a.n. Just keep in mind this chapter is taking place a while more like a good handful month before Rido's attack. As for aging Yuki how she is about 5, Aiyora about 2 and Kaname between (14-16) I mean that is why he logically looked like to me in both the anime or manga. BUt please do correct me if i am wrong.
chapter - 3
Aiyora's brows squeezed and eyes squinted at the tingling feeling. As she opened her eyes the first thing she noticed was the tips of dark brown hair brushing over her face. At first she wasn't sure what was going on, until her deep blue eyes met with a pair of deep brown ones. She blinked her blue orbs several times in confusion and also to get her vision adjusted. The other girl copied her action. Every time as Aiyora blinked and so did she. This was how it went on till the other child suddenly changed her move. She hopped down the bed and ran out of the room leaving little Aiyora more confused than ever.
She was screaming out incoherent words that Aiyora could not make sense off. However the only positive outcome of this was that it fully awakened her making sit upright on the bed.
It was then she took note of the unfamiliar room. She looked both ways. The room was cozy and very child friendly. It reminded her of her own room… except this one had no windows. She looked both ways another time just to confirm her suspicion only to have the unfamiliarity of the room now fresh before her eyes.
She was elsewhere and the realization frightened her!
With her heart, soul and innocent mind she searched for her father. She was scared, felt lost because her heightened senses could not track him anywhere near.
"Papi-chan...!?" she called him and awaited his response but nothing came. It added further to her fear.
"Papi-chan!" She called him again, louder this time, still no reply. How would there be a reply when he was nowhere near her to begin with.
By now she was terrified. Her body shook in increasing fear while tears gathered on her eyes clouding her vision. Lost in fear Aiyora did not even realize when she rolled down the bed, fell on the floor nor aware of the fact that the sound of her cry already alerted the others.
The door opened with a loud thud and couple of people to rush in. Aiyora barely recognized any of them.
Through her blurred vision the only person the little pureblood was barely able recognize the little girl who was watching her earlier. This time she had her hand held by a boy who looked in his mid-teens. Right behind them standing was a woman with red hair and deep brown eyes.
"Oh she has finally awakened." the woman was the first to break that tensed silence while she eyed the child affectionately. She was slightly taken aback by the child's deep blue eyes, a part of her thought that his daughter may have inherited his mismatched eyes but nevertheless managed to conceal her thoughts within her own mind.
"Did you not have good sleep little one? Did you have nightmare? Has our little Yuuki-chan frightened you? Or are you just hungry?" She continued to speak while taking careful steps towards Aiyora. "I'm pretty sure you are starving!"
It was her comforting words that made the little child momentarily stop her cry. Her tiny head turned to see the woman approaching her, there was a beautiful smile on her face and somehow that smile reminded her of her father. It became clear to Aiyora that the woman somehow knew her. She radiated safe aura. It made Aiyora want to go close to her but then remembered her father's lesson. He always told her to keep away from strangers and that made her scoot backwards.
"Oh my… are you scared little one?" the woman spoke like she was amused by her actions. She then went down on her knees and opened her arms wide. "Come here Aiyora-chan, I mean no harm."
Aiyora only stood straight closing her legs tightly. Her distrust screamed through her body language. But that did not discourage Juuri Kuran as she called the two standing in the background. The two marched forward to stand beside the woman.
"Kaname, Yuki come greet your little sister… Aiyora." Kuran Juuri introduced the little girl to her children officially.
"And Aiyora…" she pointed at the young teen looking boy dressed in blue shirt with light beige sweater on top with and a pair of tan pants as the bottom. "…that is your big brother Kaname,"
Aiyora's eyes move to meet his deep wine orbs which were staring her down indifferently.
"And this is your big sister, her name is Yuki." the girl holding the boy's hand had her brown orbs beaming down at Aiyora. She seemed overjoyed by the information revealed but all Aiyora could give her was a blank stare. In her head she was still in the process of digesting the information that the woman just fed her.
"Will Ai-chan play with me Okaa-sama?" Yuki asked her mother in a chirpy voice almost jumping with joy. Her mother turned towards her almost instantly with a matching smile. "Yes for sure my dearest Yuki."
Yuki's head then turned to her brother, "Kaname onii-sama will you play with her too…"
He however didn't answer right away. His cold gaze lingered upon the youngest female for a while before it diverted from her form to Yuki's. Then, like magic the coldness of his eyes vanished only to be replaced with such tender gaze. He didn't give her a verbal response at first, only petted her head while a heartfelt smile curved up his lips.
"If Yuuki wishes Kaname will play with her too…"
Aiyora may have been too young to catch up on the act of coldness but Kuran Juuri, his supposed mother noticed it right away.
"Kaname you need to show your other little sister some affections too." the women sounded subtle yet strict at the same time. She warmly suggested that he should be giving both his sisters equal amount of love and affection. "Come on now, don't be partial Kaname..." But he barely listened. His attention stayed focused onto the girl who would one day be his bride, who in turn was kept gazing at him with her ever beautiful blushing face.
Aiyora could only watch as these strangers interacted with one another. Her eyes bouncing from one person to another all the while in her head trying to understand what was actually going on? And more importantly where she was? But then, a familiar smell came into contact with her nose. Her eyes widened in glee. She could feel him, her father! His strong essence continued to get near every second. He was coming for her. Her head turned towards the door. She waited for it to open any moment with him coming in with open arms for her.
Even before the man outside could take his first step in Aiyora screamed in overwhelming joy.
"PAPI-CHAN!"
All three in the room froze and watched with wide open eyes as the little girl ran towards newcomer.
Kuran Haruka was taken aback at the sight of the little girl running towards him. It was a sight to be held…her long dark hair flying back, large blue eyes shining with joy and the heart-warming ear to ear wide grin.
His niece was indeed a package of cuteness all bundled up together not only that, at the very moment Haruka felt like fresh breeze of innocence was coming at his direction with full force.
"Papi…"
Addressing the way she addressed her father the little one continued to bounce up and down. Her hands extended upward as she awaited for the man to pick her up. The older pureblood gave into her wish and picked her up.
"Papi…!?" He tasted her word. "…Is that what you wish to call me little one?"
Aiyora was not sure what he meant. Nor did she pay attention. In that moment of bliss all that mattered was she was with her father. Safe and sound tucked in his arms. Like always she wrapped her arms around his head and embraced him tightly. Her face nuzzled against his while her tiny fingers tugged into the locks of his dark hair.
Juuri picked up little Yuki in her arms. Her eyes remained glued on her husband who was being embraced by the newest edition to their family. The mother and daughter watched the scene in awe but standing beside them Kaname had a bland expression pasted to his face. He was not happy with this decision. His calculation did not show anything positive outcome. In fact he saw the whole scenario as a risk. What were they thinking? Taking in Rido's daughter? It's like opening the door for disaster. It made no sense as to why this couple was willing to risk their own daughters fate for a mere stranger.
Aiyora continued to run her hand through Haruka's hair. It was a special type of gesture that was saved for her father only. Something was not feeling right. Papi's hair is longer and curlier which easily got tangled onto her fingers but this person's hair was too short and straight that her fingers slipped through easily. With the realization her ministrations suddenly came to an abrupt stop. She pulled her head back to stare at the man. It made no sense, he looked like her father, smelled certainly like him too but then again something was off…
She looked deeply into his eyes. His eyes were different. They were rich brown whereas her father had one blue and one reddish brown. She gulped nervously. Reality was thrown onto her face like tight slap, this man was not her father…
The poor child freaked out. She started to scream and cry at the top of her lungs asking to be taken to her father. The sound of her misery echoed through each and every corner of the Kuran mansion. Leaving all three of the adult Kuran's there startled. Haruka and Juuri remained at a loss while Kaname could sthe future trouble that will tag along.
The girl's desparate cry fo ee r her father further proved his theory right. If she has that much attachment to her father then sooner or later this bond will here and then… he will discover about Yuki's existence. They are setting up a path that will lead to all the catastrophic chain of events in no time. Haruka and Juuri are aware that the consequences of this action will come hard yet they willing to go along with it?
The ancestor in the young prince's body only frowned when his father put the crying child to sleep and erased her memory of the father, mother and their life with them. Therefore in Aiyora's world Kuran Rido no longer existed any more.
...
When Aiyora opened her eyes next she remembered nothing of her father. He has been wiped from her head, her mind, her heart and her very soul. And in exchange for that she received everything!
The Kuran family accepted Aiyora with open arms. Her life became complete. Now instead of that mad lustful father, she actually has a doting father, a darling mother, an adorable big sister and a cold big brother who kept a little distance from her. However that did not matter because whatever affection lacked from her brother's side the double amount was returned by the others especially her big sister.
…
Although at the beginning Kaname was cold towards his youngest sister but that does not take very long to change. It all began from that evening of last remaining day of spring. When the Kuran prince returned home tired and exhausted.
"Welcome back Onii-sama…!" an over excited Yuki pounced into Kaname's arms the moment he opened the door.
Kaname too embraced his sister tightly with all the love and affection he could master within himself. "Glad to be home Yuki!"
While locked in an embrace with Yuki, his ears detected Juri's voice ushering Aiyora to welcome him the same way as Yuuki. But the little one did not move. She actaully curled up into a ball on Juri's lap and nodded her head no. He was able to get a glimpse of her flushed face before she quickly buried it into their mother's chest.
"My oh my… is our little Ai, afraid of her big brother? Or does she not like him at all?" Juuri continued to tease the little one.
"Don't worry he won't harm you." Haruka assured standing behind the couch his wife was seated on. His hand gently moved to pet the little girl on her head to provide her with more comfort. Aiyora turns her head back, her large blue orbs looking up at him for confirmation only for the older male gives her a soft smile and affectionate kiss over her forehead.
Aiyora looked back at her brother again, who had his eyes settled on her for quite some time. He was trying to study her. The smile he had on his lips when Yuki was in his arms now disappeared. All that remained was a straight line of his lips instead of that beautiful curve.
Kaname watched as Juuri put the girl down to her feet. She was not even well balanced, and would have suffered a fall if Juuri wouldn't have held her back on time.
"Kaname call your sister." Juuri requested in hopes of sorting it out, the last thing she needed was hostility between her children; like it happened centuries ago between her, Haruka and their big brother when she rejected the affection of the latter. She wanted no repetition of that.
Never again!
Kaname gave his mother somewhat of a smile and surely not a real one.
Unsure of the situation Aiyora stopped after the first couple of steps. Kaname focused his attention back on her. He could tell she was afraid of him. The evidence was in her eyes and quivering lower lip. He was not surprised by it at all. In fact he gave her every reason to be afraid of him. He may not have scolded or yelled at her but his eyes always looked at her with such wintery cold gaze while the only types of emotions shining on them were deep suspicion. It made her feel like a thief who stole something precious of his.
And a child so small was not able to handle such harshness.
Aiyora looked over her shoulder towards the parents for assurance. They smiled motioning her to go forth yet that wasn't enough because the person she was going to had an unwelcoming aura around him.
"Onii-sama..." then that one voice changed everything."Is Kaname onii-sama not going to play with Ai-chan?"
Turing his to Yuki, Kaname noticed the curious look she was giving him. That was where Kaname found himself in a difficult situation. To Yuki he was the heroic figure, the very definition of perfection. She looked up to him, adored him, loved him and he had no intention of ruining that image. Now with Aiyora's entrance Yuki has stepped into the role of sisterhood and has taken that very seriously. Aiyora means a lot to her. It is her desire to become Aiyora role-model just the way Kaname is her. Therefore for her sake, for her happiness he could do this much.
"If Kaname onii-sama does not like Ai-chan then Yuuki will not speak to him."
The threat out of Yuki's mouth made a difference. It directly affected the pureblood prince. He was strong enough to survive even if the entire world ignored him. However if Yuuki ignored him will die the next day of broken heart. Plus it became crystal clear to Kuran Kaname that is if he has problem with Aiyora, chances are higher that very soon Yuki will have a problem with him. And he definitely cannot afford that. The thought alone slowed down his heartbeat. He felt too frightened to even imagine the scenario.
Pushing down his doubts deep inside Kaname decided to be the ideal big brother or at least act it out that way in Aiyora's case. Just so that Yuuki is not disappointed in him.
"Aiyora…" he called her and she gave him the look like she was not sure on how to react to his call. In an instant the look of his face changed. His face gave out the same warmth that was usually saved only for her big sister. Then to make it easier for her he got down on his knees and opened his arms wide for her.
"Are you not going to welcome me home…Aiyora?"
The child right away melted to that warmth. Her frowned lips slowly curled up. The two sets of teeth came out with the widening of her smile and then those large dimples adorning the side of her face. Her smiled looked like it was made in heaven. It was so bright, so full of light, that for a moment it made the ancestor inside him blind.
He did not even know when she pounced into his arms or when her tiny arms had him wrapped in a warm embrace of love and comfort. All he felt was her long silky hair falling over his face curtaining his view of the others. Nor did he know when his arms wrapped around her too, caging her little form within him.
"Welcome home onii-sama!"
"Thank you Aiyora…I'm glad to be home." He said resting his head atop her head.
Even while holding her so contently Kaname could not get rid of that one fact out of his head. On the contrary it hammered into his brain.
The daughter of Rido Kuran...
…
Although the Kuran prince continued to keep a careful eye however with time he really started to warm up to his youngest sister. Those feelings did not only remain inside but was showed by his actions too. He started to treat both the sisters equally. Yuki was his bride to be but Aiyora was truly his sister, a little sister he never had.
...
The girls were too young to have fangs. They were heavily relying on life forces or energy of others instead of blood. But that was a more accurate statement in Yuuki's case. Aiyora on the other hand was a different story.
Kaname was put in charge to feed his sisters and this was where the sibling rivalry started between the sisters.
While Yuki would gently place her lips upon her brother's in order to feed from his life forces. Aiyora followed a different style. Every time she placed her lips on her brother she searched for blood not his life force. Therefore she tugged, nibbled, chewed and did everything onto his mouth with whatever sets of teeth she had to draw blood. Yes her system was not only satisfied with the life forces. It needed blood. Her father fed her his blood directly through the mouth which was why her body's lust for blood was so strong even at such a young age.
At first everyone was stunned by her action but soon the adults figured out the cause of her actions but Yuuki could not.
It's true that Yuki loved her sister with everything however the sight that was on display while Aiyora fed from Kaname was not pleasing to her eyes. Rather than normal child feeding from an elder it sometimes looked as if two lovers in passion. It upset her, made her cry. That was when it became a matter of concern for Juuri and Haruka. If it continued this way then chances are there that the future would became complicated. Plus if Kaname and Aiyora starts to drink from one another, if a blood bond is created between them then possibilities are always there that could open door to other problems. They did not want a third one involved in there in between Yuuki and Kaname.
Therefore to avoid further hustle and jealousy between the siblings Haruka and Juuri made another plan.
Yuki and Aiyora were to be fed separately. Kaname was only assigned to feed Yuuki since they were already engaged. Aiyora was fed by the parents or the maids of the house. As for her blood requirements Haruka and Juuri took upon that duty to feed her blood from their palms or wrist.
...
Kaname and Yuki were already tied to one another right from Yuki's birth. Aiyora on the other hand had no one. A perfect suitor was needed for her too and the last thing Kuran Haruka wanted was repetition of what happened between him and his siblings. Love triangles in Kuran family never end well therefore it must be stopped even before it could start.
Thus to prevent that kind of mishap, the current head of the Kuran family came up with the idea...
Just the way the whole vampire society was aware of Aiyora's existence the same way they were also aware of Rido's other child with the Shiki women. In that way Shiki Senri happened to Aiyora's destined mate.
Haruka Kuran sat down with the head of the Shiki family and made an engagement pact between Aiyora and her half brother Shiki Senri. However it was done in secrecy only via word of mouth. No official documents were made to stand as evidence. Haruka's initial plan was the time when Yuki would be introduced to the society only then he would make declaration of Aiyora and Senri engagement.
If only the man in question knew what a grave mistake he was making…
...
The time flew in the Kuran mansion for the next few months in joy and happiness alongside the chitter-chatter pitter-patter of their two very adorable daughters.
"Onee-chan you're hurting me." Aiyora whined as Yuki continued to make small braids with her little sister's hair.
"Don't move Ai-chan!" she scolded.
Aiyora, who was making flower crown for her older sister pouted in response. "If Ai does not move how will she make Onee-chan's crown?"
"Let me clip your pretty hair first Ai-chan."
"What about the flower crown?"
Haruka and Juuri chuckled at Yuki and Aiyora's playtime bickering. They watched the girls with proud eyes. Together they were a sight to look at. Both possessing unique beauty of their own Yuki was blessed with the signature Kuran beauty whereas Aiyora on the other hand had best of both Kuran and the Hanadagi.
She inherited her parents raven hair that fell straight down the length of her waist. Her mother had jet black hair and Rido had the darkest hair among his siblings. Then that deep blue talked about eyes which both her parents in a way had. The members of the Hanadagi family were famous for their lean unusually long neck. Aiyora inherited that too. Finally the beautiful set of dimple that highlighted her smile. Aiyora is actually the second person in the Kuran family who was blessed with dimples. The only other person who possessed this was her father Kuran Rido. No one may mention this now but Rido was the one who actually had the best smile out of the three siblings. As a result people who were used to the Kuran's signature feature Aiyora for them would be a breath of fresh air.
...
"Haruka look…" Juuri asked resting her head against her husband's shoulder. "Is this not perfect?"
She pointed to the sight of Yuuki and Aiyora running towards Kaname just as the latter got home.
The man's initial response was to kiss the top of his wife's forehead and then breathe out the next words. "Yes…my love it's perfect."
And watched silently like proud parents from far as their son showered his sisters with affection. First he hugged Yuki by pulling her into a tender embrace and then went to Aiyora picked her up and threw her up onto the air making her scream in joy only to catch her back right on time.
The moment was picture perfect but sadly it was not meant to last long.
...
The four of them were in the windowless basement, seated on the long couch.
Yuki was seated between her parents holding a picture book in her hand and Aiyora was sitting on her mother's lap playing with the strands of her hair. Kaname however was not home at that time; he was outside with his friend Takuma.
Haruka and Juuri both noticed how anxious Yuki was growing with every passing second. Before leaving Kaname promised his sisters that he will be back soon but quite a lot of time has passed since then.
"Why isn't big brother back yet?" Yuki finally voiced her concern.
"Don't worry Yuki...he should be coming home any moment now." Her father assured with a tender smile.
Aiyora who was sucking on her fingers while relaxing on her mother's lap danced her head between her mother and sister. Kuran Juuri could not hold back on her chuckle at her older daughter's concern for her brother.
"You really love your brother, don't you Yuuki?"
"Yeah...!"
The subtle sound of door main opening has Yuki all perked up. When the basement door opened to reveal Kaname, Yuki could no longer hold back on her excitement. She jumped down the sofa and ran to embrace her big brother.
"Welcome home Kaname!" happiness beaming out of her.
"It's good to be home... Yuki."
Aiyora too didn't hold back on her excitement. She practically forced herself free from their mother's arms and followed the same path as her sister to pounce into her brother's arms.
"Welcome home onii-sama!"
He smiled returning her embrace "...Thank you Aiyora!"
Although Juuri continued chuckle like a love struck teen but Haruka Kuran actually looked at it with concerned eyes. For some reason his gut was telling him that Aiyora too has started to grow feelings for her big brother without even realizing the deep consequences that would come with it.
He continued to scrutinize them deeply. His watchful eyes settled on the youngest Kuran. They way she watched Kaname, the way she continued to beam when kaname decided to sit with them to share stories off the rare rose that he saw earlier today. He was quite surprised when Kaname actually picked up Aiyora to place her on his lap. While Yuki took the seat beside him. It wasn't like he was giving any lesser attention to Yuki but still... Even though it was a supposedly innocent action but as father Haruka saw the oddity of the scenario vividly.
…
Then... on one of the harsh nights of winter Rido showed up.
Juuri, Haruka and Kaname none of them were surprised. Inside they all feared for this terrifying night, even though they stopped discussing the matter long time back.
The young prince was asked to remain inside with his sisters while the parents went out to face the monster of their brother.
"I'm surprised you were able make it her under the watch of the senate…big brother!" Haruka spoke in a voice that showed enough of his surprise even though his face was trying to conceal all those emotions. Juuri stood calmly beside her husband, supporting him. It was her way to show her obsessive big brother where she truly belongs.
Rido only let out a dark chuckle and spoke with a tone of mockery "My siblings don't seem happy to see me…how sad."
The younger Kuran siblings didn't react. Instead they decided to jump straight to the point.
"Why are you here?" Juuri was the one to demand.
"I have come to take back my possession that you have been claiming as yours." Rido didn't hide the twisted smirk as both his sibling tensed under that announcement. "I want my daughter back."
"She is not your daughter!" Juuri made her point clear. "You don't deserve to call her your daughter! Not after you have looked at her with those lustful eyes."
Rido let out a hysterical laughter this time. The sound of his sinister laugh echoes through the whole Kuran estate. In his head thinking who was she to judge when it was her who happens to be responsible for this from the beginning.
"Tell me…did you fools really think it was wise to take my daughter, have her memorized erased, and then having me imprisoned by the senate?" Rido threw his siblings a deathly glare this time before throwing his piece of mind towards them.
"To answer your question my dearest Juuri…" he purred her name. "… I came here for my daughter however I will also not leave without your daughter whom you've been so carefully hiding all these time."
"YOU BASTARD!" Kuran Juuri roared the rage reflected though her eyes, waved within her voice and was even visible in her aura. "YOU'RE TARGETTING MY CHILD AGAIN!"
"My precious Juuri I give you a choice…you give me my daughter back and I spare yours…"
Haruka and Juuri looked at each other, for a brief period of time both of them were conflicted.
...
"Kaname, Yuki..."
The siblings followed the voice to see their mother bursting into the basement. Her eyes trailed off behind her children only to find the youngest one, fast asleep over the couch. She looked so peaceful, unaware of the harsh reality she has been born into.
"Okaa-sama…" The scene of Yuuki untangling her form out of her brother's arms to come her broke Juuri's heart. She will no longer be able to be a part of her precious daughter's life. She won't be able to watch her grow up, get married, have children of her own. Her warm brown eyes then moved the boy whom she claimed as her son silently asking what he did to the youngest one.
"I had no choice she was staring to remember her father again." Kaname admitted in defeated tone.
The tension in the room grew with the silence. At this breaking point they knew where each is to head.
"Where is Otou-sama?" Yuuki's innocent broke the tensed silence. Her mother looked down with sad eyes and Kaname already knew by that look what has already happened.
"I see…I'm so sorry I should have taken of things with Rido myself."
"Oh Kaname…" Juuri was only able to let out a sigh, her voice heavy with sadness.
"We can still fix this, it does not have to end this way," Kaname told her. His eyes showing the last bit of hope left. Then quickly tuning on his heels the young prince marched towards the couch where Aiyora was still sleeping vulnerably. He picked up her small form and turned to Juuri.
"Let's return her."
"Kaname!" the woman gasped.
"Try and understand Rido is here because of her. If we give her back he will spare us, he will spare Yuuki."
"…What about Aiyora? Are you that selfish to not even think about her once…"
"She is his daughter!" He argued back. "She is his problem not ours."
"She is my daughter Kaname." Juuri declared. "You became my son the moment my first born was sacrificed. The same way she became my daughter the moment I took her from her mother's arms."
Those words froze the young ancestor's feet to the ground. He said no more, just quietly surrendered.
"Very well then… tell me what I should do." He lowered his head and spoke through gritted teeth.
Juuri already discussed her desire to turn Yuuki into human to give her free life long before with her husband and son. She told him this was the only chance to give Yuuki the life she so deserves. When Kaname asked about what to be done with Aiyora? Kuran Juuri advised him to hand her over to her other relatives.
"What relatives?" Kaname asked surprised. "The Hanadagi family abandoned her and her mother. Isn't that the reason why she ended up here in the first place?"
"I wasn't talking about the Hanadagi family, take her to her to the Shiki house; they shall look after her like she is one of their own?"
"What?" Kaname was more astonished by this idea. "Isn't this even a good idea-" he got cut off by his mother.
"Please trust your mother's decision." And he argued no more.
Followed by that came another heavy silence that neither put any effort to break. From her position Yuki was only able to watch as her mother leaned forward to kiss over her little sister's head and then kiss her brother on the cheek.
"Thank you Kaname…and please take care of Yuki for us." This was the last request Kuran Juuri made to the person whom she had raised as her son before turning to her daughter who remained oblivious to it all. "Alright Yuki come with me?"
"What about Kaname onii-sama? What about Ai-chan?"
Her mother continued to tag her along. The woman lost the ability to answer those simple questions. When Yuki understood she was being separated from her siblings she screamed, she screamed for her beloved big brother and precious little sister. Alas! It did not work. Her big brother did not move. He remained on the spot with Aiyora in his arms. The door started to close between them. Yuki gave out one last desperate cry and called h out for her big brother but he old turned on heels walked the other way towards and unknown direction.
...
Kuran Kaname slowly climbed up the stairs of the Shiki mansion, holding the sleeping little girl tightly in his arms.
The head of the Shiki family, Sayatohi Shiki, was already waiting for him by the main entrance to the house. The pureblood deposited the girl in his arms quietly and the noble man accepted her with glee. The greedy smile apparent on his face! His dreams of climbing up the ladder in their society will soon come true. There is no stopping in it.
"Take care of her." Kaname said to lord Shiki while his eyes actually looked in the background to find disheveled Midori Shiki trying to make her way towards them, behind her was a maid fully on guard. Her appearance told all about the current condition of her mind. There was no doubt in Kuran heir's mind that the woman has gone fully mad.
Sayatoshi Shiki turned his head following Kaname's gaze. He could sense the young prince's hesitance to leave the girl behind.
"You need not worry, she is in safe hands Kaname-sama." He assured the pureblood and added. "Besides Aiyora-sama is not only our daughter but also our future daughter in law. Soon she will become a true member of the Shiki house by marriage."
The last bit of information was not actually known to Kaname plus his mind was so preoccupied with all that was going on that he barely paid attention to lord Shiki. He was in a rush to leave and be by Yuuki's side who by now was in an extremely vulnerable state. Therefore without a further word he left.
When the pureblood fully disappeared, Shiki Senri, the heir to the Shiki family came out of the shadow to stand beside his grand-uncle.
His greyish blue eyes land on the sleeping girl on the older man's arms. He watched the little girl with a mixture of tired-bored gaze. It was hard to tell by looking at his face if he is happy or upset to see her.
Generally Senri was not a hostile child but he was not even like the regular children either, lively and mischievous. He grew up to be the quiet and emotionless one due to ill fate.
"Who is the child?"
Hearing the young boy's voice lord Shiki turned and introduced.
"Senri…meet your little sister Kuran Aiyora."
a.n. thank you for reading hope you enjoyed.
not edited
