It's a short one, but an update.

5

Being twelve wasn't so bad. In fact, Rei enjoyed it quite a bit. What she didn't like was that her sister was stuck on Kaname-Sama. She didn't talk about Zero that much around the shorter girl, so why did she have to hear about the other pureblood vampire that used to be her best friend? She let out a soft grunt as she placed her forehead against the top of her desk. She was stuck in class, something that Yuki didn't have to be in. Why was it that her school was year round with a month off during the summer and winter? Stupid specialty school, she couldn't help but inwardly grumble. Just because she was "smarter" than her peers didn't mean she needed to go to a school that was geared towards gifted children. She'd show them just how gifted she was. She let out a soft sigh as she realized that she was simply worried. It was getting closer and closer to winter, and she was starting to hear rumours that Shizuka's human lover was being added to the hunter's registry of level E's. She also heard that the Kiryuu's would be going after him.

There was a great need to warn the two adults of what they would unleash the second they killed him. She heard the bell ring and the teacher dismissed them. She packed up her school bag, she'd be heading to the park to wait for her father so they could pick up some supplies. She heard the whispers around her and silently cursed the unnatural beauty that came with being a vampire. It was such an unnecessary trait they had gained. She tucked her white hair behind her ear, hearing that familiar chime of her bell. She needed to hurry to the park before she ended up being late.

"Oh, Rei-Chan," Was what greeted her as she entered.

Ichiru was sitting at the swings with a slight frown on his face. She sat down on the free one and waited for him to talk about what was on his mind. It was one of the things that he appreciated about the vampire; she never pushed him to talk if he didn't want to. He studied her slightly and watched as she looked at the trees in thought. Winter wasn't her favourite time of year, just because of the fact that all the plants were barren. He sighed quietly and she looked at him for a few seconds before turning her attention back to the trees.

"Do you ever wonder if the hunters are wrong?" Ichiru questioned her and he watched a strange expression appear on her face.

"As a vampire, it does scare me that someone could so easily kill me…but as someone with morals I think some of what they do is necessary," She stated a frown appearing on her face in thought before she looked at him, "a pureblood that goes around creating level c's and d's is the worst kind…they take away that person's humanity and when they don't give them their blood to stabalise them they leave them to lose what's left of themselves."

"Are there many purebloods like that?" Ichiru asked.

"There's one, but he's been quiet for a while," She admitted worry leaked into her voice, "he was married to my older sister, and I'm glad she was able to somewhat break free of him."

"Shizuka-Sama," He muttered, and she tensed at that.

"You've…you've met her?' Rei questioned, her worry rising at that.

"Mm, she seemed so sad," Ichiru confirmed.

Rei found her thoughts halting to a standstill. She couldn't help but worry about the Kiryuu family and what their destruction could bring about. She needed to let her father know so that he could warn them, or get help out to them. She was pulled from her thoughts when someone leaned against her swing. She blinked and turned to see Zero standing there with a frown on his face as he stared at them.

"Seems like you found us," Ichiru sighed, and Rei sent him a sad look.

"You were hiding?" Zero muttered, his frown deepening.

"You shouldn't frown so much, you'll age horribly if you do," Rei sighed as she brought a hand up and gently poked him between his brows.

It unfurrowed them, but he still narrowed his eyes at her. She gave him a soft smile at the sight and his ears burned. She knew they had turned a bright red, turning that soft smile into something more amused. Ichiru shook his head at the two of them, he couldn't believe his brother couldn't talk to girls like a normal boy.

"Why are you here, Rei-Chan?" Ichiru finally asked.

"Papa, asked me to wait here so we can go pick up some more supplies," Rei answered before looking up towards the park clock, "he should be here within the hour."

"Why don't you come wait at our house?" Ichiru offered and she tilted her head in thought.

"Okaa-san can always call Cross-San and let him know," Zero shrugged.

Ichiru smiled at the vampire and grasped onto her hand. Zero was welcomed to the sight of his best friend being dragged towards their house by his twin. She was giving him a slight frown. She knew what would occur, she just couldn't stop it. It took her years to figure out that her wish had brought her so many different things. For one she had been brought into an alternative timeline, another was the newly awakened memories, lastly were the changes for Shizuka. That woman made sure her cage would get unlocked, and she knew her sister was behind it. She looked up towards the sky in thought before Ichiru dragged her inside. Yet, how did she escape on her own? Perhaps she was wrong in thinking that Shizuka had opened it in this timeline. She just couldn't place what happened.

"Oh, hello Rei," Mina softly greeted.

"Hello, Kiryuu-San," Rei greeted back.

Mina didn't get to talk to the girl further as Ichiru practically dragged her up the stairs. Zero watched with a hint of amusement and Mina smiled slightly. She sent him up the stairs with some tea and snacks for them. Zero walked in on Ichiru and Rei playing Shogi. It was the quiet concentration that caused him to pause slightly. This game was different than the others they typically played. He didn't know why. He sat down between the two and watched the game, Rei was winning as per usual. but her heart wasn't in it. The time passed and the game seemed to lag on.

"Rei-chan!" Kaien called, saving his daughter from the uncomfortable game.

"Ah, I have to go," Rei said, her apologetic tone being matched to her smile.

She had been too late. She hadn't known that her sister was going to attack them so early. Her pink eyes were wide as she stared at Zero, her blood causing her throat to burn just the slightest, but she refused to even think of her hidden blood lust. Not while he stared at the floor as though he was dead. Her hands went to her side as Yuki gently grabbed onto her arm. She knew that her face would be the last one that Zero would want to see around him. She reached back and gently pushed Yuki forward.

"He'll…He'll react better to you than he will me right now," Rei softly admitted.

Kaien watched as Yuki took Zero into the bathroom to help him get cleaned up. He watched as his eldest, and most precious, daughter simply stared ahead. Her eyes were unfocused as she thought about something. Her mouth opened before it closed. Momo padded up to her and rubbed her head against her mistress's calf.

"I had heard rumours that she was going to attack…but…I didn't think…" Rei trailed off and he knew that she blamed herself. "Excuse me."

Kaien wasn't able to stop her before Yuki came out with a worried expression. She didn't know how to help the slightly older boy from hurting, or her big sister. Rei entered her room and closed the door behind her, leaning against it before slowly sliding down it. Her long hair pooled on the floor as she gazed at the dark wood. This was the happiness she wished for? She wouldn't have wished pain on anyone, save for the people that had forced her into a cage. Momo slinked around and stopped before her, sitting there with her tail waving in thought.

"Mistress, it's time for you to relearn your powers," Momo stated, bowing her head in respect. "You'll need to be every bit the pureblood vampire that you are."

Rei gained a conflicted expression on her face before slowly nodding her agreement. It was going to take her a while to get a feeling for what she could do, but she had time. Her best friend no longer wanted anything to do with her. He never would again, not after what her sister did. She took in a deep breath and flinched. Zero's scent was heavy in the air, and she felt the thirst rising up as she closed her eyes to regain her composure and iron fist on her control. It would have to happen.

Kaien watched as the children grew up. His darling daughter Rei continued to go to her specialty school, and slowly grew distant from the other two. His just as darling daughter Yuki went to school as normal, but found issues with making friends. He would have to have a talk with Kaname about scaring away potential friends, it was a bit ridiculous. Zero…Zero stayed as far away from Rei as he possibly could. Any time she entered a room he would tense up and quickly walk out. Rei allowed her, knowing his reasons. Kaien needed to get those two to talk to one another, but he didn't know how.

"Why is she in the day class?" Of course it finally happened when he brought up the class system for his new school. "Having a pureblood vampire is a stupid idea!"

"It's not like I've been going to normal school or anything," Rei softly stated, picking up her tea and taking a small sip out of it. "Hibiscus, nice choice during the summer."

His children were at each other's throats. For once Rei wasn't standing down from what she wanted. Her pink gaze was sharp and finally meeting Zero's. Momo licked her paw as her tail swished in amusement. Their bond had been greatly strained, yet it was still there. She could see it the strings that connected them together.

"Maybe it's best that she joins us, Zero," Yuki tried and Zero turned his glare on her. "An extra pair of hands during the class change would be helpful."

Rei mentally sighed. Right, they were going to be working as disciplinary committee members. She pushed her long hair back over her shoulder, the solemn tinkling of her bells causing Zero to completely tense. She had kept them in her hair, something that Kaien was pleased with. The Hio family was too intertwined with bells for it to completely vanish from his daughters life. He watched as she looked at his small bonsai, his dying bonsai at that, before reaching forward and gently placing her finger on it. It slowly grew around the slender digit and she brought her hand back.

"It will be fine," Rei stated. "I don't want to be around the nobles…I like being treated like a normal person and not a figure."

Momo let out a clicking sound and Rei reacted with a slight frown. Just because she was a pureblood and could act the part doesn't mean that she wanted to. She had a choice to remain with humans, and with her sister, so she would take it. Zero was quiet, but she could still feel his hateful glare. She sighed quietly. She missed her friend.

"It's decided, Rei will be joining the day class, same as you two," Kaien stated and Rei nodded her agreement.

That was the best she was going to get.