him into their warmth, until a firm body pressed him against it. He reached out and buried his face in that neck, holding him tightly as tears fell.
"Kaname... Kaname. I'm sorry..." He was crying as if he would lose his mind. All Ichiru could think of was soothing his pain.
"You don't understand! I've paid… with my little girl. My sweet… angel. She was the only one... If only it could have been me! Why couldn't it have been me...?!"
"Shhh. Kaname. I'm sorry. So sorry..."
"WHAT'S TAKING THEM SO LONG?" Yuuki asked, getting tired of looking up and deciding to quiz Zero instead.
"It looks like they're talking things through. Really, Ichiru can be so crazy sometimes..."
"Yes," Dr. Aidou mused, looking across at Zero. "It's going to be alright. They're coming down."
"Finally! I did think Kaname was going to knock his head off...!" Yuuki offered, waving up at them.
"He would have deserved it," Zero opined, his eyes too following the descent of the two vampires, taking a perverse satisfaction that Ichiru hadn't been spared the humiliation of riding on Kaname's back like a child. His triumph grew as he saw the pained look on Ichiru's face.
"Um... Kaname..." Dr. Aidou called when they had safely landed. He'll never get use to just calling him that. By his first name only. Especially after the time of it he'd had earning the right to even call him anything else but "my Prince" or "Master". "Kaname-sama" had come after many years and many worthwhile deeds. But these kids had changed so much about him... "I trust everything has been resolved?"
He looked warily at the two vampires. He suspected Ichiru had had a lot more to say than merely voicing his annoyance at being tortured. Dr Aidou's mind had recalled the uneasy time on the balcony of their captors house, the questions Ichiru had had. Up there had been as good a time as any to have it out. Besides, he was sensitive to Kaname's moods and the vampire prince's had run the gamut.
Ichiru looked across at Kaname after dismounting and realised the pureblood was still too distraught to speak. Still, dark eyes watched the younger vampire with trepidation. He was waiting for his decision.
"Yes. We're good," he replied simply, placing his hand on the still silent brunette's shoulder. Of course he was still in two minds about this. Kaname had admitted the unthinkable. He'd done, is capable doing, horrible things to people. He wondered if it was the right thing to not tell his family, to not make sure they got as far away from him as possible. Tonight had been terrifying, the way Kaname had behaved had been a betrayal. Would they always have to wonder if he would become their worst fears? Would they ever be able to relax and rely on him again, knowing as they did the sheer cruelty that lay just below the surface?
But Ichiru had seen Kaname, their Kaname, up there. After the ugly side had dispelled the gorgeous vulnerable creature that they had trusted with their lives had returned asking for a chance. And he couldn't deny him. It looked as though he would ere on the side of discretion. A discretion that would allow one of their number the chance he craved to redeem himself. Kaname had been through a lot and he was who he was now. He tried harder now, worked harder now than at any time before when he was this all powerful prince, Ichiru was sure. He realised he wanted to give him that chance he had lost to be better, wanted to be one of the people that believed in him. Loved him. That's what family was for.
Zero looked visibly relieved as he turned to head to the carriage. He decided to get the details later.
"Fine. Let's go then. We've dawdled enough and it's getting late..."
"Kaname and I will take over the reins now, Zero. You all can go into the carriage and get some sleep..."
"After dinner," Kaname managed, his voice still husky. "I have some leftover meat below..."
"Kaname...!" Zero cried, turning back to kill him. The son of a...!
"What? It's venison! I swear it!"
"Huh?" Yuuki asked as the men became on edge. "What's wrong with you all?"
"Nothing, Yuuki. Nothing. I'm just in the mood for canned soup and corned beef. That's all."
"Zero. Honestly! Come on...!" Kaname pleaded, hurt that Zero would suspect such a thing – and not a little put out at the thought of his charges eating canned goods – but the teen didn't relent.
"No! Let's leave this place."
The group continued on to the carriage. Zero took down the provisions and threw the cans to the pureblood to open, forbidding him to return to the ruins when he looked at them in obvious distaste. They'd had enough of this place. The sooner they were gone the better. The sooner they were on their way, the sooner they could return...
Home.
"ZERO. I TOLD YOU. We'll take the next shift. Go get some sleep."
"No, thanks. I'm not sure I should leave you two al..."
Zero suddenly closed his mouth blinked sleepily with some suspicion at the brunette vampire then nodded off, almost falling off the seat. Ichiru caught him gently and prepared to lift him but found he had some "assistance".
"I was just thinking of doing that myself. You surprised me."
"I've had some practice. It's quite useful when dealing with worried siblings."
"Yes..." Kaname waited until Zero was safely installed inside the carriage before turning back to Ichiru. He liked the relaxed atmosphere that had finally descended on them and didn't want to touch on the topic of his abandonment again so soon. "It could be a lot cleaner, you know. It's only because you are still unsure of yourself but confidence will come with time and practice."
Ichiru nodded simply and picked up the reins, slapping them once against the rump of the horses. He was less than enthusiastic about any of his vampire powers and it showed. They were hardly any consolation for what he had become...
"I wonder," Kaname mused nonchalantly, leaning back in the seat with his arm draped over the back rest behind the teen, "if you are ready to go get something to eat."
Ichiru frowned, puzzled, looking across at the lounging brunette.
"Haven't we just...?"
Ichiru's attention snapped back on the road as Kaname looked at him with an eyebrow raised.
"No. I'm not."
"Ichiru. You'll have to learn to hunt sometime. You must be 'hungry' by now..."
"No. I'm not, actually. I feel great."
"Really! Then... you must have had blood. New vampires need quite a bit as their bodies adapt."
Kaname was speaking softly, calmly, his patience and affection for this boy clearly evident but Ichiru ignored him, his attention seemed riveted by the task at hand. Kaname sighed and yanked the reins away, tossing them away onto the horses.
"Hey! What the hell are you...?!"
"I think you should let me take over. At least until we have finished this conversation."
"I don't want to talk about it, alright! Why don't you leave me alone...?"
Ichiru gasped as they lifted into the air and sped up, the noise of the protesting animals seemed loud until they suddenly became silent. There was no sound from the carriage itself. The boy guessed the occupants were out as well. Ichiru threw his hands down in defeat. Kaname would have to show off.
"There. Now we can talk."
"Didn't you hear me...?"
"Did Zero feed you?"
"Maybe," Ichiru offered petulantly.
"Ichiru," Kaname growled warningly. "Do you like when I'm upset...?"
"It was Seiren, okay? She saw I was suffering and insisted I..." Ichiru couldn't finish. He was still disgusted. Kaname's eyebrows nearly hit his hairline as he grabbed the teen's shoulder and pulled him around so he could meet his face, his eyes.
"Seiren... fed you, you said? Insisted?"
"Yes!" Ichiru practically exclaimed, shocked at Kaname's response. Did he think that...? "I didn't force her to, if that's what you mean! I wanted to wait until we'd found you!"
Kaname released Ichiru and stared off into the distance, his mind whirring. Of course he didn't force her. Purebloods couldn't be forced to do much of anything, especially not by a level "D" vampire. Which meant Seiren had wanted him – a duprodiss (a pathetic excuse for a vampire, usually applicable to ex-human ones) - to drink her blood. Wanted it. Which meant only one thing to pureblood. More so in her case. She was much more of a traditionalist than he had ever been on a bad day. Kaname was floored. Was she that much concerned for her future? Did she really think that he wouldn't take care of her? Sure he had run off but he would have come back eventually. When he'd found the strength to deal with... them. Kaname sighed, closing his eyes. Maybe she'd had a point. But Ichiru? There would have been nobles that would fall over themselves. Do anything. Kill! For the opportunity she had given this novice. Ichiru didn't even like the idea of drinking blood. How would he appreciate the magnitude of being chosen to form a blood bargain with a pureblood? The power he had received from it? Fathom the length of time he would now live? What was expected of him? That... she regarded him as hers?
Kaname shook his head, opening his eyes. Maybe he was overreacting. He had planned to do the same thing for him if the need arose. He had expected it would take some measure of effort to convince Ichiru to hunt. He had been prepared to let him starve then present him with the opportunity to drink. It usually worked. But if he had proved more stubborn, and the need arose, he would have slaked his thirst rather than see him suffer. After all, his becoming a vampire had been his fault. But that was all! He wouldn't have exacted anything in return. It would have come forth from his love for him. His own need to see him happy. He was almost certain Seiren would not have had this motivation.
"Ichiru..."
"Yes? What is it?" Ichiru prodded as Kaname again fell silent. He'd been watching the brunette's stricken expression ever since he'd grabbed him. Did he still think he'd take advantage of his disabled aunt? Ichiru did wonder although Kaname didn't feel angered. Instead he looked tortured...
"Nothing. It... was another surprise, that's all. You are very lucky. Pure blood quenches the thirst for a much longer duration than human blood. Perhaps... that's why she did it..." Unlikely but possible. Kaname sighed. His values dictated he speak to her first before determining what the lesser vampire wanted, as much as he ached to make sure Ichiru was fine with this. It was the hierarchy of their world. One he had himself brutally enforced.
"That's very likely since you had run off and left us. I told her I could wait for you but she made me. I couldn't even bite properly. It's like my fangs have a mind of their own. I botched the effort considerably. She even flinched in pain but I couldn't stop myself. I was so..."
Kaname leaned forward and groaned loudly, cutting Ichiru off. That as much as confirmed it. These humans. You take your eye off of them for one minute and they got into all sorts of bother...
"Kaname! Watch it! We're falling!"
Well that was a good idea. Descend now and have this out with her. He had no illusions that she was asleep anyway. Kaname slowed down the rate of descent considerably and soon they landed on a road heading in the general westerly direction they had been travelling, the horses placed gently onto the surface. But they soon sprang up, pulling the cart forward a bit before Ichiru grabbed the reins and began to make soothing noises.
"Wait here."
Kaname was gone by the time Ichiru looked over.
"Kaname?" Ichiru positioned the brake and dismounted looking around him. Nothing. Where had he gone? Was he sick? "Kaname!" he called again, more irritated than anything. Where the devil had he disappeared to?
SEIREN was placed carefully but without too much ceremony onto her feet and she had only just regained her posture before Kaname faced her some fifteen feet away, as if wary of an adversary. Honestly, did he think she was in any condition to be dangerous to him?
"Do you have anything to say to me?"
Seiren sighed in frustration. She had lots to say. She had the grimmest scolding of his life building in every fibre of her being. But she could articulate none of it. However, she did know what he was in a snit about. Her hearing was fine after all...
Kaname saw as Seiren nodded once, pointed toward the road and then clasped the same hand to her chest. That's it. He was right.
"Dammit, Seiren-ken! You know those children are off limits! They are mine!"
Seiren stamped, her angry aura escaping.
"Y... L..." She sighed in frustration then pointed to Kaname and then waved away, denoting what Ichiru had been telling him all evening.
"I told you where I was going! I told you I would be back! I made sure you were 'fed' before I left! You could have lasted until I returned!"
Seiren made an upturned palm gesture and pointed at the road again.
"So what? He had his brother. He may even have gone hunting eventually if you'd left well enough alone...!"
Seiren slapped her chest again. And again. I want him. I want him! Her eyes told him the rest. You owe me that. You owe me that! The hell she was going to explain that she'd grown attached to and trusted a "D" vampire, even if she could speak it.
Kaname ran his fingers through his hair. He looked over to where Ichiru stood squinting into the dark, oblivious to his being the subject of a pureblood property battle.
"He can't even see us. He may drink blood but he is still very much like a human boy. In denial. No respect. You can have anybody. I can get you anybody!"
Seiren thumped her chest again and Kaname turned away as if he couldn't stand to see it.
"Why? Why him? Because... of what I did to you? You've figured out the easiest way to punish me, is that it?"
Kaname didn't need an answer. Seiren was adamant, whatever her reasons. It was either he killed her now or let her have what she wanted. Ichiru. With no interference from him. Kaname was in anguish. She knew. She knew he loved them...
Seiren reached out and turned him around to face her. She smiled up soothingly into his face, stroking his hair back from it like she used to do when he had been a little boy, first coming to her after the death of his parents. She pointed to the road again and then pressed her right hand to her heart. She then grabbed his hands and brought them to her lips in a show of allegiance and devotion. She meant Kaname no harm but she wanted Ichiru. She liked him. She would teach him. And... she would not take him away from him. She smiled up at him again as she clasped his hands to her chest. Trust me...
Kaname too finally smiled and leaned forward to kiss her forehead. She wasn't challenging him. This was simply what she wanted. And why should he deny her this one request? Especially after everything she had given up for him? He had to try to be reasonable.
"I feel like I should tell him. They insist that I don't keep such things from them. That is the relationship we have. But he won't like it. He'll insist that no-one owns him and it will only go downhill from there..."
Seiren shook her head vigorously and winked. There was more than one way to tame a lion. She turned to walk back to the road, pulling Kaname with her. Kaname let her lead him, taking the time to think on the development. She was much better already than when he'd last seen her those weeks ago. Yuuki had been telling him about how they had been caring for her and not only had he been again touched by the kindness of these children, he had been impressed by her progress. She moved around, slowly but determinedly, and even though she lost her words the children understood her well enough. It had been quite a thing to watch she and the others communicate. They had developed their own rapport and Kaname did know Seiren was honouring their efforts by taking Ichiru to her... It was just that they would never understand. It would have to be finessed somehow. They may even notice Kaname deferring to Seiren where the teen was concerned.
"He won't like it when he finds out," Kaname said again, quite worried as he noticed Ichiru finally spot them and wave, but… he resolved to accept this. "However... he does have a thing for older women. I suppose he may grow to love you... All I ask is... that you take good care of him. Be kind to him. Otherwise... I will kill you and take him back."
Seiren shot a look at Kaname but carried on without stopping. She had expected nothing less. She intended to care for him, as he would for her. For as long as they had each other. That was what blood bargains were about. She had not come to this decision lightly, knowing as she did what was at stake. But she expected to never regret it.
SHOULD HE TELL THEM NOW or let them see it for themselves? He was such a coward...
"I don't understand. Shouldn't we see the roof by now?"
"Yuuki! Get down before you fall off the blasted carriage!" Zero hollered in a stage whisper, to the enthusiastic girl balancing quite successfully on the roof behind him. He'd noticed how she had leapt up there with agility and grace not hitherto seen before… and the implications of it. "And quit yelling! They're sleeping!"
But not him. He'd been too nervous to sleep after he'd turned in. He'd landed the carriage on a field near the road from town at dawn, fixed breakfast (dinner) and woke the others to eat and take over just so he could let them to drive the rest of the way. He'd get some sleep before they would find out for themselves that things were slightly different.
He hadn't initially planned it this way. Had things been ideal he would have gotten them to stay with him for a while and he would have rebuilt the homestead, sourced some cattle and they would have found out eventually about their loss but the blow would have been softened. That went out the window when Zero had broken it off with him and he'd been too distraught to care. Besides, it had only been a matter of weeks, almost a month and a half. He could be forgiven for not being completely ready to deal with it but not for being such a girl about it...
"Zero, tell her to come down from there! It really is unseemly for her to behave this way!"
"Yuuki! Come on before I come up there!"
"Aw, Zero..." Yuuki pouted slipping back into the space between the teens. Sayori fixed the girl's skirts over her protests and gave a 'wait until I'm in charge again" look to Zero, who looked away from it, his brow knitted, some weighty matter on his mind. Sayori too looked away to the snowy track ahead, tucking her hands back into the fur muff she'd found in a closet at the house, - Dr Aidou had urged them to help themselves to what they'd needed – her thoughts again directed to Zero's demeanour toward her, as cold as the snow on their noses. He hadn't kissed her since they had met up with that vampire. Was he afraid of him? That seemed unlikely - she herself having watched open-mouthed as Yuuki had tried to strangle the so-called vampire prince in a delayed fit of pique at being deserted, just before being soundly tickled, after he had fixed dinner, served it, made sure they'd all eaten and cleaned up. But what other explanation could there be? She comforted herself with the prospect of soon being home. They had long ago turned away from the main road and was headed toward the homestead. How it must be in a state since being left unattended all those weeks ago! But it was home. A warm fire, some good home cooking and Zero will be trying to do more than kiss her...
"Zero! Look!"
Zero looked up from where Yuuki tugged his coat to peer into the distance on his left, her pointing toward a large mass of movement.
"Some people are riding this way," Zero again managed in the stage whisper, still not wanting to disturb the others. The falling snow did muffle the noise of their hooves but they were still some distance away. Zero dismounted from the carriage, taking the rifle and a couple guns. He turned to see Yuuki already checking hers.
"Button. What do you think you are doing?"
"Aren't you preparing to...?"
"Get back onto the carriage and continue on with Sayori. I'll see what they want." Zero was still whispering, all while checking his weaponry. The carriage was slow and the men were at a gallop. He'd prefer to give the carriage a chance to get away, using the gentle knoll to his left as cover. He could also speak to them from this position. It was possible no-one needed to get hurt or see… them.
"I don't know how you expect us to sleep in this racket, Zero," Ichiru informed, snatching a gun from Zero before he could react. Zero whipped around to see Kaname, cloth over his eyes peering in the general direction of the group. Zero's mouth dropped open in exasperation at being thwarted. All Kaname wore was a pair of woollen trousers, leather boots and the thin silk shirt he'd been found in, standing in the inches deep snow with more settling on his hair and eyebrows as if it were the height of summer. Zero groaned. Anyone that got a look at him would know he wasn't normal.
"Just let me see what they want first, Kaname! Yuuki!" Zero called, hoping she'd come and keep Kaname out of the way.
"They smell like trouble. They smell like Fernley." Kaname kept perfectly still as he "looked" into the distance but even Sayori could feel that this was deceptive. Ichiru walked forward towards the advancing horsemen, hoisting the rifle onto his shoulder.
"Coming?" Ichiru asked, pulling his hat low to block more sunlight.
"Yess." Kaname's claws shot out as he started forward, his teeth already bared...
"Wait! Kaname come back here! Dammit!" Zero whipped off his hat and flung it to the ground, truly incensed. The vampires stopped their progress out of concern for his health more than anything else. He had turned an interesting purplish hue... "Kaname! This is our land and you'll do as I say or so help me...! Look at you! If they see you we'll never have another normal day in this place! And what if you needlessly kill them? Don't you understand by now that you can't keep going around murdering our neighbours?"
"Zero, calm down," Ichiru called back over his shoulder at his flustered twin. He got so worked up when he didn't get his way. "We're just going to see what they want..."
"And what about you? Your eyes betray you at the slightest provocation! What if they see them?"
"I'm not letting you go alone." Ichiru mentioned as if it were too a trite statement.
"Neitherr willl I."
"Kaname!" Deep, deep breath. "Look. Ichiru and I will go. He can keep his hat down low for the time being. Kaname, you stay here until we need you."
"Buth Zerro..."
"I mean it! And sheath those claws! You are scaring Sayori! Come on, Ichiru."
Zero marched forward across the snow covered field, leaving Kaname standing quietly, stewing. Zero peeped behind him to see Yuuki had come over and placed her hand into his clawed one, the sharp blades retracting finally as he squeezed her hand, before training his attention again on the group. They would be here soon. They'll soon see what was to become of them.
to be continued
lightpathetic wrote this but these are not her characters. Hey belong to Vampire Knight.
I'm getting started by writing something and hopefully the mental block goes away and my muse comes to rescue me from drowning. I have a couple chapters to play with before 40 anyway so I shouldn't go over...
Rev: 02152015