DISCLAIMER: I do not own Vampire Knight
One shot is finished. However, fanfiction is derping out on me. I'll try my hardest to resolve the issue and get it up ASAP. Until then, keep a wither eye out for more updates.
Epilogue II
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"Bright."
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I wasn't sure who was freaking out more. Me, Takuma, or my dear best friend. Maria, of course, was excited. Yuki was harassing me about baby showers and it just seemed everyone was showing up to give me a big hug and a 'welcome to adulthood'.
Akemi was not amused.
"I hate Takuma."
I exhaled, ignoring her complaining and turning another page of the magazine. Akemi lay sprawled out next to me on the couch, pouting up at me.
"I'm going to be an aunt and I haven't even gotten out of my teens yet. Hell, you haven't gotten out of it."
I rolled my eyes, "Akemi, be mature."
"But I don't want to grow up."
I glanced at her forlorn face. With a sigh, I closed my magazine, "What's up?"
She bit her lip and didn't answer for a time. "It's really happening, is it?" She spoke quietly, "You don't look different, but I just feel like I'm losing my adorable little sister who'd stumble all over the place."
My heart sunk at her words.
"I'm not gonna hate him, or my hentai brother," She muttered the last part, "I mean, you sensed him the night of and…"
She cleared her throat, "Right. I'm rambling. What I'm trying to say is, you're not all flaky and anxious like I expected you to be. You're not excited or sad. Shi, you're not showing us anything."
I closed my eyes. "Do you want to know the truth?"
No response. She didn't need to answer.
"Well," I breathed, "I'm honestly scared shitless. Not about anything trivial. I'm not scared of the pain, the growing, or even the doting that's been going around here. I'm not annoyed with all the worries or Takuma's, I'm not even sad. I'm…"
How do I put it into words?
"I'm worried he'll grow up to be me."
What if he's like me? What if he's got knowledge and what would he think of me and oh that would be awkward. It's Takuma's child. How will he behave? I act…well, I act. Nothing about me is real. A façade. Takuma is so pure and happy. A mix of the two…
Just what the hell have I created?
"You're worried," Akemi echoed slowly, "He'll be like you? That he won't like you or end up being something bad?"
I ducked my head. Right on the nail.
She chuckled softly, "Shi, you'll get used to it. Look how I turned out compared to my parents. My brother. I'm a complete ignorant brat yet I ended up just fine."
She's got a point.
"He's got a good dad. He's got an awesome mom. Takuma will teach him all there is gentlemanly and you can teach him your dance moves." She grinned mischievously at me, "By the way, got any good baby presents in mind?"
I stared upwards, "Yeah. Just one."
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It had been three days.
I was exhausted, bedridden, and going through slow recovery. But it was worth it. Some sense of accomplishment and contentment was settling in me as I cradled the small bundle to my chest. The light blue walls caged around us, the small bed with stars painted onto the ceiling. My husband lay next to me, smiling that ever so charming smile.
"I told you he'd look like me."
I wanted to roll my eyes. Exhaling softly, I caressed the infant's short golden hair. It was barely there on top of his little bald head, but he was definitely blonde.
"He'll have the Ichijo eyes too." I murmured, closing my eyes and nuzzling into the pillow. I heard him chuckle.
"And he'll have your attitude."
God, I hope not. I couldn't stand my past self; I will not stand a miniature male version of her. I sighed softly. But he was mine. My child. He was going to be great, I knew it, but I'd be there for him every moment because I've been through the terrifying rebirth. I hated knowing he was going through the same thing.
A hand gently touched my check. I opened my eyes to find Takuma smiling, though there was a flash of worry in his eyes, "Are you okay?"
"I'm just tired."
"Amai did say you'd be weak for a while," He mused, though sounding unconvinced, "Perhaps I'll take care of him for tomorrow."
My arms tightened a little around the baby, "No. I like him where he is."
He laughed quietly, mindful of our sleeping child, "I love you."
"I love Haruki more."
He held a hand to his chest in mock injury, "'Zumi, you're cruel. Choosing your son over your dearly beloved. You wound me."
I couldn't stop the smile crawling onto my lips, "Fine. I love both my boys equally."
"That sounds-"
"But Haruki is more adorable."
He stifled his laughter, "I think you win the award for that."
"Flattery will get you nowhere."
"It was worth a shot."
A small cry startled us. I shifted the bundle in my arms, rocking him back and forth slightly and shushing him. The cries died away eventually as he returned to a peaceful slumber. I glanced at Takuma and he held his arms up in surrender.
"In my defense," He whispered, "You were loud too."
I scoffed, curling up into the blankets as a chill went up my spine. Takuma, being physic, pulled up the covers over the three of us, wrapping his arm around me and pulling us in a huddle.
"Goodnight,'Zumi." He smiled, pressing his forehead against mine.
I smiled softly, "Goodnight, Taku'."
A small whimper between us. We grinned.
"Goodnight, Haru'."
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"Mom! Shirou stole my fan!"
Ruka sent me a dull look at the mention of her son. I paused, glancing out the window. A blonde boy was glaring hatefully at a fiery haired one, who impassively held a small fan in the air. Shrugging it away, I took a sip of tea. It was Sunday. Whatever Haruki's problem was, Takuma could deal with it.
"This is very good." Yuki murmured, taking another sip from her cup, "What is it?"
Maria beamed, refilling Rima's cup, "Black Sugar tea. It doesn't sound very tasteful, but it's imported from Africa. I thought I'd try it out, since my uncle has so much."
"It's good." Seiren said.
Ika made a noise of agreement, practically chugging from her cup. Akemi was mirroring her movement. I nodded, pausing to take in the fragrant smell. Tea time with the girls. Why do I feel like such an old lady?
"Oh," Yuki blinked, gazing around, "Where'd the boys go?"
"Their outside watching the kids." Akemi waved off dismissively, "Or, to put it specifically, Shi, Ruka-baka's, and your kids."
Yuki turned pink. Ruka was not amused. I took a sip of tea.
That fragrance.
"The twins are so adorable, Souen-san." Ika gushed, ever the one to dote on children, "Shirou-kun acts just like his father and Meiko-chan is so mature!"
Ruka smiled a little. Maria nodded enthusiastically, "And Aya looks just like you!"
"So, when are we expecting the next one?" Akemi said blandly. She was rewarded with a cup to the face. We ignored her squeak of pain (besides Ika, who was technically her maid).
"What about you, Rima?" I sighed, "How's your love life?"
"Boring." She said.
You say that every day. I thought. Apparently, Yuki thought so too, "Are you going to be with Shiki-san forever?"
The orange head opened her mouth before snapping her it closed. She eyed us carefully before sighing, "We haven't talked about it."
"What?!" Both Yuki and Maria squawked.
Rima gave them a blank stare, "It hasn't been important."
"It actually is." Ruka muttered, silencing us, "Without communication, your relation is at a stalemate."
A flash of recognition shown across Rima's face before she turned away, "I'll think about it."
"Yuki-chan!" Maria squealed, "Yume and Toga are cute siblings~!"
Yuki flushed, "Er…"
"You know now that I think about it," Akemi mused, sporting a bruise on her forehead, "Mini Toga does resemble older Toga a lot."
"They look nothing alike." Seiren pointed out blankly.
Akemi turned red, "I meant personality wise. The kid looks more like his dad then Toga."
"Then you should have said so."
"Now, now." Ika nervously calmed my friend down. I blinked, staring upwards.
"Huh."
Maria turned to me with curiosity written over her face, "What is it, Shimouto?"
"I just noticed that all our sons resemble our husbands."
Silence.
Yuki snorted, electing chuckles from the rest of the girls. She passed the tea pot over to me and I carefully refilled my cup. Ika hummed thoughtfully.
"Isn't Haruki going to be starting school soon?"
"Already?!" Akemi squawked.
I nodded. Maria giggled, "Shimouto, Haruki is going to be the oldest of his cousins!"
For some reason, everyone had drilled it into our kids that they were somehow cousins with the others. I didn't mind it, but Haruki thinks he has a condition with all the blushing he does around Yume. The girl is too much like Yuki to notice though.
"I saw him yesterday," Rima murmured, staring thoughtfully into her cup, "He had that fan, the same one you always held when you were little."
I paused before taking a sip of tea.
"Shi gave it as a present for his first birthday." Akemi nodded, "That fan belonged to Shi-sama, before we left. I guess it's kind of cool. Like a family heirloom."
"That's so cool!" Maria gushed, "I want to do something like that when I have kids!"
The gravity of what she just said crashed into her and she exploded into stutters and blushing. Yuki and Akemi were sending her suggestive looks.
"Kids you say?"
"I'm sure Ichirou will be very willing."
"ACK-!" My relative fell back, twitching on the floor. We casually went back to our drinks.
"Mom!" A cry broke the silence. I glanced up along with Yuki and Ruka. Haruki stood there, grinning widely, "Shirou fixed my fan!"
He stumbled over to me, holding up his-once my once mothers- sakura fan. The small rip that had been made the week before during one of his dance lessons was now sewed together, practically nonexistent. I smiled softly at him.
"Did you thank him?"
He nodded rapidly, "I did! He still called me shortie…"
Ruka snorted, an amused smile pulling at her lips. Akemi looked to be restraining her laughter while everyone else not so subtly smiled. I almost rolled my eyes when I knew they were thinking about me.
"Ne, Haru-kun," Yuki began, "Are the others out there with you?"
He beamed, "Mhm! Shirou, Toga, and I are going to play while Yume-chan and Meiko plays dolls."
"Is Aya with her father?" Ruka asked, almost too casually but I could sense the demonic meaning behind it. If her daughter that was barely a year old wasn't with her husband, there would be hell to pay…
"Yup! She's with the other dad's and their playing cards like old people."
I smirked, noticing Yuki, Rima, and Akemi slump at his words. They hated aging. Rima treated wrinkles like a pimple. With extreme measures.
"Haru'," I gently ruffled his hair, "Go play with your friends, okay?"
He pouted, "Won't you play with me?"
Damn, those eyes. He got them from Takuma.
"In a bit." I promised, "Try not to damage the fan again, alright?"
He nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah! I'll definitely keep it safe, mom!"
He ran out, yelling to Shirou before the door slammed shut. Maria had regained consciousness and was currently making faces at me with Ika. I raised an eyebrow at them.
"What?"
"Shimouto," My relative had watery eyes, "You're so cute. And with your son, it's just…"
"Way too cute." Ika finished.
I rolled my eyes. Not a beat later, a yell that was distinctly Zero's pierced through the walls.
"TOGA! Put that stick down and stop trying to stab Ichirou!"
Akemi laughed, "Yup. Definitely like the original."
We sipped our tea and silently agreed.
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I sat with him.
"I'm scared." He whimpered, hiding his face under his covers. I sighed softly, pulling them away to reveal disheveled blonde hair and drowning green eyes. He stared up at me, his lip quivering, "I don't like the dark."
I glanced around the room, where the only light was from the glow in the dark stars and the small nightlight in the corner. The door was shut and everything was but dark silhouettes. Haruki whimpered.
I wrapped my arms around him, gently caressing his hair, "There's nothing to be afraid of, Haru."
"But, there are monsters in the dark…"
"No, there aren't." I whispered, "There's nothing but you in the dark."
He sniffed, "But…your here."
"Yes, I'll always be here. You're never alone in the dark, you know? Someone's always there."
He sucked in a breath, "Like ghosts?"
I snorted, "You know they don't exist."
"But bad vampires do."
"And what makes you think momma is gonna let them get you?" I tightened my grip on him, "The dark isn't going to hurt you, Haruki."
He sniffed, "…why?"
"Because I've already beaten it."
He cuddled into me, "Can you tell me that story about the girl that died?"
I blinked down at him, "Why do you want to hear it again?"
"Because I like it. She's cool."
"What about her do you find cool?"
"Well, she's brave and very nice! She was reborn and had that knowledge of that land, right? So she used it to help people." His eyes sparkled, "Even if times were tough, she got through. I wanna be just like her when I grow up!"
I squashed the blooming emotions, "Alright, Haru. I'll tell you her story."
He smiled.
"Once upon a time, a human girl passed away and was reborn as a vampire princess in a faraway land…"
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Takuma gave a tired grin as I came out of the room. I glanced back at my asleep son before quietly shutting the door. His arms wrapped around my waist.
"Your tense." He murmured softly into my hair, "Something bothering you?"
"I'm fine." I breathed, "Just a little emotional."
He chuckled, "Kids can do that to you."
I nodded, "But Akemi was right. You do get used to it. Taku…I'm happy for him."
"I 'am too. He's a perfect child."
I hummed. "Do you think it's time to start teaching him about his powers?"
"Soon. For now, let's get some sleep."
I squeaked, my hands flying to his chest as he scooped me up into his arms. I glared halfheartedly at him as he carried me down the hall.
"Are you mad I startled you?" He whispered, his lips tugging upwards.
"It's unnecessary but not unappreciated." I murmured.
He gently kissed my cheek. I sighed softly, "Oh, my knight in shining armor."
"I'd rather be the king. I'd hate for my queen to be taken."
I couldn't help but laugh, "I love you."
"I love you too."
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It's over, my friends. A glorious tale has reached its end. This will be my second story finished. I plan to work more on my other ficts, post the oneshot, post Attack on Titan Si and an ouran fict ive been working on...so much to do. But anywho, to my lovely reviews-
animagirl: Eh? No that was a one time deal. Thank you for reading, though!
GaleSynch: Ehe glad you liked it! I'm currently trying to fix whatever the hell is wrong with my oneshot file because fanfiction reads it wrong. i might just have to do a whole bunch of copy pasting. But, keep an eye out for it. I didn't type almost 10,000 words for nothing.
KuroNoAki2772: kind of wish it didnt have to either. Wasn't even going to finish this story, honestly. Int he begining, i was just testing out SI's. apparently its fan-freaking-tastic because i've got 188 awesome reviews.
kindkewtkatie : Heh. your reviews are funny.
Without further ado, I proudly announce-
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