Chapter 52
"Are you really alright? You hardly ate anything for breakfast." Yori asked, concerned for her friend's wellbeing.
The girls were descending down the stairs of the sun dormitory.
"Yeah..." Yuuki replied uncertainly.
"If you don't feel well, just take some rest rather than going to class."
"I'll be alright." Yuuki assured her friend. "I have a lot on my mind now, I started thinking about it and got really stressed out, that's all.."
"What's going on? What's making you go through so much tension?" Yori asked.
By now they reached the bottom of the stairs.
Before Yuuki could answer, Zero appeared from the other side of the hallway on the main floor. Yori was the first to notice him and wish him 'good morning'.
Zero's presence further added to Yuuki tension. Right now in front of him she felt more awkward than ever.
"Hey!" He acknowledged them, more like Yuuki first.
"Good morning." She wished him uneasily.
"Morning." He kept it in one word. As there was nothing good about this morning for him.
Yori noticed the growing tension between the two prefects and addressed the issue instantly.
"Hey what's going on between the two of you?"
"Nothing." Yuuki simply told her while Zero looked the other way.
"Alright, let's go Yuuki."
The girls walked to the door, opened it and was taken aback to find four nights class students waiting outside in broad daylight.
The following night class members were— Aidou Hanabusa, Tooya Rima, Kain Akatsuki and the one at the back with short brown hair was Himura Sayomi, one the member of Kuran Aiyora's inner circle.
All of them looking at Yuuki with displeased and absolute bitterness in their eyes. It was evident they were judging her from head to toe.
"We're following the orders of president Kuran." Akatsuki made it known why they were here in the middle of the day. "We are here to stay by your side and watch over you..."
Then all four of them placed their hand over their chest and address the prefect with new honorific.
"...Yuuki-sama."
"Huh?! What's this about?" Yuuki asked them. Clearly not understanding the meaning of all these.
"Did you do something to make them bully you, Yuuki?" Yori asked. She too was as confused as her friend.
Yuuki nodded her head vigorously, saying 'no'.
"Let's go." Zero decided not to waste his time here and keep moving instead.
The walk to the class was becoming increasingly difficult for Yuuki. Especially with the night class members following her trail so openly and the rest of the day class girls glaring at her with jealousy.
Some even went as far as to verbally point out.
"What's going on?"
"It's not fair, why does Yuuki-san always get special treatment from the night class."
"It's really unfair! I don't understand what they see in her."
It got to a point Yuuki lost her cool blew up on the night class.
"Listen, I don't know what Kaname-senpai told you but please try to be considerate. This isn't the time or place for this."
"Shut up, Cross Yuuki!" Hanabusa hissed bitterly. While others kept quiet trying to control their emotions. Like Yuuki, they were also reaching the end of their limit. It was lose-lose situation for both parties.
"You forgot 'sama'" Rima bitterly reminded. But Hanabusa simply ignored that.
"For whatever reason Kaname-sama has deemed you special. So... we must treat you with the proper manner. You're just a human girl, you wouldn't understand. See this involves our pride as aristocrats."
Halfway through the class Yuuki suddenly collapses over her desk and cause and uproar in the ongoing class.
Zero rushes her to the infirmary, accompanied by Hanabusa, who stays outside to guard the door.
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"Are you alright?" Zero asked, after Yuuki gained some bit of consciousness.
"I'm fine... I just haven't been able to get enough sleep lately. I've had too much on my mind."
Zero said nothing. There was nothing left to say. After all, she made her choice.
"I'm so sorry. It seems that I always make you worry about me somehow."
"This isn't about me." Zero fisted his hands in frustration.
"Yeah but..."
He sat down on the bed on the opposite side and explained. "This is what it means to be with him. Just bear with it. You made up your mind to confront him for real. You can't back down now."
Yuuki wordlessly agreed.
"Alright then, get some sleep. I'll see you later." Having said that the silver haired male stood up and exited the infirmary.
Hanabusa remained on the same spot.
Hours after Zero left, his twin appeared. Feeling suspicious about his arrival Hanabusa indirectly warned him not to go inside.
"Hold on there's a girl recovering inside."
"Are you saying I need permission to enter the infirmary? I have a headache and need some pain medicine." He had a valid point, so Hanabusa couldn't stop him.
Ichiru walked inside and quietly stepped closer to the sleeping Yuuki. He held up the glass vial and moved it closer to Yuuki's lips when Hanabusa unnoticed came in and demanded.
"What are you doing?"
Yuuki woke up and mistook the silver haired male to be Zero. She sat up after noticing Hanabusa leaning against her door.
"I will take whatever it is in your hand." Ichiru had no choice but to hand over the vial.
And that was when Yuuki understood that it wasn't Zero.
"Ichiru-kun, why are you here—"
"You're so coddled! You've no idea what's going on!" Hanabusa glared at Yuuki and scolded.
He then turned back to Ichiru and threatened.
"I'll make sure to report this to Kaname-sama."
"Do whatever you wish!" The human made his point clear— he didn't give a damn.
Hanabusa stood at the entryway to the moon dormitory lobby with his mouth wide open. Before him was the scene that is usually seen amongst spoiled men of privilege. But in this case, it was a woman. Well not yet, she is still a girl!
Aiyora was sitting on the couch by the left side staircase. Surrounded by at least ten male aristocrats, who were pampering her in every way possible.
One was massaging her head. Another massaging her right foot, the same person's twin brother was massaging her left foot. Then there were two, working on her hands. The one on the left filing her nails and the one on right polishing the nails. There was also someone feeding her strawberries. And the three standing— one was playing the violin, the other was playing the flute. And synchronizing with the two, the third one was reciting poetry. As for the tenth person he was just blowing soapy bubbles.
"Take another bite of the strawberry Aiyora-sama." The person feeding her held up a strawberry dipped in chocolate in front of her mouth. The female Kuran took a small bite and licked off the excess chocolate from the boy's finger. In the process ended up accidentally pricking his finger and licking off that blood as well.
"What is going on here?" Hanabusa found himself unable to hold back.
"Oh Aidou-kun, these gentleman are helping me cheer up. If you're tired from running the errands Kaname is making you do, then please take a break and join us."
"No, thank you for the offer though. I have something urgent to report to Kaname-sama. So I'll be going."
Disappointed, Hanabusa left the scene and walked to Kaname's room.
And he solely blamed Cross Yuuki for it. If it weren't for her existence then his favourite pair would have gotten somewhere. Their ship would have sailed by now. But now— Kaname-sama has taken that pathetic human as his lover and Aiyora-sama opened up her own private harem.
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Inside Kaname's office:
Hanabusa handed the vial to Kaname and informed him of the details.
The pureblood's face remained impassive.
"So... Kiryu Ichiru had this on him." Kaname said examining the vial. "You did well to stop him."
"I'm honoured to be of assistance." Hanabusa responded and hesitatingly asked when Kaname walked towards the window. "Umm... whose blood is that?"
The pureblood didn't respond and Aidou got the hint. So he apologized quickly.
"Forgive me! I didn't mean to... it's really none of my business."
"No it's fine. Just don't mention this to anyone. In regards to Ichiru, I have no intention of dealing with him personally. He has his own role to play in this."
"But what if he tries to do something to Cross Yuuki— I mean Yuuki-sama." Out of habit he almost missed out on the honorific. But quickly corrected himself.
Kaname turned slightly and said. "That's why I've asked you to guard her well."
"If that is what Kaname-sama wishes." The aristocrat assured placing a hand over his heart. "And about Ruka..."
"I see... she still hasn't left her room?"
"Yes." Hanabusa confirmed. "She hasn't left since she learned that you have taken Yuuki-sama as your lover."
"Don't worry about it. Just let her be for now, alright?"
"Very well." Just as the blonde was about to leave the pureblood called him out.
"Hanabusa... regarding Yuuki I really am grateful."
"Please don't mention."
"Also..." This time Kaname sounded like he was hesitating. "How many are there with her now?"
It took Aidou a second to grasp what and who the brunette was referring to.
"I noticed ten while coming up. Not sure whether the number has changed by now."
Kaname jaws tightened. It was evident that he was biting the inside of his mouth to keep his rising temper under control.
"Would you want me to summon them here?"
The pureblood nodded 'no'. "There is no need for that. You may leave."
After Aidou's exit Kaname destroyed the vial while murmuring to himself.
"I won't let you use this wretched blood to fulfill your wicked ambition. ...Nor will I let you be anywhere near Aiyora."
Later that day when Yuuki was about to leave the infirmary with Zero, Hanabusa came in with the information that they've been summoned by Kaname.
They walked through the school courtyard when Hanabusa conversationally asked.
"So Yuuki, you lost your memory of the past?"
"Yes, I have. Why do you ask?"
"I took it upon myself to look into that."
"What?!" Yuuki cried out in shock and embarrassment. "Aidou-senpai you looked into my past. I didn't ask you to do that. It was awfully—"
"You're wrong!" The blonde jumped in to correct the misunderstanding. "I wouldn't look into your past even if someone begged me to. What I was talking about was Kaname-sama's past. You're aware that he parents passed away right? So I looked into their deaths. And every time I found any lead, it somehow got erased or burned. As if it were being deliberately covered up, just like your memory."
Yuuki was surprised and tried to understand what this could mean. In the meantime Aidou continued.
"And now Kaname-sama has taken it upon himself to treat a human girl like you as his lover. Do why know why?"
Hearing that, Yuuki's heart tightened.
"Because you're new status means that the rest of us are forced to protect you. It seems to me that Kaname-sama knows that something is going to happen to you."
Hanabusa put a stop to that topic once he noticed Yuuki was almost shaking with fear. And took them to the forest bordering the moon dormitory where Kuran Kaname was waiting.
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Aiyora noticed Zero in the forest. He was guarding the couple on date from afar. She found the sight quite pitiful. And since she had nothing to do in given moment, the young pureblood decided to pester the always angry young hunter.
Zero's brows knitted in annoyance when he felt a finger poking him on the arm. Knowing who it was, he chose to ignore. In hopes that the brat would get bored or perhaps feel insulted and leave. But to his surprise, soon that poking turned to tap before it changed to pinching.
"What?!" Irritated, Zero turned back and barked at the younger Kuran.
Aiyora flashed him a goofy grin showing both sets of her teeth. "Do you want some advice?"
"No thanks!"
"It's free." She batted those long voluminous set of lashes.
The silver haired gave out a grunt as he understood she wouldn't leave unless he listened to whatever nonsense she had to say.
"What is it?"
"So what kind of feelings do you have for her?" Aiyora pointed her finger towards Yuuki, who was sitting beside Kaname and munching onto a biscuit while repeatedly asking him questions about her past, which he refused to answer.
"It's none of your business."
"I actually have both good and bad news, depending on the type of feelings you harbour."
Zero crunched his brows but ignoring him, Aiyora went on.
"If you're truly in love with her, then it's bad news. Nothing can stop you from getting your heart squashed like a bug under a big foot. But, if you want to keep it within the vicinity of casual sex— then I have good news for you my friend!"
"How?" Zero asked, just to amuse himself.
"He'll cheat on her." She blurted out casually like she was giving him weather update.
"Because you decided to butt in...?"
"No, because she's too sweet. And it always happens to sweet people. Which is why from a young age I decided to be spicy."
"You're spicy?!"
"I may appear sweet sometimes. But don't be deceived by my looks. I am actually quite spicy."
Zero rolled his eyes.
"Do you know why it's good to be spicy? That's cause— While sweet is something that nauseates you after certain period of time. Spicy, always retains it's flavours. It is something you won't ever get tired off. You'll always enjoy it. The taste only keeps getting better and more flavourful."
Zero wanted to ask where she got this ridiculous theory from. But didn't. Instead he focused on Yuuki. Now more worried about her than before.
"Oh another reason why they won't workout. It's actually a secret, you cannot tell anyone..."Zero didn't bother to turn back. He simply let the vampire blabber.
"Kaname likes to go deep inside the throat. And by simply looking at her you can tell, she's too shy to develop such skills."
After realizing what she just referred to, in seconds Zero snapped his head back at Aiyora, with eyes as wide as saucer.
"Do you have no shame?"
"Of course not! I'm someone who has already swallowed. And I think there's nothing to be embarrassed about." She boasted.
Zero's lilac eyes were ready to pop out of their sockets.
"Next time you drink his blood... try to look into the night of Takuma-nii's birthday party." Aiyora added with a wink and walked away without uttering another word. Leaving the hunter all the more confused and frightened for Yuuki.
Soon after the little one left, the older pureblood let Yuuki go. By the time the sun was setting Zero and Yuuki were already walking back to the headmaster's residence for dinner.
The walk back was more or less a quiet one. Zero continued to cautiously observe her, whilst Yuuki remained lost in her thoughts.
"Are you alright?" Zero asked breaking the silence.
"Hmmm? Oh yes. Although, I feel like he avoided the subject again. Sorry... that you had come along and stand through that."
"It's okay." Zero picked up his pace when they were almost at the headmaster's door.
"Just remember what I told you before... I will never let you become a vampire. Never!"
Yuuki's already round eyes turned even rounder as she remembered the conversation she had with him regarding this matter sometime back.
Zero is trying to keep that menacing look of his under control. But... it stabs me all over. It hurts. ...I can't let Zero suffer like this anymore.
Just as her chain of thoughts ended the door behind Zero opened, revealing the headmaster and an unexpected guest— Ichiru.
Zero and Yuuki returned to the sun dormitory, after a very unpleasant dinner— where their guest (Ichiru) left without even touching the food.
"Sorry..." Yuuki apologized.
"It's fine."
"It's because of what I said made Ichiru-kun leave wasn't it?"
"No, it wasn't your fault."
"Yeah, but it isn't only about that. Both you and Ichiru-kun had some real bad experiences in life. So I don't want the two of you to keep hurting each other. The headmaster said the same thing—" Yuuki suddenly clutched her head and whimpered. As an image of a faceless woman bleeding from the head flashed in front of her eyes.
"Are you alright? Is your head hurting again?" Zero almost panicked.
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me, it's nothing." She assured him.
"Forget about my problems. Just get some rest."
"I'm sorry again Zero and good night." Yuuki bid him farewell and returned to her room.
Just as she was gone, a voice he knew all too well, called him up.
"Hey Zero— don't fall in love with that girl." It sounded like a warning.
The mentioned male turned and found his twin leaning against a wall on the floor above.
"It appears to me that your taste in women got whole lot worse." He taunted, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips.
"Why don't you tell me what's your real motive?" Zero demanded.
"I don't owe you any explanation." With that said, Ichiru walked away.
Meanwhile in the moon dormitory:
With his face devoid of any emotion, Kaname walked up the stairs, carrying a sleeping Aiyora in his arms.
The aristocrats that remained in the lobby watched their president with horror struck eyes. Every single one of them wondering what this was about. The group was enjoying a casual, lazy evening. Out of the blue the older Kuran showed up, put the younger one to sleep and took her away— just like that.
Of course these nobles had no power to questions. Therefore... all they did was just watch.
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Kaname entered his suite and went straight to his bedroom. He laid Aiyora down on the bed and covered her up with duvet. Then using his powers closed the window and locked them fully.
He sat by her head for a long time before finally walking out of the bedroom and closing the door.
And then walked over to the window behind his desk and waited for the arrival... of that monster.
The black limousine drove through the dark empty streets.
"We'll be arriving soon... Senri." Takuma declared, uneasily calling out Senri's name.
The person sleeping at the backseat woke up and sat up rubbing his eyes and wondered out loud.
"What would the fake successor do...? Now that the true successor of the Kuran family is back?"
Takuma didn't want to engage in any further conversation with him, so he looked away.
Rima returned to the moon dormitory and dropped herself down on one of the couch on the lobby. She was so tired and exhausted from staying outside in broad daylight all day that her body couldn't gather the strength to go to the bedroom.
"I'm so tired. They made do weird work." She muttered to herself and closed her eyes to get some rest.
However that plan took a back seat when the main door opened and familiar yet strange presence walked in.
She pulled her eye lids open and looked up to find Senri.
"Senri, where have you been?"
The response she received from him was a smirk. At that Rima sat up. On a close look she noticed the mismatched eyes and ultimately realized it was someone else in Senri's body.
"Who are you?"
Rima looked at Takuma in hopes that he would have some explanation but he looked away in guilt.
The door to Kaname's office creaked opened. Kuran Rido, in his son's body, walked in uninvited; with the Ichijou heir quietly following him like a puppet.
The owner of the room didn't bother to turn and greet the guest. There was no need to. As the man would make himself comfortable regardless.
"Calling you my nephew kinda gives me the creeps. The last time we met was a little over ten years ago, right? That night you hurt me badly."
Kaname glanced back slightly and noticed the other pureblood walked in closer.
"That night you shattered my body until it lost its shape. It took ten years to regain my form. Well, I guess I should be thankful to my pureblood powers because of which I survived. Oh by the way, thank you for getting rid of my fiancée Shizuka. It was a load off my mind. If I waited around for her to be like this one's mother..." Rido pointed a finger at Senri's head.
"I'm fairly certain I would have had to wait an eternity. However, she was still better than the loser that gave birth to my precious daughter. Speaking of my little girl..." Rido took a deep breath and moaned as the fragrance mixed up of lavender, vanilla and peppermint invaded into his nostrils.
"She smells delicious. Kudos to you for not pouncing on her. I've been here only a minute and my body is already itchy with desire."
He then glanced at the closed door that led to Kaname's bedroom. "She is in there, isn't she...?"
"I'm glad to see that you haven't changed a bit, uncle. If anything, you've deteriorated more than I anticipated. A father, with such vulgar thoughts about his own daughter. You're a disgraceful being; whom I want to kill and would never feel the slightest bit of remorse for it."
The ground beneath them shook then cracked and the debris went directly charging at Rido.
"No Kaname stop!"
Takuma raced forward and shielded Senri's body. The debris stopped immediately but kept floating in the air.
"I'm sorry but I won't let you hurt Senri. I can't stand by and watch him get sacrificed in the fight between the two of you!"
Kaname looked at his friend with blank expression. "So then, does this mean you're allegiance lies with the council?"
Takuma swallowed nervously. "Well, you could interpret it that way."
"Wow amazing!" Spoke a soft feminine voice.
The debris floating in the air gently landed on the ground. All three men in the room looked and found Aiyora, standing just outside of Kaname's bedroom door.
"They say betrayal always hurts because it comes from the person you least expect from."
Only the two Kuran male were able to hold her gaze. Takuma quickly looked away. When in fact it was him on whom her enraged gaze was settled on.
For Kuran Rido though it was a whole different reaction. He eyed the girl all the way down from her feet and slowly worked his way up. She was better than anyone he had ever been with. Forget that, even his precious Juuri doesn't come anywhere close. Her feet are small but the toes are long with perfectly shaped and painted nails. Similarly, she wasn't very tall but not short either. However, her legs are long and slim. Exactly like her hands. The body was more on the skinner side. A lot more bony than it needed to be and extremely flat chested— the only drawback he found. But that face made up for the breasts she lacked. Hands down it was a face to die for! And those gem like eyes— they stole his breath. Same could be said for the hair that was open and gathered on one side of the shoulder. Just when he thought he was done, his vicious gaze landed on that long... salacious... buttery neck.
Unknowingly Rido gulped. It felt as if that neck was beckoning him to come and taste it... and then bite.
"You..."
Both Kaname and Rido cast each other a glance trying to understand whom she was referring to.
"...lied to me! All these times you lied to me! Seven times— I called you a total of seven times to check on Senri; and you lied to me all those seven times."
She walked past the possessed Senri and stopped before Takuma. Aiyora tried to remain calm but it was proving to be harder.
"You were not just a friend, you were the big brother I never had. I relied on you, trusted you... only to find out that you are incapable of being loyal. You couldn't be a loyal big-brother to me nor could you be a loyal friend to him." She said pointing a finger at Kaname.
"It's better to be lonely than to have friends like you!"
"You're getting angry for no reason." Rido intervened and it got him, his daughter's full attention.
Aiyora faced her father calmly. There was a storm cooking up inside her. But for now she decided to let it cook.
She smiled a strange smile.
"The term otou-san sounds very respectable. But since I don't feel that much respect for you, is it alright for me to address you as daddy?"
Kaname and Takuma shared a look.
"Of course." Rido took a lock of her hair and felt it's soft tresses between his fingers before tucking it behind her ear.
"Daddy... I've been waiting for this day for a long time now. I've spent days rehearsing about everything that I wanted to tell you. Turns out not much effort was needed. Because right now, I'm only going to tell you about your three big mistakes—Number 1," she raised her hand and showed him her tattoo.
"Number 2," she pointed a finger at Kaname, the ancestor of the Kuran clan, whom Rido raised from the coffin with the intent to devour but failed.
"And number 3." This time she pointed the same finger that was pointed at Kaname only seconds ago, at Senri's body.
"You better treat this body well..."
"Your voice dripping in passion," Rido leaned in. "It's making me want to—"
"GET OUT!"
The duo coloured eyes blinked, processing that fact that he got screamed at by his own daughter. Oh well she was feisty and he liked it.
Rido was about to face the ancestor when his daughter spoke up again.
"The door is that way. So just take your dog and leave!"
"I guess we'll talk when you're feeling more level headed, daughter." He purred the word daughter. Then declared smugly. "For the time being I'll use this boy's room. I'm counting on you dorm president Kuran."
Then left with Takuma and passed Rima on the way.
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Back in Kaname's room:
Aiyora was about to head out but Kaname grabbed her wrist and stopped her.
"Sleep in my bedroom till this mess is sorted out."
"Fine." It was one of those rare times when she agreed with him without argument. "But at least let me retrieve Ri-chan's letter. I guess the time has come for me to open it."
A/N: Thank you all for reading. Hope you guys enjoyed. This was my version of episode 6. Please do point out if you notice any mistakes. Also... feel free to question if there's any confusion.
If anyone is confused by Aiyora and Zero's interaction. It was her way of hinting Zero of his possible options, after Yuuki is turned.
And if you guys are wondering why Aiyora didn't go crazy seeing Senri possessed. Well, she is still processing. She isn't yet aware how worse it's about to get. Also if anything at the moment she's more mad at Takuma.
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Reply to guestwithreviews: Kaname's plan in this story was villainish from the start. Remember how he was planning to sacrifice Aiyora at the beginning. At least with Yuuki he hasn't stated anything like that... yet. The main reason why he needs Yuuki awakened is so that Zero comes to full power. After all, he drank her blood the most.
The vampire society is very misogynistic. That was precisely why Kaname accepted Aiyora's accusations against him. Unfortunately he will have less trouble walking around with the rapist tag, than what Aiyora's would have faced if she would have gotten caught for framing her fiancé to break free from the engagement.