A/N: Here is the chapter. This is the full version of ch 59, basically s2, episode 12. Early last week I posted part one of it but later took it down when I noticed it barely had 4000 words.
Warning- this is a long chapter, almost 10,000 words. If you have already read the previous update I would still recommend reading it from the beginning as scenes have added in the middle to blend in with the anime episode.
Now onto the chapter.
Chapter 59
Meanwhile, back at the academy:
A districted Yuuki stood in the middle of the burned down jungle watching the sun dormitory.
"And you Yuuki, must do what you must do."
Kaname's words rang through her mind once again as a reminder.
"...What I must do!" The pureblood mumbled to herself still in that dazed state. Like she was memorizing his instructions.
In the midst of her thought Yuuki's eyes suddenly turned wide when she vaguely sensed a presence behind. Startled, the pureblood turned, only to come face to face with two of level-E vampires.
Immediately, Yuuki reached for the gun she was carrying, but then remembered her promise to Zero and put it back. He gave her this gun with the intent to finish him off when he ultimately loses his sanity. Therefore it should be reserved for him.
So instead she opted to use her powers... or at least tried to.
Closing her eyes Yuuki willed for her powers to manifest within her. Some small to tiny pieces of rocks started to rise up from the ground but that hardly made a difference to the level-Es that were about to charge at her.
Fortunately for her, only seconds later they were nothing but pile of ashes falling to the ground.
Yuuki looked to find Hanabusa, Seiran, Akatsuki and Ruka. Seiran was the one who used her pocket knives to cut off those level-Es.
"Hey what are you doing?! Why didn't you try to use your artemis on them?" Ruka exclaimed, angrily.
Yuuki looked away in shame. "I'm unable to use that right now."
That's when Hanabusa suddenly remembered. "What about that anti-vampire gun?"
"I don't want to use it here. It's being saved for another purpose."
Ruka and Akatsuki shared a quick glance in utter disbelief before joining others to frown with them.
"Well then, it's best for you to stay hidden." Akatsuki tried to apply solution to the situation in hand. "After all you've only just awakened. Trying to fight now without a legit weapon, would only be reckless and rash."
"THAT MAYBE TRUE BUT I REALLY WANT TO FIGHT!" Yuuki argued, despite knowing that the Kain heir had a legit point. Because she didn't want to sit tight and do nothing while others fought her battle. She wanted to help! She wanted to be useful.
"Fine! Then let me put it to you in another way. Yuuki-sama I implore you, please stop behaving with such petulance. It is not helping. If anything you're becoming a burden on us."
Ruka told Yuuki blatantly and looked away from her, irritated. She was already getting sick of this newly awakened vampire's naivety and unintentional bratty attitude.
Although by no means was Yuuki a brat. In fact she meant well, she wanted to be helpful. However a certain someone had already sprayed fuel to the fire burning inside those nobles.
"Ruka-senpai, I didn't mean to—"
Seiran cut in to explain to calmly. "Kaname-sama has also given us orders to protect you from danger at all cost."
Yuuki looked down in deep thought. She too was getting a little frustrated inside. She didn't want to be coddled. So this time she decided to go for a more subtle approach.
"Just let me go, please." Yuuki pleaded. Holding onto her ground.
But that didn't help much as the group kept up their disappointed face. Until Seiran decided to elaborate the depth of the danger in detail.
"With Aiyora-sama now taken out of the academy, Kuran Rido will surely come after you to seek revenge on Kaname-sama. So please cooperate and allow us to take you to a secure place this instant."
"I understand... and that's exactly why—"
"WILL YOU PLEASE STOP THIS!" Ruka lost her composure. She was appalled by Yuuki's response to the point her blood was starting to boil.
"Look at the state you're in right now! You aren't even fit enough to hold your weapon! And just so you know— just the way we have orders to protect you, at the same time we also have orders to drop everything and leave if we find our own safety in stake. So if you want to fight Kuran Rido, by all means go ahead. But we aren't com—"
Noticing that Ruka's temper was getting out of control Hanabusa interrupted by coming in front of his female cousin.
"This is going to be a long and difficult battle. You do know what you're getting into... right?" He asked the pureblood.
In response Yuuki blinked her eyes and nodded her head.
Just then, a gunshot was heard that got all of them alarmed.
"It's from the main gate!" Hanabusa said rushing towards the direction. Yuuki followed his trail and Seiran disappeared.
The only ones left behind were Ruka and Akatsuki.
"This a losing proposition... trying to keep Cross Yuuki safe and unhurt." Akatsuki sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Honestly at this point I could care less."
Ruka's words made Akatsuki's head turn.
"I care deeply about Kaname-sama. If someone precious to him gets hurt, he will get suffer. And that is the last thing I want. However chances of that happening at this point is close to none. After all he has removed that person from the academy in right time."
"If that's the case, perhaps the person I should be protecting is president Kuran." The male added taking the woman by surprise.
"Akatsuki...?!" Ruka uttered his name in shock, even though there was hardly any reason to be. Even a blind person would be able to sense the Kain heir's feelings for the daughter of the Souen family.
Akatsuki didn't stick around to see if she would say more. He simply started to move towards the main gate, where the others are supposed to be.
Sometimes it was better that way.
Kuran Rido finally left his room and was walking along the corridor that was filled with corpses of his victims. Some still had their body intact while others were already reduced to ash.
The pureblood was dragging down a body with him. The person was unconscious, on the verge of death.
"You taste like trash!" Losing patience Rido slammed the body he was dragging along onto the nearby wall. The impact caused the body to reduce to ash. But this individual could care less about what happened to his victims.
"Why am I even surprised...? I really should have expected this, cheap blood doesn't do for me."
In daze his tongue darted out and licked his lips.
"There's only one thing that would truly satisfy me... that's the taste of your blood my precious child. So come back quickly and quench your father's thirst."
Yagari kept shooting at the big group that gathered outside the main-gate. They were so many in number that it's only a matter of time before he goes down. If anything now more than ever he was regretting sending those hunter back who came to retrieve Zero.
And the situation gets worse when the hunter realizes that he has ran out of bullets.
"Damn! I'm out of bullets. Should have brought my sword instead." He cursed, not carrying the sword along.
Once the level-Es learn off their advantage, they charge without wasting time. But turn to dust as Aidou blast them off using his power.
"Professor Yagari!" Yuuki exclaimed, finding the hunter bent on a knee. "Are you alright, did you get hurt?"
"Oh well, when you know your teacher is getting beaten up, the least you could do is get here sooner." Came the hunters taunt.
To hold back the hoard of those rouge vampires Akatsuki use his fire as a means to block off the main gate.
"Where are all these level-Es coming from?" Hanabusa asked turning back at their teacher.
"They're ours." Yagari admitted regretfully. "It's one of the Hunter's Association's dirty secret. They breed their own level-Es."
The vampires were shocked to learn this.
In order to avoid Akatsuki's blazing fire some of those level-Es jumped over the gate. Luckily they were cut off in the mid-air by none other than the legendary hunter; who appeared just on time.
"Headmaster!" Yuuki exclaimed. Shocked to see her father in his current get-up.
"Sorry I'm late." He then looked at his daughter, first time seeing her in her true form. With her hair longer Yuuki was a mirror image of her mother, Juuri. This resemblance warmed the hunter's heart.
"So tell me Yuuki, are they back, memories of Juuri-san, your real mother...?"
Yuuki nodded her head confirming and her adoptive father also nodded his head in acknowledgement before giving the order to others.
"Everyone protect Yuuki! Or rather Cross Academy."
With that said the legendary hunter jumped up on the wall of the main gate to face the unwanted guests on the other side and declared to them.
"I will not allow you to go any further!"
Then using his sword Cross Kaien managed to break down the big wall causing people on both sides of the gate to gasp aloud.
"Leave these ones to me." This message was meant for the students behind him.
"No that's crazy!" Hanabusa exclaimed in disbelief. "He can't take that many of them on his own."
Realizing the danger her adoptive father was putting himself into the Yuuki called him out.
"Headmaster!"
Only to have him correct her. "It's not headmaster! It's farther!"
"You're right... father!" Yuuki said with sea of emotions swirling in her big brown eyes.
The father and daughter shared a heartfelt eye contact before the former tore his gaze and jumped down from the rubble.
"Farther no!" Yuuki cried out. Her heart drying out in fear. She already lost her real parents. She cannot bear to lose him too.
The group remained in silence listening to the sounds of the level-Es getting taken down one after another by the sword that had woken after a long slumber.
"You're father sure is one crazy old man." The silence was broken by Yagari. As he slowly got up on his feet balancing his weight on the gun.
"Everything he has done is to protect this academy." Yuuki commented on his statement.
Now more determined than before to do her part in this battle Yuuki addressed the night class. "Let's go and find Kuran Rido."
"Are you sure?" Hanabusa asked more like warned for the last time, because after this there is no going back.
"This is not a matter of what I want..." Yuuki spoke solemnly, looking at the destroyed gate of the academy before turning back to face the group trying to put up the best upfront of a leader with clear vision.
"This is about what I have to do, in order to protect this academy!"
"The two of you may not be blood related, but you are that crazy fool's daughter! Both of you share the same type of recklessness." Yagari found himself amazed by this little girls determination.
Yuuki had a small blush spread across her face. She's not sure how Yagari may have meant it, but Kuran Yuuki took it as a compliment.
"Don't worry, I won't let your crazy old father fight alone." Yagari assured placing a hand over the pureblood princess's head before jumping up on the rubble to join his mentor.
After Yagari left the group rushed back to the school building and found Shiki and Rima waiting for them by the stairs.
"You guys are way late." Senri commented monotonously.
"Have you found Rido?" Akatsuki asked and the response he received from the Shiki heir was,
"We didn't even need to look, he has really bad taste." Unlike his half sibling Senri harboured no form of feelings or respect for his father. Earlier he didn't care much about that man. But now, especially after what went down after his father took hostage of Senri's body, Senri despises him. Even if his face doesn't really show much of it.
Rima noted the look of confusion on thier peers. It was natural for most people to not understand Senri's words right away. So she clarified pointing a finger towards the rooftop, signalling where their target was currently situated.
"He is just way too obvious."
Back at the council:
"Sir Ichio... Blood! I have come to get blood." The hunter's association president was on his knees begging the person that governed the enemy race.
"Oh... and what do have, to offer me in return?" Ichio looked at his guest in disdain. The cross-dresser's face was cracking with skin peeling off. It was a disgusting sight indeed.
"Well... Cross Kaien was extremely stubborn and I could not get him comply, but I released every level-E that I had kept around, onto the academy. It's just a matter of time before that place is completely destroyed."
"Well done. Anything else you have to offer?"
"I could give you some gossip— I witnessed the two Kuran, in the process of ...mating."
Ichio rolled his eyes. Maybe earlier this information could have been useful to him, but not anymore. Now it was useless! As useless as the man begging him.
"Sir Ichio... my reward."
The nerve of this man baffled the vampire.
"There's no need to rush."
"But I need the vampire blood now! It's the only way I can rejuvenate. Sir Ichio, you promised me eternal beauty!"
"A person who sells his friends for personal gain, has nothing in common with beauty. Let alone any need for blood when he is only a human!"
Discarding whatever bit of patience and dignity was left within him, the association president started to move towards the vampire in utter desperation.
And to further entice the man, Ichio drew blood by piercing his own neck and gave the other some ray of hope. However, just as the latter tried to close in, the vampire snapped his neck killing him instantly.
"You disgust me!" Said Ichio, throwing away the body without a care in the world.
The one meant to be traded, in order to purchase my freedom and Yuuki's life long safety... that was your intended destiny, Aiyora. But in end you proved us all wrong and rewrote your own destiny.
You've grown to be so beautiful, so strong and refined, that it's blinding.
"Hey! What is he doing here?"
One of the guards from security team guarding the main gate was first to notice the Kuran prince approaching with a murderous aura.
Somehow you've changed my tragic life into a happy one. Nothing has given me more joy than to be by your side and watching you grow up. Looking back, I wish I could have done things differently. I wish wouldn't have caused that little heart to break. However if I would have done that, you probably wouldn't be where you are today. In spite of all my regret, I know you are in a far better place.
"Kaname-sama! What are you doing here?" One guard asked.
"We need to report this to Ichijou-sama!" Another tried to run inside. But exploded instantly leaving others on the line to watch in horror before it was their turn.
Just like that the first line of defence was taken down and Kuran Kaname entered the council building.
Spread your wings and fly high Aiyora. And no matter how far you fly away, you will always be the most precious girl in the world to me...
The elders of the council that gathered inside the hall gazed at the supposed Kuran prince in disappointment. Clearly, unimpressed about how the pureblood used his powers and forcefully brought them here.
"What is it that you want with us...? To go as far as to use a transformation technique to bring us all here, Kaname-sama?" The woman draped in fur trimmed shawl asked breaking the uncomfortable silence. This particular woman happened to be the matriarch of the Souen family. In other words, Ruka's grandmother.
Kaname raised his hand as a form to recall all of his familiar bats back. The bats left all the aristocrats hand and flew over their owner, only to dissolve in his hand.
"At the beginning I found myself slowly sinking into a pit of despair about the condition of vampires.
Even after being awoken from a slumber that lasted many ages, what do I find...? You all are building the same invisible cage, without having essentially changed one bit."
The pureblood's icy cold tone was starting to scare some of the individuals in the room. Something about him didn't look right.
Shiki Sayatohi, the head of the Shiki family was among that group. Confused and frightened, he asked.
"Kaname-sama what in the world are you talking about!?"
"The decision I had taken during my first period of despair.
Initially, I changed my mind and held back. But seems like the time has come for me proceed. And unfortunately, you all you are going to be the first ones to experience the brutality."
The ones that weren't frightened before, changed their mind now.
"Kaname-sama we realize that you are rejecting the council, but—"
Sayatohi cut the person already speaking and jumped in. "Please try and understand the council is necessary. It exists for a reason. It's the governing body that builds the system which allows vampires go on existing by maintaining balance between each other."
Another person backed him up. It was a desperate attempt to save their lives.
"Your own grandfather, the respected last Kuran king had said so himself."
The current head of the Kuran family stood in silence, taking in all the information that the power hungry aristocrats were trying to feed him. The pureblood was enjoying every bit of this scene, oh how desperately these corrupted souls were trying to have their life spared.
"A system that can no longer distinguish good from evil, is a system that can no longer be used. It needs to be wiped out... cleansed to be more specific." Kaname was referring to the council's involvement with Rido and assisting him in every step.
"Now..."
The pureblood's eyes glowed red as he slowly raised a hand.
The aristocrats before him gripped their own neck against their will.
Using his powers Kaname separated the heads of those vampires from their bodies.
It was only a matter of time seconds before the room was flooded with their blood.
The group consisting of Yuuki, Hanabusa, Akatsuki, Ruka and Seiran ran up the stairs that led directly to the rooftop where the enemy was already waiting. Senri and Rima were few steps behind. Unlike those in front, they were taking their time and walking up at a faster pace than actually running. It's not like the faster they get there the easier they can kill Kuran Rido. Heck! There's about 50% chances of them meeting their demise. So...
"Wow bummer!" Rima even took a second to see all the dead bodies and ashes slumped against the wall, all over the staircase.
They approached the end of the stairway and to the door that would expose them directly to the awaiting enemy on the other side. Hanabusa looked at Yuuki for approval before he pulled the handle and opened the door.
A strong blast of wind brushed over them. The ones in front, Yuuki included, had to use their hands to shield their face. Once the wind passed through they ran inside but only to have their steps come to a halt as were greeted to the sight of festivities taking place. Kuran Rido's servants were all feeding off of each other while their master sat atop a pile of few bodies, watching.
Yuuki was appalled by the scene. Her sense of smell overwhelmed by the strong smell of blood.
"I've been waiting for you, Juuri."
Hearing him pronounce her mother's name like that sent a shiver down her spine.
"I'm so glad you came, Juuri. Are you finally ready to be devoured by me?" Rido asked, licking off the remaining blood off of the corner of his lips.
Yuuki tensed, understanding what he was initiating. On instincts the aristocrats got into their fighting stance and ran in front to shield the young pureblood.
"You have to come through us first!"
"And we'll reduce you to ash!"
Kuran Rido rolled his eyes. Amused by the stupidity of these blind nobles. If they really believed they had a chance against him, then they were in for a rude awakening. The pureblood twisted his fingers and all those racing towards him suddenly became immobile and unable to use their powers.
"You're all vampires. You cannot lay a hand on a pureblood." Rido decided to give them a reminder. Since it appeared as if these individuals forgot a fact so important as that.
He then chuckled darkly before addressing his servants.
"This is a special night where I'll achieve three milestones. First I'll devour Juuri. Then I will kill that insolent servant who thought running away with my daughter was the best solution. And once he is dead, I will finally reunite with my precious child, only this time... as her lover. Now I don't want to ruin this night by behaving so selfishly. So... why don't you all help yourselves as well."
At his command the level-Es now stood up and walked towards the aristocrats, drooling in excitement. Definitely they were more in numbers than the night class students, so three to four decided to take on each of those nobles.
"That's enough! Please stop!" Yuuki moved to help but Rido suddenly disappeared from his spot and reappeared behind Yuuki, caging her in his arms.
"L-let go! Let go of me!!" Yuuki continued to struggle, but to no avail. Like she could out-strength him.
He took a deep breath burying his face into her and released a sigh of anticipation.
"You know... you smell exactly like Juuri did."
"No don't touch her!" Hanabusa protested.
But of course the pureblood paid him no heed. The former simply dipped his face to female's exposed neck and licked her pulse.
Yuuki heard the sound of her uncle's mouth opening wide. She knew what was coming and also knew if she didn't do anything sooner, she and the rest would perish.
In that moment Kuran Yuuki felt a wave of fear surge into her heart. And it was that fear that gave her the strength to try and reach for her artemis again... only this time she was strong enough to break through the anti-vampire repellent barrier (the electricity, electrocuting her hand).
Yuuki pulled out her artemis and attacked male pureblood causing an injury to his arm.
The bright blue light emanating from the weapon temporarily blinded everyone from seeing its true form.
"The artemis rod... worked."
"How is a pureblood vampire able to wield an anti-vampire weapon."
Aidou was in disbelief and so was Kain, who could not understand how a pureblood vampire wielded an anti-vampire weapon.
"You see I am a guardian! No matter what I will protect this academy. And not just the day class students..." Yuuki swung the artemis, now turned into a scythe. "I'm here to protect the night class students as well. As for the rest of you, leave the night class students right now!"
While his servants slowly backed away, Rido mused, clutching tightly onto his bleeding arm.
"That's the Juuri I know, no wait, you're Juuri's daughter! The one she tried to protect so desperately. You have more gumption than her. Your mother was a lot more docile than you are, when the very first time I had a taste of her blood."
Yuuki turned ready to charge at him with her artemis but the vines of blood appearing beneath the ground quickly wrapped around her legs and hands.
"LET GO OF HER!" Aidou screamed but it only fell into deaf ears. Because the older pureblood was too bus watching the younger one struggle.
"This has gone far enou—" the blue eyed blonde doesn't get to finish his sentence as one of the vines thrashes him on the chest so hard that it throws him onto the ground. Making him land right by Ruka and Rima's feet.
"Come on, cry out for help. Juuri cried for help too." Rido cooed into Yuuki's ear closing in the distance between them. "…She begged for someone to save her when I first drank from her. Muffled by her tears she pleaded for Haruka to save her. The feeling her cries gave in those moment was a masterpiece."
"What are yo—?" Yuuki got cut off mid-sentence when some of those vines wrapped around her neck and started to choke her.
"What are you waiting for…? Call out the name of the one you love." Rido taunted.
For a second Yuuki found herself at a loss. Thinking who should she truly call out to. And as if reading her thoughts Rido added.
"If I were in your place I would call out to the one that's available. Not the one that fled with another."
Yuuki felt a painful tug inside her heart. The one whom she truly deeply wanted to call out to was—
The sound of gunshot snapped the young Kuran out of her thought and made both purebloods look back only to find Zero, with his gun pointed at the older pureblood.
"Get your filthy hands off of her right now!"
Big number of the council guards and Ichio's personal security team members ran towards the approaching pureblood, who, after finishing off the council elders was on route to the president's office.
One after another every single one of those vampire guards exploded. Including the ones that stopped and stepped aside in order to give him the way.
.
.
.
The hand's grip on the pen tightened.
Ichio has sensed what had happened. The majority members of the council are now dead. They have been murdered in cold blood by the ancestor, that Kuran Rido recklessly awakened.
With all the others dead, the ancestor was heading here to deal with him. Ichio could feel his powerful presence nearing.
The head of council let out sigh. Then with a heavy heart he left his chair. Only to stop after going few steps forward, he turned, to have one last look at the majestic view of his office.
Never did he think this is how his long life would come to an end. Ichijou knew one day his life would end but never had he expected it to be this way. Turning into ash at this age was unacceptable and disgraceful.
No! He refused to accept such shameful end to his long glorious life. Therefore he chose the second most shameful act— that is to flee.
Ichio just about reached the hidden stairway that leads to a secret passage. Sadly the moment he was about to take the first step towards the new beginning...
"Where are you going?"
The voice of the Kuran ancestor was heard. He was already at the door.
"I was thinking I would try and escape while I still had the chance." The council president admitted.
"I see... a wise move." Kaname taunted.
"It will be a little premature to turn me into ash at this structure."
"If you're going to find your 'god', I think it's safe to say that he's already been torn to shreds by the beast which I have carefully nurtured."
"God is it..." Ichio looked over his shoulder. Suppressing the urge to laugh. In his eyes Kuran Rido was only a puppet he was playing with in order maintain his control over the vampire race.
"What's the matter, did you not find me suitable for your purpose?" Kaname simply tried to humour himself.
"That wasn't the case at all. We didn't chose you because your are a person we cannot control. The only person who somehow obtained that power is Aiyora-sama. Ironic, how her father awakened you from the coffin and yet failed to gain his control over you. Whilst his daughter...
Anyways Kuran Rido is nothing more than a fool. As long as you manage to satisfy his appetite, controlling him is rather easy. But not to worry... you too are heading towards the same direction. Only in your case it's one specific young maiden. Which is perhaps more shameful—"
Kaname cut him off, not wanting to waste any more time while also to avoid the possible truth that was being thrown at his face.
"Let's end this conversation here."
Ichio glared for a moment before he suddenly turned and attacked. Kaname acted quickly by using his hand to shield himself from the incoming attack.
Once that blast of energy died down, Kaname found himself alone in that room. It was obvious Ichio threw in that blast of energy to gain momentary distraction from the pureblood, so he could flee. But Kaname wasn't much bothered by it, as he knew the old aristocrat wouldn't be able to outrun him. And just when he was about to follow the sound of door opening caught his attention.
"Please allow me to handle this one."
"Takuma..." The brunette turned and acknowledged his friend who appeared with his sword in hand.
"As a vampire, I betrayed you." The blonde admitted, tightening his grip on the weapon and promised. "However, as your friend, you have my word... I'll never do it again. Now please allow me to prove it to you!"
Kaname watched his friend with his signature impassive face. His deep burgundy eyes locked with his friend's warm green ones. They shared a look of understanding before the brunette made his move to leave the room. But paused as he was about to walk past the blonde only to place a hand of support over the latter's shoulder.
It was a gesture of entrusting the task over to him.
As the brunette exited the chamber, the blonde brought the sword to his chest, determined to not let him down,
"Thank you Kaname."
...this time for real.
Ichio cautiously walked through the secret passageway that was supposed to lead him out and to safety. But what he didn't expect was the person waiting for him at the end of the tunnel.
"Takuma...?"
In response his grandson unsheathed his sword. Leaving the senior Ichijou amused.
"Do you honestly intend to point that blade at me?" But to be honest Ichio wasn't surprised. His grandson was truly dedicated towards his friend. An outcome he didn't see coming. But should have, considering the boy's soft heart.
"This isn't an attempt to beg for my life. But I have always hoped that you would follow in my footsteps and one day take over my place at the council. Something my son, your father failed to do. Such a shame that in the end you turned out to be your father's son, than be my grandson."
Takuma heart broke. He wanted to apologize, his lips longed to ask for his grandfather's forgiveness. It was the first time his grandfather mentioned his father in front of him and did so with such disappointment.
Although Takuma doesn't know the full extent of what caused his father and grandfather's relationship to fall apart but he knows this much that he (Takuma) was the last ray of hope for Ichijou Asoto. And today he let him down. Strangely for some reason Takuma didn't feel the slightest bit of guilt. In fact his heart constantly cheered him on to do the right and possibly atone for the mistakes he made earlier.
The scabbard dropped from the younger Ichijou's hand to the ground.
"Let's put an end to this... let's draw the curtains on the Ichijou family together."
The grandfather gazed at his grandson in disappointment as the latter raised his sword up in the air. It's blade glistening under the soft light of the moon.
In any plan there is always the unexpected. Mine was no different...
As the Kuran ancestor walked by cracks started to appear on the pillars holding the foundation of the building. Which, soon after was breaking apart. Because by using his powers Kaname was destroying all fundamentals that was left of that accursed place.
...Pawns positioned to protect what I hold dear, that was all that I had expected of them, nothing more. Yet these pieces performed in ways that I could not predict. They gave far more than I asked of them. They shined brighter than I ever dream off...
And just as he left the premises, the main building behind him collapsed.
The most wicked twist of it all, the person for whom it was all meant for... also changed.
The Kuran ancestor turned around and watched with a glimpse of victory shining on his dark orbs; the destruction and the downfall of the once governing bodies that controlled the vampire race with pride and corruption.
I may have been the one to start this wicked game, but you are the one that ultimately brought an end to this. Leaving me shamefully defeated.
Well played Kuran Aiyora... my White Queen.
News always travel fast. Especially when it's a bad news.
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At the Kurenai manor:
Maria reclined back on the antiqued cushioned chair that was facing the window inside her dimly lit bedroom; giving the recovering girl a view of the outside world. But Maria's attention was long taken away from the outside view. The vampire had her full focus on the messenger owl that barely managed to return after witnessing the massacre at the council.
Her hands tightly gripped the handle of the chair on both sides. Although she was sitting for sometime now, but the comfort that she usually found on those soft cushions failed to present itself this time around.
"Oh no that's terrible! What should I do?!" The young aristocrat clasped her hands together in front of her chest, clutching a feather of the owl. Shivering vigorously.
For a sickly young vampire Kurenai Maria was quite observant. Back when she was at the school, body possessed by Shizuka, Maria seized some opportunity to look in between the cracks of Shizuka's conscience. Therefore she has some idea as to what that man is capable off.
"The council elders, they..." Maria jumped out of the chair at once. "Otou-san! Okaa-san!!" And ran out of her room in search of her parents.
And today, this incident only proved that her intuition wasn't wrong.
"Maria-chan don't run so fast. You'll fall and get hurt." Her older brother ran after her just to make sure she didn't stumble onto something and tripped. But Maria hardly paid attention to her brother's words, she continued to run to their parents.
"Something terrible has happened!"
Her mother was the first to notice when Maria reached the parlour and exclaimed.
"Maria, you shouldn't be out of bed—"
"Ichiru-chan returned bearing bad news." Recently she got into the habit of calling the family's messenger owl Ichiru.
"Kaname-sama has killed all of the council elders!"
Her father, mother and brother all had their eyes go wide.
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.
Same time at the Aidou state:
"What are you saying?! He did what to the council...?!" Hanabusa's father, Aidou Nagamachi exclaimed over the phone. While a nervous Tsukiko stood behind him listening.
"Master!"
The aristocrat put the phone down and turned to his butler who just appeared at the door.
"The spy creatures we sent, barely managed to return. According to them, the council of elders were indeed wiped out by Kaname-sama."
Tsukiko gasped, covering her horror stricken parted mouth with both her hands.
"If a pureblood goes to battle with serious intent, only another pureblood would be able to oppose them." She spoke like she just realized the fact.
And that made her father wonder aloud.
"But what made him do something so rash?"
Aidou Nagamachi found himself in a state of immense disbelief. No matter how he tried to put the to and to together, in the end it still made no sense. All of pureblood who could commit such heinous crime, it had to be the son of the Kuran family?!
"Has he lost his sanity, as we fear? Or could it be something more deadly...?"
Back at the academy:
Zero was about to pull the trigger when a sudden surge of his new found power washed over him. His left arm swelled up, he could hardly contain what was cooking inside him.
Yuuki and the rest of the night class looked at him in concern.
"Zero… what did you do to Ichiru?" Yuuki asked.
"Oh how dangerous!" Rido made a backhanded comment.
"What's wrong with him?"
"I don't think he has any idea how to control his power." Akatsuki answered Ruka's query.
"This is bad." Senri stated and Rima nodded her head in agreement.
Hanabusa became alarmed while carefully taking note of how the former human's entire left hand to shoulder was swelling up.
Zero let out an agonizing cry and threw his hand on the floor causing the area around him to crack and blast away from the ground. The blonde quickly dived in and moved Yuuki out of the way, while the rest of the night class used both their arms to shield their face and some of Rido's servants to fly away.
Zero got on his knees trying to bring himself under control but nothing seemed to be working.
"This is what happens when a former human devours his twin." Said Rido, approaching the hunter. "Right now there is far more power in your human vessel than it is able to contain. You can't master all that strength so quickly."
"Zero!" Yuuki came out of Hanabusa's shelter and looked at him in worry.
"Yuuki…" Zero called her out in a raspy voice in an attempt to get up on his feet. "…use your artemis and cut me."
"Zero what are you saying?"
"Are you out of your mind?!" Aidou exclaimed, his eyes popping out of their socket in shock.
"There isn't any other option right now." Zero kept a tight grip on his left hand. His veins on that hand were popping out. "This power is out of control and it's the only way to stop it."
"But Zero if I use the artemis rod on you then…" Yuuki trailed off, hesitant about the idea.
"Don't worry that isn't a weapon that can kill me anymore." He assured her. Then with a small smile at the corner of his lips, reminded her. "Remember our promise…"
"If at any time I lose the human part of me and go out of control, I want you to be the one to finish me."
Her eyes widened, remembering his words. Automatically her grip on the artemis tightened as she ran forward and cut through Zero's swelling shoulder.
The boy touched his wounded shoulder embracing the pain. Because this pain is proof that Ichiru lives inside him. Finally, after all these time they have become one.
And now he must live, live for Ichiru!
He bent down to pick up the blood rose but this time when the weapon came into contact with him it began to glow, while it's green coloured vines began to wrap around his arm.
Zero picked up the bloody rose.
Rido took a step back at the fear of his intent and in order to conceal that fear he started to laugh like a maniac.
"Interesting! But its alright. If you want to play that game go ahead kill me as many times as you want. However, don't forget I'll will resurrect every single time."
Those threats barely made it into the former human's ear. He was in daze. His heart and head only thrusting one idea to him, which is— he must live, live for Ichiru!
"I choose to keep on living!" Zero declared, it was more so for himself than anyone else.
And then… he pulled the trigger.
"Zero-kun… what are you doing?"
Cross muttered under his breath. As him and the Kuran prince stood outside the main gate of the academy and watched the bright light of the bloody rose conquer the darkness of the night.
While was busy worrying about his son, all Kaname could think off,
That light is not in harmony with the vampire's night.
Zero pulled the trigger and everyone on the rooftop had to shield their eyes due to how bright it was. The night class students managed to dodge the incoming rays from the bloody rose, but one after another Rido's servants turned to ashes around them. Their remaining dust flying around causing up a storm. And the last ray managed to pass through the older Kuran's stomach.
Once the intensity calmed down, lights of the the bloody rose died down the night class students and Yuuki found themselves standing on a sea of ashes.
"That was quite a show." Akatsuki was the first to speak.
"Where is he, Kuran Rido?" Ruka was the second.
And just when they were about to relax, a small fragment of the pureblood's essence blew in with the wind, confirming his existence.
"That's him! He is still here."
Zero took Yuuki's words as the confirmation and jumped off the rooftop. Yuuki was able to follow after him but Aidou caught her on time and pulled her back.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!"
Situation was eerie at residence where the three Hanadagis were residing.
When Min-Unra opened her eyes, she found her two children by the bedside patiently waiting.
"Mother you're finally awake." Takumi was first to speak.
"What happened? Where is Aiyora?" Their mother sat up and leaned against the headboard of the bed.
"She's the one who put you to sleep and fled." Layla answered bitterly. The hands at her side clenching to a fist, at the failure of not being able to prevent the mishap.
The matriarch initially frowned, which only lasted a moment before it transformed into a smirk. She was quite impressed by her granddaughter and was glad that Aiyora was nothing like her own mother.
"Also mother…" Takumi trailed off, trying to find the right words to break the bad news to his mother.
"What is it?" Min-Unra arched an eyebrow.
"Um… I received information from trustworthy sources that… that the council has been overthrown. Kuran Kaname has walked in and murdered all the elders in cold blood."
Layla's mouth parted and a gasp escaped. But their mother remained perfectly calm.
"What about the bastard that was running the show, Ichijou Asoto? …What of him?"
"There's no confirmation yet, but he is presumed dead."
"Interesting!" A smirk curve up the older woman's lips.
It was after a long time she her ears were blessed with some good news.
The crescent shaped moon up on the sky was shining very dimly. A perfect symbolization of the dark night that was passing through.
The atmosphere was eerie and sinister. The air around reeked of blood. Mixture of many different kinds of blood.
The ancestor crunched his nose in disgust but kept on following the trail that would lead him to Rido. In order to regain his strength the monster had sunk his fangs into every being that had crossed his path. Thus explains the countless number of dead bodies and piles of ashes he was crossing on the way into the forest.
Rido wasn't gone too far. Just within minutes of entering the forest Kaname found him, under a shadowy tree with his fangs buried into a girl's neck.
Soon the girl was reduced to ash that slipped through his fingers. But Kuran Rido was nowhere near done. Sighing frustratedly he picked up the unconscious man from the ground. The gunshot on the stomach has caused severe damage. The wound was refusing to heal. It would close briefly but reopen instantly at the slightest movement and on top of that he was parched.
"I'm not done yet... not till I devour those two!" The pureblood growled, referring to Kaname and Yuuki. Before ferociously sinking his fangs into the body's neck in an attempt to draw out whatever amount of blood was left within...
"I hate to interrupt your meal..." Rido became visibly alarmed at the voice. "...but incase you haven't noticed, dawn is upon us. It's time for our curtain to finally fall... on our vampire night."
Annoyed, Rido dropped the body, looked over his shoulder briefly before fully turning around.
"You think only you can draw that curtain...?"
Kaname's eyes glowed crimson and a portion of the other Kuran's shoulder exploded.
Rido let out a painful grunt and clutched his wounded shoulder; then chucked darkly. "Ouch! That does hurt. But you know…"
The wound that Kaname inflicted, already closing up.
"…these little attacks of yours can't finish me. In fact no attack from you can finish me."
"You're right, I cannot do that." Kaname agreed, calmly. Who said he was going to do the dirty work anyway...? "But I am not the one who will drop the curtain."
Rido's vision picked up the figure that just appeared behind the ancestor— the former human hunter, Kiryu Zero.
All arrogance and over confidence dropped from Rido's face. Now in fear he took few steps back. He already received a demonstration of the hunter's newly developed power. Therefore he desired no more, especially in his current state. The wound this bastard previously inflicted was yet to be healed.
"You're late," Kaname told Zero, "…go on, finish that thing off!"
As per the brunette's instruction the silver haired male rose his gun, aiming it at the pureblood with heterochromia eyes.
Instead of cowering away like a moment ago, this time Rido started to laugh hysterically. Amused by the ancestor's dedication. The fool went as far as to create a hunter that was powerful enough to take down purebloods. However, the ancestor forgot one important detail—
"Have you forgotten that you're nothing but a servant and a lapdog who cannot defy me…?"
End of the day Rido still had the upper hand. He had the power to bend the ancestor and use the latter as a weapon against the hunter.
Those two could kill each other off, for all Rido cared.
Offended, Kaname used his power and made the ground beneath him crack and have the debris go flying at Rido. Only to have the latter jump up in the air and dodge the incoming attack. In turn Rido threw his bloody whip to hit Kaname, but the ancestor too leaped up in the air before the whip could touch him.
"Goodbye." Kaname whispered into Rido's ear while passing him.
The latter eyes went wide when his gaze fell on the hunter pulling the trigger of the gun. A ball of blinding light forming at the tip of his gun.
But then, out of the blue…
Zero's gaze narrowed down on the long black snake slithering up his arm that was holding the gun. And by the time he could figure out where that came from, the situation turned upside down.
Kaname turned, after making a safe landing few feet behind Rido and was shocked to see not only had the hunter missed his only shot but was also battling to free himself off of the snakes, yes multiple of them, that held him captive. The more Zero struggled or tried to pull out those snakes the more they multiplied in number. By now there were close to hundreds of them, wrapped around all over the hunter's body crushing his bones and suffocating him. With few newer ones crawling up his legs.
"W-what… what… are you doing?!" Zero hissed at Kaname, assuming it was his doing.
"It's not him..." A soft feminine voice answered Zero's question.
Both the Kuran vampires had their eyes go wide.
Watching Aiyora emerge out of the shadow from behind Zero was the last thing either of them expected. Her face so calm that it was evident that she came with a full proof plan.
"Aiyora why did you…" Kaname trailed off, not knowing what to say as he stared at her in shock.
"…Come back?" She finished the question for him, rolling her eyes. "Kaname… Did you honestly think I'll let you take my father down by this hunter?" She pointed her thumb back at Zero in an offensive manner. Who by the way was now on the ground, desperately struggling to get himself rid off those snakes.
"He maybe a monster, but still, that isn't the right ending for him."
"Aiyora…?"
The female tore her gaze from the ancestor and focused on her father who held his arms open as an invitation.
"Come to me."
Her mouth parted, bottom lip wobbling as she tried with everything to not break down. But it was too late, tears were already rolling down her face.
Kaname was going to tell her to stay back but before he could even vocalize it, Aiyora was already racing. Closing in the gap between her and father with every passing breath.
A grunt passed Rido's lips when his daughter pounced on him. The wound on his stomach bleeding severely, but he cared not. Everything numbed before the beautiful feeling he was feeling now just by having his daughter in his arms.
The other two, the silver haired boy and the brunette man only watched as the silent bystander. To be accurate, Kaname was the only one watching. Zero was occupied with his own struggle.
Despite his wish otherwise Kaname could not bring himself to interrupt this serene moment between the father-daughter. No matter how lustful and filthy Kuran Rido's feelings for his daughter were, at the given moment they were pure. Right now he was a father lovingly embracing his daughter.
How that happened? Or how was it even possible…?! No one knew.
In the end it was a miracle, a simple miracle that magically brought out the loving father that always hid behind his dirty facade.
Aiyora tightened her arms around her father's torso. With caring about the blood that permanently tainted her pastel coat. Under normal circumstances the young pureblood would never get anywhere near a person who was this dirty. His face, body, hair everything had blood, sweat and mud on. Whilst she had to save her skin, hair and clothing from this disaster. Not to mention the coat she was wearing costs a fortune. And on top of that can you imagine having someone else's sweat on her? Kuran Aiyora finds sweating to be disgusting period. The only time she allows herself to sweat, is when she's in a sauna.
However, this was no normal circumstance. Henceforth, none of those mentioned earlier really matters.
Aiyora wanted this blissful moment to last her whole lifetime. But the bodies and ashes laying on the ground whispered the reality into her ear.
Nobody would ever be safe with him around.
A reminder and reality check that she didn't want at that moment.
"Daddy… I love you." Her tears wet his chest.
A pained expression graced Rido's face. It was a pain he felt inside and out. "I love you more… more than you know… more than you can understand… more than you can imagine."
Aiyora swallowed the lump in her throat but it bobbed back up almost immediately. She didn't want to lose her father. Not after just getting him back. Why was life so unfair to her?! Why was she always the one losing someone?!
She pulled back to look at him. One of her hand travelled back from his back and came to rest over his chest. Then in a split second, surprising everyone Aiyora pierced her hand through her father's chest. It was done in the exact same fashion as Kaname did with Shizuka. The only difference being, while he did it from the back, she did it from the front, looking at her victim in the eye and his heart was already in her hand as it came out of his back.
"I don't want you to be taken down by a hunter. Sadly… I am also not in a position to allow you to keep living."
"Ah I see… so now you're going to kill me." Rido said flatly.
"I don't want to, but with you around nobody is or will be safe. You will cause my other loved ones to get hurt, just like you did to Ri-chan. It is why after clearly thinking through I have reached this solution… I will keep you with me, in my heart, binded together as one."
Kaname's eyes went wide, whereas a solemn smile curved up Rido's lips.
"Is that okay daddy?" Like a good girl, she asked for her father's permission.
Rido nodded, continuing to say nothing. Only brought one of his hand to cup her face. Feeling the softness of her skin under his palm.
It was a moment of awakening for him. More like a rebirth. This time not by his mother but by his daughter.
All this time when he was busy lusting after his daughter, Aiyora was actually searching for her father. She did not give up hope, she refused to. No doubt anyone in her place would have given up that hope long ago, especially after what he had done...
Rido couldn't bring himself to think anymore. Although his heart was detached from his body but the pureblood could feel the guilt seeping into the vital organ.
Truth be told, at this moment Rido didn't want to die. Not yet anyway. Not until he became a proper father to her and fixed everything. He hardly had the time to be her father. Now was his chance, perhaps his only chance to make a difference.
The selfishness he had become accustomed to, came back tenfold as the urge to live suddenly consumed him.
Aiyora lifted her other hand to his face and wiped the single tear that rolled down her father's cheek. Allowing him to feel her love for him. Which only made his chest tighten and swell up. The knowledge of her feelings for him was so evident, so clear, that he didn't know how to handle it.
Understanding what his daughter is going to do, he genuinely warned.
"Devouring a pureblood always comes with consequences. You will have an ominous future ahead of you, filled with darkness."
"While it maybe true, but I am confident that it would not apply in my case." Aiyora gave him a reassuring smile, holding back on a sob. "Because I will have you with me all the time, protecting me, wouldn't I?"
"After everything I have done, you still think I'm capable enough to protect you?"
"It is my personal belief that no other man can protect a girl better than her own father."
A beautiful dimpled smile crept up on Kuran Rido's lips. This man was once known for having the most beautiful smile in the entire Kuran clan. For their dark world it was considered an asset.
His daughter smiled back, revealing his asset of smile has been passed down to her.
"Very well then, go ahead… devour me. But before that…" Rido leaned in...
Understanding that he wanted to kiss her for one last time, Aiyora also leaned in. Allowing him access to her full face. He was free to kiss anywhere he wanted, but this time Kuran Rido chose the right option, he chose her forehead.
Kaname continued to watch with his stoic expression. The pounding heart in Aiyora's hand slowly liquefied and slipped through the gap of her fingers.
The kiss lasted longer than she thought it would, but it was to be expected.
Pulling away Rido got down on his knees and craned his neck, giving her full access. It was a gesture of surrendering. Like he was handing himself to her care.
As if on cue Aiyora pulled her hand back before dipping her face down to his neck and gave a quick lick to his pulse point before sinking her fangs. Her blood gushed into her mouth and it was unlike anything she had ever tasted.
Gulp after gulp after gulp.
It followed a pattern.
In the meantime both the father-daughter hugged one another tightly. Tears poured out of Aiyora's eyes. It's only a matter of time…
But before she could fully process that thought it was all over.
He was gone!
The light of his life blew out like a candle in the wind, leaving her in the darkness.
…And all that remained was the coat he had on and chunks of his crystals.
Kaname blinked in a state of disbelief. The breath he was holding on all these time finally released.
His plan indeed fell into place. Kuran Rido was gone! The monster had ultimate been defeated. However... it happened in a way the ancestor could never predict.
Kuran Rido maybe gone, but his daughter made sure he departed with grace, dignity and respect. And finally, after all these years his maddening thirst was quenched. It was his little girl that made it happen and brought peace into his disturbed soul by end of his lifetime.
And while doing so, she also freed him, from Kuran Rido's spell.
...
A/N: Alright! Finally the end of a long chapter. Thank you all for reading hope you enjoyed.
So, how many of you think this was a suitable ending for Rido as off to having Zero kill him? Now finally he's in peace after becoming one with Aiyora.
...
Reply to guest, who requested DarklingXOC story: Um... I'm still watching the show and for starter haven't read the book so I have no idea about it's universe and how everything works. Therefore a story or oneshot would have to wait... unfortunately. I still have to familiarize myself to the characters and universe before I just throw in a OC and start up a story. And if I write (whenever that is) Aiyora isn't going to bw the OC there. I will have to make a new one. Aiyora is particularly designed for Vampire Knight universe.
Apologies in advance if my response disappointed you. Its just the currently it's not possible. I don't plan to start any story until this one is finished.
Hope you'll understand. Thank you for the love and support.
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Reply to guestwithreviews: You're right when you said Layla is/will be the only adult to easily accept Senri in Aiyora's life. As a mother she doesn't approve of Kaname. She wants her daughter to be with someone who'd understand her and match her mindset. But Min-Unra is a different story. She tries to see the political gain. So in her eyes Senri is useless.
Also, in case you misunderstood, Aiyora deliberately blushed when her grandmother asked about Kaname. She wanted to show the older woman that she is exactly what her grandmother is expecting. It was why Aiyora was able to trick the lady at the end and put her to sleep and flee.
Kaname is understanding judging by Aiyora's change in attitude that it would be best for Yuuki to stay back. But the question is will Yuuki understand? Or will Kaname be able to make her understand?