Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Knight or any of its characters or plot. I only own my OCs and the plot that differs from canon.
Warnings: The usual warnings of the series apply; mild language, violence, etc..
A/N: I've been a fan of the Vampire Knight series ever since I watched the anime back in 2008 when Vampire Knight Guilty aired (that was almost eleven years ago... holy crap), and I've had this idea of a story in my mind for almost as long and decided to finally write it down. Constructive criticism is welcome – I've only recently started to write my story ideas down, so I'm not that experienced as a writer. I don't mind suggestions, and although I have already written an outline for the chapters with a certain plot and character interactions in mind, I can still add ideas or scenarios if I like them and they fit into the planned plot and canon universe :)
I hope you enjoy the first chapter even though it is more of a prologue than actual chapter!
Chapter One – Gilded Cage
The ancestor of the Kuran family strolled pensively through the traditional Japanese manor, that was even at the beginning of autumn permeated by the scent of cherry blossoms. He had just freed Hiō Shizuka from the cage she had been confined to ever since birth – her quarters had been enchanted with anti-vampire magic by Hunters and even a Pureblood couldn't easily break through from the inside.
Now the chess pieces in this unforgivable game were on the move – she would surely take her revenge on the Kiryū family for killing her ex-human lover – but there was one small, unforeseen possible obstacle. Naturally, he had to see it with his own eyes and contemplate what to do with it.
Shizuka had hesitated for a moment when she stepped out of the cage and had glanced into another direction of the mansion, where Kaname could sense another non-dormant Pureblood. It was barely more than a child.
"She is a peaceful, gentle child unlike her father... or me for that matter," the Hiō princess had said wryly as she looked down at the Kuran in the form of a fifteen-year-old teen.
"You won't take her with you?" he had asked, guessing that Shizuka was talking about her daughter, whom he hadn't even known about.
"No, she is not suited for revenge." A faraway look had entered Shizuka's eyes while she was walking around him, the chime of a bell accompanying her movement. "Take her with you before the Council makes her their vampire slave supplier or that beast comes for her again."
"..."
After having uttered these words, she had left the Hiō compound for good, throwing Kaname one last meaningful look.
The ancient Pureblood's curiosity had been awoken and he found his way to the other caged vampire.
Behind wooden bars sliding doors with cherry blossoms painted on them prevented him from getting a look at the occupant of these quarters. But it was nothing that couldn't be solved with a little telekinesis on his part.
By an invisible power the doors slid open on his command – the spell didn't prevent vampire powers from being used inside the cage, and only hindered a vampire from breaking out of it.
Moonlight flooded the otherwise lightless room that appeared to be a living room, though it was as bright for a vampire's eyes as midday for a humans'.
Kaname spotted dark brown wooden furniture on tatami mats; a low table with detailed drawings of landscapes, flowers, trees and birds scattered over it, some small shelves that almost burst over with books, and one sofa with blue cushioning, a flute carelessly lying on it.
Yet, the other Pureblood was still hidden from his sight. Without further ado, Kaname opened the cage door and entered it, having no doubts that he would be able to leave it again because he possessed the key. Also, by using his Pureblood abilities, he had manipulated the servants to stay in their own quarters for some more time.
His senses led him to a corner of the room, where a small huddled figure sat, the legs pulled to their chest, and the arms curled around them. It was a very human, childlike pose, very unusual for a Pureblood that had been taught etiquette and how to conduct oneself from early childhood.
But her scent and the presence he sensed were clearly not that of a human child, though she lacked the scent of blood that was typical for grown vampires, which meant that her thirst for blood hadn't awakened yet. He could also detect a hint of sunlight in her scent that only humans possessed.
The girl had his full attention now.
Her face was buried into the fabric of her light blue kimono with a butterfly pattern, and her silky, silvery-white hair, that curled slightly at the ends, covered the rest of what was visible of her skin. She had to know that he was standing right in front of her – an unknown Pureblood and possible threat, and yet she didn't react to it.
"Who are you?" Kaname broke the silence by asking a question he already knew the answer to.
For some time he had to wonder if the girl would answer him at all, but then a soft but clear voice finally reached his ears.
"...Hiō Koharu, Hiō Shizuka's daughter. But you already knew that, didn't you? Who are you?" she asked in turn, slowly lifting her head to meet his gaze.
The thirteen-year-old possessed the ethereal beauty that was typical for Purebloods, but instead of a well-crafted mask that contained all emotions, Kaname could read the feelings displayed on her face like an open book.
Sorrow, hurt, hints of fear and hope, and a deep loneliness – a feeling he knew well himself – shone in eyes of a familiar cobalt blue hue he had come to associate with a certain accursed relative of his. Despite the wrong colour scheme Koharu had inherited from her father Ridō and mother Shizuka, she took undoubtedly after her aunt Juri... resembled Yūki as a consequence, though she was older than her.
Kaname was taken aback for a second, even if it didn't show on his face.
"Why are you crying?" he asked the younger Pureblood, watching as tears silently trailed down her cheeks, seemingly uncaring that the ancestor in teen-form saw them.
It was a sacrilege for a Pureblood to show someone their vulnerable side; many believed they didn't even have one.
Once more he was surprised by the free way the girl expressed herself, that made him think of Yūki, and perhaps even slightly envious because he couldn't do the same.
She broke eye contact with him then and stared down at the ground. "I've been... abandoned... for the second time," she whispered solemnly. "Why was I even granted this life if nobody wants me here?" she directed the despondent inquiry at him, as if he could give her a sufficient answer.
"I cannot give you an answer to your question. You will have to search for it yourself," Kaname said after giving it some thought. "I doubt that you will find it in this cage."
He felt pity towards the young Pureblood for even asking such questions, and contemplated what to do with her. If he should comply with Shizuka's request.
The ancestor suspected that if she stayed here, she would truly become the Vampire Council's puppet in time and give them an army of human-turned-vampire slaves whenever they were in need for them. It was an unnecessary headache that he could prevent from occurring if he intervened here and let her at least escape.
Taking the young Pureblood's life was another option. However, killing his relative now when she was just a child simply because she was Ridō's daughter and had the potential to become a nuisance in the future was a vile, unsightly thing to do, that only the likes of Ridō would consider.
And would Yūki forgive him if she one day found out that he had killed her cousin? Although, if it was for Yūki's safety, Kaname was willing to do the most despicable things. He'd already put such a plot into motion by freeing Shizuka from her cage, so she could exact her revenge on the Kiryū family.
"...If I leave this place, I won't have anywhere to stay," Koharu pointed out.
Kaname didn't think that he would ever have to convince someone to escape from a prison, but here he was. Still, he understood the girl's reluctance to leave behind the only home she had ever known.
"Are you fine with staying in this cage of yours forever then? Is there truly nothing out there that you want?" he gave her one last incentive.
The Pureblood girl sank her head again, her gaze travelling slowly to a pencil drawing that laid on the floor. It was the drawing of a human family – a father, mother and two sisters. All of them were smiling, clearly at ease around each other. Kaname wondered where Koharu had seen them.
"Family... I would like to have a family," she said softly.
'Of all the things to ask for... It has to be one of the things that is the hardest to obtain,' Kaname thought, half-amused but also slightly saddened by the innocent, sweet wish.
Just like Koharu yearned for a family, people that would unconditionally accept and love her and stay by her side, he too yearned for the only person that brought a light into the darkness of his existence.
"The place where I currently reside is not that much different from the Hiō residence, perhaps even worse in some aspects, but at the very least you won't be caged like this anymore. And while I can't give you the family you desire, I may be able to offer you companionship as your relative if you want it," he made a proposition, both rationally calculated and emotionally influenced.
"The choice whether you wish to come with me or continue to stay here in this prison is yours."
He held out a hand for the girl to take if she chose so. For his plans, he had stolen away her only family. This was what he could offer in return. Maybe heeding Shizuka's request and taking the girl with him was more an attempt to ease his own conscience than anything else.
The young Pureblood seemed to be mulling over his words and his offer, and glanced once more at the drawing of the human family before her cobalt blue eyes met his garnet ones with determination.
Tentatively, Koharu reached for Kaname's outstretched hand, and he helped her carefully up onto her feet. She had accepted his offer.
Unbeknownst to the Kuran ancestor there was more to the Pureblood girl than met the eye and she wasn't quite the child she appeared to be.
A/N: Feel free to tell me what you think :)