Disclaimer: Neither Harry Potter or Vampire Knight is mine. I don't claim the characters. They belong to J.K. Rowling and Matsuri Hino respectively. I also don't make a profit from writing this. Thank you.
Warnings: Foul language and some bashing.
A/N:
"Vampire" - Talking
'Vampire' – Thinking
Edited 02/08/2019
Chapter 3
The next three months after the first visit to the Kiryu family passed in a blur for Willow. After that visit, her father took her over there every other day in the hopes that she would make friends with the boys.
Admittedly, going to the Kiryu's so much had made her closer to Zero and she can honestly say that he was becoming her best friend in this world, though out loud she would only call him her henchman in the making.
Ichiru on the other hand… still gets on her nerves something fierce.
Every chance he got, he would start a fight with her knowing that she wouldn't retaliate physically because Zero would get a distressed and worried look in his eyes.
At first, she had no problem getting into a scuffle with him until one time it caused Ichiru to have an attack. Though he doesn't have asthma, his body did seize up on them and he had trouble catching his breath. He ended up developing a small fever from the stress his body went through earlier that day.
She was scolded not only by the adults, but by Zero as well. She did not take it lying down considering it wasn't like she knew she would cause him to have an attack. She also wasn't the one who started it either, even if she was the one who threw the first punch.
Not having much ground to argue with in the first place, her words weren't really listened to. Which she found to be unfair.
'How was I suppose to know that he would have an attack so easily when I was never told that it could happen nor did he have one all the other times we got in a physical fight together?' She thought angrily.
Zero, however, was able to make her feel slightly guilty about the ordeal when he looked at her like she was the worst being in the world. She didn't like it; he should only look at her with adoration in his eyes just like her father. She didn't apologize for she's not the type to do so and it's beneath her as well but she never fought Ichiru physically again after that even if he does try to provoke her. Besides, she knows how to use her words very effectively either way.
Once, she made a proud man cry just from her words alone when she heard him bad mouth her father behind his back a couple of weeks ago when they went to town to buy winter clothes. Luckily, her father was too busy bargaining with a stall owner for a winter coat, when the man commented along the line of him being nothing but a pretty face.
While her father was succeeding in lowering the price for it, the man on the other hand, had tried before and wasn't able to. So he gave up and went somewhere else not wanting to pay the price. On his way back, he heard the commotion and decided to check it out for himself. Seeing that her father was actually getting the price lowered, he grew furious thinking that her father was getting better treatment because he was a good looking man and he wasn't.
The man was slightly taller than her father with pockmarked skin that looked oily in the light. His dull brown hair was cut short with bangs covering his forehead. He had narrow and beady dark brown eyes that made a shiver of disgust run down her spine.
It was like he was sizing her up and liked what he saw. Being only five, almost six, she wouldn't be able to do much physically just yet so she had to stay near her father as much as possible until she could. He also had a slight potbelly, broad shoulders, and was slightly hairy.
She liked neither his tone nor words, so turned to him with a dark glare and gave him a piece of her mind. By the end of her rant she had the whole store's attention, including her father, while the man had tears running down his face. It might have had to do with her aura or the look in her eyes, but she likes to think that her words are powerful enough on their own to be able to get that kind of effect.
Her father wouldn't stop beaming at her the rest of the day. So happy to have someone care enough about him to actually defend him even if it was by a five year old girl, that he just couldn't stop smiling. Nobody ever defends him. Not even his friends would speak up on his behalf, though they would glare at the person badmouthing him, mostly they know he can stand up for himself. Which he could, he just wouldn't mind if they would take the initiative to say something anyways. It lets him know that they care enough to do so.
So insulting Ichiru was much easier than an adult since he hadn't built up a defense against the insults quite yet. She will admit that he can give as good as he got sometimes. She has a theory that he looks up insults to say to her next time she comes over so he would be able to keep up with her better.
"What's with that bemused smile on your face my little humming bird?" Kaien cooed at his precious daughter. He almost squealed out loud when she turned her big green eyes to blink at him in confusion.
'She is so cute!' He thought.
"Nothing in particular Otou-san. I was just thinking about what to get you for Christmas this year." She lied.
She couldn't exactly tell him that she was thinking about insulting Ichiru and him insulting her in return. He would get this weird look every time he saw them in conflict and then start muttering something about how they were too young or something. She mostly ignores him when he starts acting weird.
"Oh, you don't have to get me anything hummingbird." He said seriously.
He didn't want her to feel obligated to get him something. He took great joy in getting her presents every year. It made him feel so happy to know that he has someone to give gifts to every Christmas. He didn't do it so that he can get presents but to show his appreciation for the people in his life.
"I don't but I want too." She responded simply.
His eyes softened with love and adoration for his baby girl. He will be forever grateful that she came into his life that night.
"Don't stress too much over it then. I will be happy with whatever you give me." He said with a warm smile. He got a happy nod in return.
Before they could continue talking they both froze at the approaching dark aura outside. They stood up from the couch and faced the front door.
Kaien glanced at the little girl next to him, saw her standing as well with an intense look on her face, and tensed even more. He grabbed her and pulled her behind him protectively, ignoring the indignant look she sent him.
When he heard a knock on the door, he jumped in surprise not expecting it. Not turning to Willow, he said, "Go and hide. I will come and get you when it is safe."
With that said he started to slink to the door preparing himself in case it was an enemy as well as expecting her to go and hide like he ordered.
'I wish that I had my sword with me.' He thought grimly.
Willow rolled her eyes at the order she was given, she stayed right where she was.
'I am no coward to go run and hide.' She thought disdainfully. 'This aura feels familiar, but I just can't put my finger on why.' She thought when she spread her senses to get a better feel of the being on the other side of her front door.
"Who's there?" Kaien demanded in a serious voice.
"Kuran, Kaname Kuran. I am in need of your help." A young and sensuous male voice replied.
"Do you know a Kaname Kuran, Otou-san?" Willow couldn't help but speak up and ask.
"Yes, I d... wait, I thought I told you to go and hide until it was safe." he yelped.
"You did, but I didn't. Now, are you going to open the door to see what this being wants from you?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
He shook his head wearily before he turned back around from looking at his daughter in shock to open the door.
Standing in the doorway was a very attractive young looking boy around his early teens. He had chocolate brown hair that went down to his neck, wine colored eyes, and a lean build. His face was tranquil with a hint of sadness and with an aura of power and age enveloping around him.
They were distracted from the teen when they saw movement at the boy's side. They both looked towards it and saw a small girl around Willow's age - maybe a couple of months younger - with the same coloring as the boy pressed up against him. She was very cute and Kaien had to stop a squeal from leaving his mouth in the fear that it would scare the little girl.
"Please come in." He stated while opening the door wider to let them in. He got a nod in gratitude as they did just that even if Kaname had to slightly drag the girl attached to him with him.
"I'm afraid I cannot stay for very long." Kaname said sadly.
"You can stay until you at least explain why you are here." Willow said with a frown and a glare.
She had a feeling she won't like what was about to happen. She had noticed that he said nothing about the girl leaving with him. He only implied that he couldn't stay for very long.
Kaname turned toward the voice that spoke to him with a snide comment on his tongue. Except his mind went blank for a second at the sight before him. For standing before him was an ethereal Being glaring death at him with her arms crossed over her chest.
She had slightly glowing green eyes surrounded by long, thick black lashes; long black silky looking hair that went to her mid-back and soft looking snow white skin. Her face still had traces of baby fat which made her face have a softer look to it but he could tell that when she gets older she would be even more beautiful than she was now, just with a harsher edge to her.
'Almost like a vengeful goddess.' He thought fleetingly.
She was wearing an elegant dark green dress that brought out her eyes even more with no shoes on her dainty feet.
"Who might you be?" He demanded after he was able to shake off his shock. He wasn't expecting anybody other than Kaien to be here.
"Cross, Willow, daughter of Cross, Kaien." She answered.
"Well, Cross-chan, I was, of course, going to explain before I left." He answered with a slight annoyed tone.
"Well, from your tone of voice, it seemed that you weren't going to grace us mere peasants with the reason of your visit before you did leave." She sneered. "You have also neglected to introduce us to your pet."
"She not a pet!" He growled out angrily, finally giving into the urge to glare at this Being.
'How dare this creature insult my sister/mate!'
"Oh, of course not. It's not like she obeys your every command and follows you around like one." She answered back sweetly.
She was doing her best to piss him off, for if he was pissed off enough, he would just take the girl and leave.
"Um…um. I think we are getting off track here." Kaien interrupted before they could continue arguing. "And Willow, you should know better than to behave like this." He scolded his daughter. All he got was an unapologetic shrug.
His shoulders slumped in defeat with tears running down his face and thought, 'My little hummingbird never listens to me.'
Kaname shot a smug look at the girl though it was wiped off soon after when all he got was a haunting look in return.
'I really don't like her at all.' He thought with an unknowing angry pout.
"Please sit." Kaien indicated to the seats in the living room when he got out of his little funk.
When they were all seated: Kaien on the couch, Willow in her chair, and Kaname and the unknown girl on the love seat with the girl leaning against him.
"Now, why don't you tell me why you are here." Kaien asked kindly when they were all settled.
"I would like to speak with you in pri..." Kaname started to say.
"Not going to happen." Willow interrupted in a no nonsense tone. "If you have something to say, then say it to the both of us."
"It's none of your business." He snapped. He was getting tired of this little girl.
"It is if it ends up affecting me. And I have a bad feeling that it will." She shot back.
"You can talk in front of her. She knows how to keep secrets." Kaien interrupted them again in a soft and serious voice.
'They fight like a married couple. Just like her and Ichiru.' He thought in amusement.
"Fine." Kaname spat out in frustration, his eyes turning red for a second in his anger. "I was on a walk to stretch my legs when I came upon this girl being attack by a..." he paused with a glance at the other girl.
"She has known about vampires since she was three years old." Kaien assured him.
'Though when she came up to me one night to ask about them, I almost had a heart attack. I still don't know where she heard about them.' He thought with a curious glance at Willow which she ignored.
Nodding, he continued with his story.
"I dealt with the vampire before he could bite her. When I asked her about her parents, I found out that she remembers absolutely nothing of her past…or anything really. Not knowing what to do with her, I remembered that you were in the area and were an old friend of my Okaa-sama. I…I hope it's not a bother that I came here."
Kaname gave a calculated glance at Kaien to convey both nervousness and hopefulness that he would help him. Which didn't get past a certain girl.
"You are leaving a lot out. Not only that, but why did you bring her here and not to an orphanage even if your Okaa-san knew my Otou-san. What is your relationship with this girl that you have yet to introduce?" Willow stated bluntly. "Why don't you tell us the true story, Vampire-san."
Kaname had to grit his teeth in the hope of not lashing out at this annoying girl. He didn't like being called out on by someone he thought wasn't very bright. After all, the girl couldn't be that much older this his sister/mate, who wouldn't have notice what he tried to do even if it was explained to her before hand even when she had all her memories.
"Why do you call me a vampire?" He asked with a deadly glare trying to distract her.
"One: your aura gives you away, and two: your eyes turn red when you get angry. Now, please, stop trying to change the subject and tell us the truth about why you are really here." She commanded with a little power added to her voice.
He stiffened at the power he felt. He couldn't stop the words coming out of his mouth even if he wanted to. "I will tell you the truth if you tell me what you are."
She raised an eyebrow, debating the merits of telling them.
"Very well, you first." She said with a smirk not really caring if they knew or not.
"I come from a pureblood vampire family, the Kurans. The Kurans are the royals even among the other pureblooded families. As such, my family was targeted by many enemies both in and out of the family itself. One of those enemies is my Oji-san, Kuran Rido." Taking a deep breath, he continued, "Our family is a small family with just me, my Okaa-sama, Otou-sama, Oji-san, and one other. The last one was supposed to be a secret between all of us but Oji-san for he wasn't told about her."
"Let me guess. The girl next to you is the one you are talking about?" Willow questioned already knowing the answer. "If so, why does she feel like a human?"
"I am getting to that so please stop interrupting me." He snapped. When he got a regal nod he continued. "Oji-san was in love with my Okaa-sama and wanted her for himself. My Okaa-sama was in love with my Otou-sama, not Oji-san. He didn't like that she picked his otouto-san instead of him. He has threatened that he would kill both Otou-sama and any kids that they had. They didn't believe him at first until one night I was kidnapped by him, which I won't go into details about. When I was returned to them, they did everything in their power to make sure it didn't happen again. When my Okaa-sama was pregnant again, they became even more paranoid at the thought that Oji-san would take the new baby away. As I said before, nobody should have known about this child except for me, Okaa-sama and Otou-sama. So we were quite surprised when we felt the approaching aura of Oji-san last night." He had to pause once again to gather himself.
She was going to ask more questions but held her tongue when she got a sharp look from her father. She pouted at having to wait for her questions; shortly turning her intense eyes back to the male vampire in hopes he would get the message to hurry it up.
Don't get her wrong, she feels for him, after all he did just lose pretty much his whole family and he does seem broken up by it. She's just not that affected since death is just part of life and she had seen and heard worse.
'Been through way worse as well. After all, living in a dead world does that. Definitely, after living through all of her loved ones deaths kind of makes one numb to people dying.' She thought before glancing at Kaien. 'At least, the ones that don't matter to me.'
"The child's name is Kuran, Yuki and she has never seen the outside world. For her protection, it was agreed upon that she would stay in the underground part of our mansion. There are no windows and she wasn't able to leave. Once again, nobody should have known about her. I still don't know how Oji-san found out about her." He stated in confusion.
"My Otou-sama went out to confront him and to stall so that Okaa-sama could do want she needed to do to further protect Yuki-chan. She used a spell to turn Yuki-chan into a human in the hopes that she wouldn't be found and would be able to live a happy and normal life. When the spell was completed, she picked her up and left while I went out to help Otou-sama. Unfortunately, I was unable to do anything and my Otou-sama was killed by his onii-san.
Somehow, seeing my Otou-sama bursting into a million pieces made me snap and my power reached out and tore my Oji-san's body apart. The only thing is that I am unable to outright kill him since he did something to me while I was kidnapped to make sure I wasn't able to." When he paused to catch his breath he glanced at the girl next to him who had hidden her face into his side when she felt the tension rising, he couldn't stop the soft smile from forming on his lips.
"When I had the strength I went to search for my Imouto-chan and Okaa-sama. That is when I came upon Yuki-chan being attacked by that lowly vampire. Now, here we are." He finished.
"I am sorry for you loss but you still haven't told us why you are here." Kaien replied gently after giving him a moment to collect himself. He knew that if he didn't say anything first then Willow would and not in a very nice way.
'What am I going to do with that girl? She is so rebellious about conforming to proper manners that I fear she will make the wrong enemy one day.' He thought fondly and worriedly.
"My Okaa-sama would sometimes talk about you and she said that you are a very powerful vampire hunter. A retired vampire hunter, at that, who owes her a debt if I recall correctly. She didn't say it out right, of course, but she did save your life once. Now, I come to you in the hope that you are willing to help her through her little girl. Yuki-chan needs a safe place to grow up in and what better place than a retired vampire hunter's home?" He laid out his desire without outright asking.
"No." Willow stated coldly.
"Willow!" Kaien exclaimed in surprise.
"No, she can't stay here. There is no place for her here." She said with a glare at the little girl peeking out from Kaname's side. She ignored both the glare aimed at her by Kaname and the stern look from Kaien. "Go elsewhere."
"Nonsense, she can stay here for as long as she needs and of course you can stay as well." Kaien stated sternly.
"Thank you, Cross-san." Kaname smiled gratefully at him before turning a smug look at the fuming Willow. "It will only be Yuki-chan that will be staying. I must be elsewhere to draw attention away from her. If it is alright, though, I would like to come and visit when I can."
"Of course you can. You can come anytime you want." Kaien exclaim happily.
'I can't believe I'm getting another daughter to love. I am sure that once Willow gets used to her she would be an excellent big sister for her.'
"I don't want her to stay." Willow growled out.
"It's not for you to decide. It is already settled, she will be staying." Kaien told her gently but sternly with no room for arguments.
"It would seem that you won't change your mind anytime soon." She commented frigidly.
"No. I think it would be a good thing to have another girl in the house." Kaien chirped excitedly while clapping his hands before stopping when Yuki squeaked in fear from the sudden noise.
"No it's not. Don't expect me to have anything to do with her." Willow hissed, getting up with a stiff expression that radiated her displeasure. "I will be going to Zero's tomorrow."
She turned around to glide out of the room not caring about what happens afterwards.
'I will make sure the intruder knows that she's not wanted. Kaien is mine and I have no interest in sharing.' She thought wickedly.
As she was getting ready for bed she heard the others moving in the room next to hers. She couldn't help but become rigid with indignity.
'They are actually moving her in the room right next to mine!' She thought with rage.
Gritting her teeth so that she wouldn't yell out her displeasure, she decided to ignore them.
'Tomorrow I will go to Zero's and get away from the intruder until I can think of what to do next.' She thought childishly, laying down under her covers she slowly went to sleep pretending that she couldn't hear the muttering voices on the other side of her wall.
'Everybody forgot to ask me about what I am in the end.' she thought sleepily.
