*Roku Shoto*
I slashed down the door that seperated the two estates then returned my sword to it's spot on the wall of the dark underground chamber. "Isaya, I will probably be back later." Isaya nodded. "Alright, and be careful Roku. I know that you are strong and I trust that but the enemy you face is strong as well." Isaya walked over to me and and rested a hand against my chest. "Just remember that he will not hesitate to sacrifice that which you both hold dear." He then turned and headed back up the tunnel but he then stopped and looked back at me. "Remember Roku, keep you're friends close, and you're enemies closer." I nodded then turned and ran through the passage towards the Kuran Estate.
*Kaname Kuran*
I sat in the underground part of the Kuran Manor, a top my coffin. 'What were you waiting for inside this cold coffin?' I knotted a hand into my hair. "... I wasnt waiting for anything." Why was I stuck with this pest? 'Ah but you were waiting werent you...? A contradiction. There's a huge contradiction inside you. And that contradiction is making you suffer. That's why you came here. You want to watch over your beloved bird as she flaps her young wings... But you also want to tear off those wings. And what of the other bird that you constantly hold captive. You love her and yet you dont. You wish to hurt her, and yet you dont. What is the origin... of that contradiction?' I stood. 'What you were waiting for as you slept in here... Will it never come back to you? Is there not even the slightest hope? Contradiction and Despair. That is what you are. What you'll forever be.' I glared at Rido. "Be quiet. He is coming."
*Roku Shoto*
I ran through the passage towards the Kuran Estate. I then stopped at a door with another Kuran Crest on it. I walked to the doors and pushed them open, revealing Kaname. "What is it that you want Roku?" He asked with a glare. "Nothing, I simply came here to reclaim what is mine." I stated, meeting Kaname's glare with my own. "To reclaim what is yours? Last time I checked everything within this estate belongs to me." I snarled. "Really, well if Akira belongs to you why did you leave her all alone on that train?" He gasped and I pulled my bloody rose out, pointing it at his head. That was when Seiren came up from behind me and threw three daggers at me. I flipped back out of the way but was kicked in the ribs and sent flying back into the wall by Kaname. I pushed away from the wall then stood and looked at him as he picked up my bloody rose from the ground. "That's playing dirty Kaname." I stated venomously as blood dripped down my face. He then pointed the bloody rose at my head. "This will be the end, Roku Shoto. I will not allow you're existence to continue any longer."
*Akira Kuran*
Darkness enveloped everyone and everything in it's path. Like a spider web ensnaring all of it's prey. Why was I stuck in this spider web? Destined to forever be alone. Destined to forever be un-happy. He had left me just as fast as he had arrived. Why did he always leave me? I looked at my hands. My nail polished was chipped and almost all of my nails had broken. I then burried my face in my hands. Why did Kaname do this to me? I didnt understand! Tears rolled down my cheeks and I sat up. Why was I sitting here crying like a little baby!? I punched the bed. Why else? Because that was the only thing I had left. Kaname had taken away all other options. I couldnt leave. I couldnt take out my frustrations on other's. But because Kaname wasnt here I also couldnt calm down. I stood then headed out of Kaname's bedroom. The moment I walked from his room two scents hit my nose; the scent of Yuki's blood and the scent of Roku's blood. But neither scent were strong enough for me to assume they were dead. Besides if Roku was dead I would feel it. But in all honesty I needed to try again. I needed to try to get away from this place again. I ran down to the front door then grabbed my jacket and put it on followed by my shoes and a scarf. I then ran from the house and out into the open country side towards the woods. No one seemed to be following me. That was when I felt something watching me. I stopped and looked around. From in the snow to my right I could see a pair of crystal blue eyes peeking out. From one of the trees in the woods I could see a set of yellow eyes watching me and from the tree line I could see a pair of red eyes watching me. He was still watching me. I formed my familiar at my side, my familiar taking the shape of a large snow leopard. I then headed into the woods, all three of the other familiars following me silently. The silence scared me, I would admit but it didnt matter. I had four familiars watching me. After a few minutes Roku's familiar began to walk at my side and after a few more Kaname and Rokuro's familiars decided to stop lurking and one walked in front of me while the other walked behind me. I glanced at Kaname's familiar which was walking in front of me. He was still watching me. Still protecting me. Why? Why couldnt he just leave me alone? That was when I heard a rustle from the trees. I narrowed my eyes and looked around. That was when I heard something behind me and I quickly spun, drawing my blood whip and whiping towards who or whatever was behind me. I heard a sigh and looked back at Headmaster Cross. I gasped then quickly let my bloodwhip return to my finger and gently sucked at the prick. "I am so sorry." He smiled. "That's alright. I guess it's payback for me almost taking you're head off during the whole Rido incident at Cross Academy." I laughed. "I guess it is." He looked at the four familiar's that were glaring at him. "I assume the wolves are Kaname's and Roku's and the leopards belong to you and you're brother." I nodded. "Well what are you doing away from the Kuran Estate?" I let out an exasperated sigh. "I didnt want to stay there anymore~!" I stated with a huff.
*Roku Shoto*
I sat in a chair letting a girl bandage the wound on the side of my head while I watched Akira through my familiar. I hadnt been particularliy impressed at the outcome of my battle with Kaname. He had grazed the side of my head with my own bloody rose. I closed my eyes and bit at my bottom lip. Isaya then walked in with an ice pack. "Who fled, you or him?" He asked. "He did. This was of course after he cheated me and shot me with my own weapon. We were fighting and he was about to kill me when he started bad-mouthing Toma then fled." The servant left and Isaya handed me the ice pack which I rested against my forehead. "What do you mean after he cheated you?" He asked. "He used his servant Seiren to distract me then attacked when I wasnt even looking." Isaya nodded. "That does sound like cheating to me." I nodded. "I know, because it is cheating." I let out a huff as Isaya sat down beside me. "What about Akira?" He asked. "She is fine. She left the Kuran Estate and is now in the woods with Kaien." He nodded. "I suppose that she is safer with him than she is with Kaname." I nodded. "Yes, I agree. Im not particularily fond of him but I do like him a hell of a lot more than Kaname." Isaya chuckled. "No need to get so upset. Breath Roku." I let out a sigh then inhaled. "There I breathed." I stated, looking away from Isaya. "But I wonder what Toma did that drew him away from the Kuran Estate." I looked down. "I dont know, but from what I can tell he probably hurt Yuki Kuran, Kaname's little sister." He nodded. "That does make sense. They are engaged right?" I nodded. "Yes, Kaname and Yuki are engaged." There was a small silence but Isaya soon shattered that silence. "What about Akira?" He asked. "Well she used to be engaged to her twin brother, Rokuro but after he dissapeared she was betrothed to her half brother Senri Shiki, who is half aristocrat, half pureblood." He tilted his head. "And where do you and Kaname fit into that equation?" I let out a sigh then looked down again. "We dont, but we do. It's complicated. Akira loves Kaname. Kaname loves Yuki. Yuki loves Zero and Kaname, and I love Akira. It's a circle of complete unfulfillment. But I guess Kaname and I do also fit into that because we are both her lovers." He shook his head slightly. "Both of you are her lovers?" He asked and I nodded. "Yes." Isaya then sighed. "You're relationship with the Kuran family is obviously very warped. You are the enemy of two of the remaining four members of the family and are the lover of one of the remaing two members of the family." I let out a huff. "Actually Rokuro and I are more of allies then we are enemies because we both hate Kaname. Besides..." I trailed off. "What is it Roku?" Asked Isaya earning a small shake of the head from me. "It's nothing Isaya." I stated as my mind flashed back to that day. The day when Rokuro had revealed his true self to me.
~1 Year Earlier~
I glared at Rokuro as he held me up against the wall by the neck. Blood poured from a large cut on the back of my head, staining my light blonde hair. "Why didnt you protect her!?" I gasped and my mind flashed back to when Takuma had walked into the dorms with Akira. She had seemed frightened of everything. She was quivering and I could see dried tears streaking her beautiful face. She had looked dirty. Her hair looked greasy and her eyes looked dull. She had looked like she would burst into tears at any moment. On top of that she could barely stand let alone walk. I had refused to go near her. I was ashamed of myself. I hadnt been there to protect her when she needed me. "Im sorry Rokuro." I stated, narrowing my eyes at him. "You swore to protect her did you not?" He asked and I nodded. "Yes I did." His glare continued to intensify. "THEN WHY DIDNT YOU!?" I looked away as Rokuro released me allowing me to sink down to my knees. I ran a hand through my hair and two tears rolled down my cheeks. "I was stupid. I swore to protect her and yet I left her all alone with Senri. I knew Rido was going after them and yet I thought that Senri alone could protect her. It's my fault she got hurt. It's my fault she is constantly scared. Im sorry." He snarled. "YOU IDIOT! I dont need you to freaking apologize to me!" I glanced up at him. "We will be allies and protect her together from now on. OKAY!?" I gasped then nodded. Rokuro turned to walk away then stopped and looked back at me. "But just remember that if you ever fail to protect her from Rido OR Kaname again, I will kill you."
~Present~
I ran a hand through my hair. I had to protect Akira from Kaname or Rokuro would have my head. If Kaname managed to hurt her then I knew that Rokuro would hunt me down and kill me. It wouldnt be a fair fight, it would be Rokuro murdering me without the slightest bit of hesitation or remorse. I stood and Isaya blinked in surprise. "I've gotta go find Akira." Isaya stood as well. "You really should wait Roku. It will take a little while for that to heal up and until it does heal you wont have any regenerative powers which means that you wont be of much help to Akira if she gets attacked by someone." I gasped then looked down. "I know that but still. He'll kill me if I fail to protect her again." Isaya tilted his head. "Who will kill you?" He asked worriedly. "Rokuro Kuran, Akira's twin brother." That was when I started to feel slightly dizzy and I grabbed Isaya's shoulder for support. "See you can barely stand Roku, just lay down, go to sleep and im sure things will be better when you wake up." I shook my head. "No, im fine." Isaya grabbed me by the back of the shirt then pulled me over to the couch and pushed me down onto it. "Go. To. Sleep." He stated with a glare. I recoiled slightly then moved away from Isaya as an evil aura poured off of him. Isaya was persistent I knew that much. "But Isaya I..." Isaya punched me and I gasped. My hand went to my cheek and I glared at him. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR ISAYA!?" Two servents grabbed me by the shoulders and held me backa gainst the couch as Isaya walked over to me and stood right in front of me. "Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing Isaya?" That was when he covered my eyes and I gasped as my mind went blank and I collapsed forward against my cousin.
*Isaya Shoto*
I caught Roku as he fell forward and looked at my baby cousin. The Shoto family, like most pureblood families was a small one consisting of only three people. Myself, my wife who still lay asleep inside this estate, and Roku. Because of this I was a little more than hesitant to allow Roku to go and protect a girl who could possibly get him killed, either through her own stupidity or the extreme over protectiveness of her twin brother. But if you asked me all of the problems the vampire society seemed to be having now seemed to link back to the Kuran Family. Was it a coincidence that Lord Ouri died at a Kuran Family Soiree? Was it a coincidence that Yuki Kuran was going around telling purebloods that she would kill them when they could no longer stand their eternal lives? Was it a coincidence that Rokuro had threatened another pureblood with his life? Was it a coincidence that Roku had gotten hurt by Kaname while trying to protect Akira? No. Not all of these things could be coincidence. It couldnt be, could it? I shook my head slightly. The only thing that I knew for sure at this point was that the Kuran Family seemed the be the center of all of our problems.
*Akira Kuran*
I walked with Kaien into town and towards the Vampire Hunter Association HQ. When we got there we both stopped at the front of the building. "Alright Akira, I have already called for a car that will take you to the Shiki Estate." I smiled. "Thanks so much Kaien." He nodded. "Dont worry about it, afterall it is the least that I could do. It's also something that Juri and Haruka would have wanted me to do. They would want me to make sure you were safe." I blinked in surprise at the mention of Lady Juri and Lord Haruka. My mind flashed back to all the good times I had with them. "I guess it is what they would have wanted you to do, huh?" He nodded as the car pulled up. "Alright, thanks for everything Kaien, bye." He nodded then waved as I got into the car followed by Roku's familiar. I would make it to the Shiki Estate in an hour or two. Senri had already been informed that I was heading there so he would probably be back around the same time as me. "Thank you for taking me to the Shiki Estate." The driver nodded. "Dont worry about it. After all the Vampire Hunter Association and the new Senate had an alliance so the least we can do is try to keep the purebloods safe." I nodded. I then wrapped my arms around Roku's familiar and burried my face into it's fur. I knew that Kaname and Rokuro's familiars were still following the vehicle and the fact that they were made me feel safe. Maybe it was just a false sence of security but that was how I felt. It wanst long before we were out of town and heading towards the open country side but after about an hour of driving through the country side I noticed Roku's familiar's ears prick. He began to sniff the air then shrugged me off of him. That was when the car was knocked over onto it's side and I was thrown back against the opposite door, the impact knocking the air out of me. Roku's familiar clawed the door open then jumped out of the vehicle to confront whatever was attacking the vehicle. I pulled myself up and poked my head out of the open car door to see a pureblood standing in the road with Roku, Rokuro and Kaname's familiars all growling at him. The purebloods eyes then latched onto me and I gasped. "There you are." He smirked. "I've finally found my meal." I gasped as the pureblood headed right at me easily disposing of the three familiars that stood in his way. I jumped out of the vehicle then drew my bloodwhip as I landed perfectly in front of the vehicle.
*Kaname Kuran*
I felt a pulse run through my body and I gasped. My familiar... No Akira. I kissed Yuki's forehead before heading to the front door, grabbing my coat and sliding it on.
*Senri Shiki*
I walked into my house with Rokuro in tow. "Why did you insist on coming with me Rokuro?" I asked that was when my heart seemed to skip a beat and I gasped when I felt impending doom approaching my little sister. One look at Rokuro told me that he could feel the same thing.
*Isaya Shoto*
I gently brushed Roku's hair out of his eyes as I sat beside him watching over him as he slept. I wasnt sure why but I was slightly afraid to leave Roku. I felt like if I left him alone I would come back and find him gone or dead. That was when his eyes shot open and he sat up, gripping at his chest. "Roku, what is it?" I asked worriedly. "A-Akira."
~What Kaname Really Thinks About~
"I wonder if people would like me more if I made turkey's dinners and invited them over... I wonder if Roku and Zero would like me more... But... If I invited them over... Then wouldnt they try to kill me? Or would they be so occupied with my amazing cooking that they would instead fall in love with my cooking and become my best friends and then all of us could prance through meadows together or make snow forts together." That was when what I had just said actually occured to me and I imagined myself prancing through a field of flowers with Zero and Roku. I shook my head vigorously, that thought made me want to be sick. "No, that would be disgusting." Rido sighed. 'No duh.'