Chapter 61
"Hi there! I've kicked to the curb all the bad guys so you don't have to worry anymore!!"
Aidou boasted to the day class students after barging into the auditorium like the hero who just saved the day. But this time only to be met with silence rather than the usual cheering from this fan-girls.
Confused, the blue eyed blonde drew his brows close wondering why they were shooting him the oddly frightened look. Some were even whispering amongst each other.
"Stories have unfortunately spread." Seiran informed him and was joined by Akatsuki, Ruka and Rima who just caught up to them.
"They've realized that we're vampires."
Hanabusa glanced over at the human crowd, disappointed by their change of demeanour.
"What's with those faces? And to think it was the very first I saved humans for a reason other than a sudden whim…" he trailed off. "…it's not like I'm expecting your gratitude…"
The other vampires exchanged a look amongst each other.
"He seems really upset."Ruka whispered to Rima and Akatsuki.
"Ah whatever! I see that you're nothing but feeble creatures who can only tremble in fear of everything." The blue eyed blonde continued.
"He's becoming emotional and passionate." Akatsuki commented on Ruka's earlier statement.
"To the point it sounds creepy." Rima added.
"Aidou-senpai!" One voice finally spoke up, taking everyone which includes both day and the night class by surprise.
"Thank you very much. Sorry it took us sometime to properly thank you and your friends. As you can see, most of us were shaken up by what had happened."
"Wakaba Sayori." Hanabusa acknowledged the person, face fully flustered. Receiving thanks from her wasn't something he was expecting. "Um… you're welcome."
Just then another girl stood up exclaiming, "Aidou-senpai!" It was Nadeshiko Shindo. "I've always thought something was weird about you all. Now that I've finally learned the truth, I'm not going to be scared all of sudden."
Chatter broke out before the girl's dormitory president, the girl who usually wore her hair in low pigtail abruptly stood up.
"We've been attached to the night class for so long, we can't turn our back now. It's not as if the ones attacking us were with them or anything."
"Please you don't have to force yourself." Aidou muttered, with hint of sadness in his voice. "Besides, I'll have ask you all to forget about today. We will be erasing your memories—"
"DON'T!!" It was Shindo that cut him off. "I don't want to forget about it."
"Aidou-senpai," Yori, who has been quiet for so long began hesitantly, breaking the tension with her request. "Yuuki is my friend and I don't want to forget her."
Hanabusa faced her and the two shared a look of understanding. For her he could make an exception perhaps.
"Everybody who doesn't want to forget, please stand up!"
Few brave souls stood up.
Aidou turned to the rest of his peers for advice. Then, jointly they all came to the conclusion to leave out those humans who wanted to keep their memories.
The first word to leave the Chairman's lips was his daughter's name. He called her, surprised by what he was seeing— she was packing her bags.
"You don't have to leave, Yuuki. It doesn't matter to me now that you have returned to your true form. To me, you'll always be my daughter."
Turning, Yuuki found her father standing at the door. Flashing him a smile, the brunette returned to put the last of her belongings inside the luggage.
"Thank you for the offer father. But I truly want to go."
"You don't have to go right away. It's a whole different world and absolutely unknown to you. Jumping onto it might not be the right choice; after all you lived most of your life as a human." Her father walked in, explaining.
Kaien was in full agreement with Kaname. It is indeed best for Yuuki to remain here, with him. A vampires world is an ocean filled with too many hungry sharks; making it impossible for a newborn to survive. And as he looked at Yuuki, with his experienced eyes he could see that she wasn't ready to step into the world so full of darkness and bloodshed.
"I understand your concern. But I have decided not to run away from my fate anymore." She told him firmly walking to the wardrobe and picking up the ornament of rare rose that Kaname gifted her.
In that moment her chocolate brown eyes landed on the photo-frame containing a pictures of her and Zero, taken on the first day they started high school.
"There is no need to pressure yourself Yuuki, believe me Kaname-kun understands."
Yuuki closed her eyes and let out a sigh. She knew her father meant well. She knew he cared, just like Kaname does. However, she had enough of people taking care of her. It was time she protected the ones who have protected her all these time.
And on a more important note: Yuuki wanted to go. She really wanted to go. After all these years of admiring him from afar, she finally had a place next to Kaname and Yuuki didn't want to give that up. Although she did not have the courage to admit it, even to herself, as it would sound selfish and shallow.
"Please father, try to understand, I hurt him the most. For ten years I made him wait, alone! I never even knew! He told me to do what I must do. And what I must do father… is be with him."
"Alright then…" Kaien accepted defeat when it became clear that Yuuki's mind was made up, she wouldn't turn back.
Returning back to his room, Kaname found Aiyora sitting on the bed holding a white piece of paper in hand; which he assumed was the letter from Senri. And the tears rolling down her face only confirmed his assumption.
So she finally read. He thought.
Clearing his throat he stepped inside, making it known to her that he has returned. Although it wasn't really necessary since her vampiric senses already picked up his presence but still… he didn't want to barge in and invade her privacy.
"Where is Shiki?" He asked, despite knowing the answer.
"Gone." She muttered, folding back the latter and asking him for a box.
Kaname walked into his closet and came out with a decent size empty box several minutes later. He handed her the box which Aiyora accepted with a soft whisper of 'Thank you' and hurried to place her father's coat, the piece of his crystal and Senri's letter.
Once that was done she simply remained there, unmoving, lost in deep thought.
Kaname took the box from her hand and carefully put it inside his luggage before closing it down.
He glanced at Aiyora and noted she still hasn't moved. It prompted him to close the gap between them. So he walked over to her, again. Only this time knelt on a knee in front of her. She didn't protest when he leaned forward and rested his head on her lap. As if on queue one of her hand started to comb through his dark locks, resulting him to close his eyes in contentment.
This little interaction spoke millions of words that were never said out loud before, though only he and she knew about them.
"We better get going before the sun gets too hot."
Both Kaname and Aiyora jolted as the familiar voice cut through the blissful silence. Their blissful silence. Alarmed, they pulled away, improvising a distance between them in the few seconds they had in hand.
Kaname was instantly on his feet, displeasure clear on his face and disbelief evident in his voice as he exclaimed. "Yuuki…?!"
His eyes refused to believe what it was seeing. None of it made any sense. Didn't he just explain to the Chairman that Yuuki should stay back. So why was she here, dragging a large luggage along?
"I'm sorry that I ran a little late. My bags are kinda heavy." Yuuki turned, showing him the face beaming with smile, akin to sunlight.
The sight which made Aiyora's insides curl up, pumping hot blood through her veins until all she saw was red.
A crack appeared on the window. The noise that immediately brought back the male Kuran's attention on her. He ran a hand over her head, in hopes that whatever turmoil she was feeling, it would soothe down.
"Tell me, why did you come?" Kaname asked Yuuki, looking over his shoulder, his ministration on Aiyora's head did not stop.
Truth be told a he was somehow hoping Yuuki would understand.
"Huh! Didn't you say we are leaving?!"
Unfortunately that hope was crushed under the foot like a bug.
"What I meant was that I am leaving. You don't have to come, you are free now."
"Well that maybe true, but the only reason I'm free is because of everything you did to save me… Kaname-senpai." She was still a little unclear on how to address the male pureblood.
Suddenly Aiyora rose to her feet. With a face that looked ready to explode.
Of course all credit goes to him. Him! Who wasn't even around the entire time and came back last minute to check if others have cleaned up his trash.
Quickly Kaname took hold of her hand and gave it a squeeze. His expression made it clear he was desperately urging her to stay calm.
In all honesty there was a lot that Aiyora wanted to say but held herself back and ultimately all that slipped from her mouth was,
"I'm going bathroom! Need to freshen up." She yanked her hand free from Kaname and headed for the bathroom without even sparing a single glance back.
Confusion graced Yuuki's face as she turned to Aiyora, wondering why she suddenly snapped. The thing is Aiyora didn't actually snap but her mental and emotional states were so unstable that even something as simple declaration of going to the bathroom sounded like she was snapping. But Yuuki remained oblivious to it all. She was clueless about the darkness and hatred that was consuming her younger cousin's heart.
"Yuuki, you need not force yourself to come. You said there are people here that you wanted to protect… you're free to do that."
"Yes there are people I want to protect, but you Kaname onii-sama, you will always one of them!"
Seeing the soft words were leading nowhere, Kaname decided to be slightly firm.
"You shouldn't come, Yuuki." He told her directly. "Truth be told, situation forced me to bring you back into this dark world. For which, I truly am sorry. However, you must understand not everything that shines is gold."
"I don't understand, what are you saying…?"
"I am not what you think of me. In fact I don't even come close. I am not the kind vampire that you believe me to be, Yuuki. My hands are far too tainted with blood and sins. You shouldn't be close to someone like me."
Yuuki heart tightened at his words. She couldn't even being to think what horror he might had to endure all this time to feel this way. And that prompted her to throw herself into his arms, engulfing him into a tight hug.
"Yuu—"
"Even if you are tainted I don't mind!" She exclaimed, large brown eyes shining with tears that were threatening to fall any moment. "I love your hands Onii-sama, tainted or not. So please, taint me too!!"
Kaname sighed. "Yuuki it is for your own good that I want you to stay back."
"Please don't push me away Kaname onii-sama. Let me be by your side. Give me the chance to protect you. Besides life as a vampire cannot be as bad, right? I was born a pureblood vampire, I'll learn to adjust in time no time. And I'm sure there are many kind vampires like you and Aiyora-chan that will help me through—"
"You interpreted the meaning wrong." A voice spoke from behind.
Yuuki let go of Kaname and turned only to see Aiyora out of the bathroom, dressed in fresh clothes topped with another pastel overcoat. She stood leaning against the door with her arms crossed across her chest.
"Oh Aiyora-chan! Kaname onii-sama and I were—"
"What he meant to say was— life as a vampire isn't difficult. However, for you it will be difficult. There are people who will on purpose make life difficult for you." She moved and walked towards the two in slow strides.
"He is trying to protect you from that, why don't you see it?"
"I do see it!" Yuuki retaliated. "I see how much he cares about my well being, how he would do anything to protect me, how he would happily suffer and be lonely for me. I see all of it."
Their eye contact turned intense. Neither batting a lash. But it was Yuuki who broke the uncomfortable silence.
"However, its time I save him, protect him and treasure him the way he has done to me for the last ten years."
Although it wasn't exactly clear in which way Yuuki meant but to Aiyora it seemed as if Juuri's daughter just threw a challenge at her. A challenge that she instantly accepted.
"If that's the choice you make, fine by me…" Aiyora said, moving closer to Yuuki till the two female pureblood were uncomfortably close.
And taking Yuuki by surprise Aiyora flashed her an innocent, almost childlike smile.
"Welcome aboard! Yuuki-nee…"
Your mother may have dug in your grave, but you decided to walk in there yourself. Congratulations!
"Just so you know, it's not my fault if you get sunburnt." Rima reminded her partner, who kept going through the rubble, with no intention of giving up his search.
Senri brushed off her concern with a simple 'ah-ha'.
"I wonder how they're all doing." Rima wondered. Briefly thinking about the people they have left behind at the academy. In another sense she was wondering in mind how the Shiki heir was coping, after separating from his half sister?
Senri did not engage in the conversation Rima tried to initiate. Thus she grew worried. Although her calm, stoic face showed none of it. She couldn't shake away the shivers creeping up on her. What if Senri tumbled upon something he wasn't prepared for? He came with a determination to find Ichijou alive. But judging by the scene they walked into… Rima was no longer sure whether the green eyed blonde would be found intact.
"This belongs to Takuma."
The words caught Rima's attention and made her turn. Senri was crouching down removing the rubbles out of the way before pulling out what appeared to be Takuma's katana.
"Do you think he really is gone?" Even though she made it sound like she was asking. But in reality she was preparing him for the worst.
Instead of answering Senri posed with the sword.
"So not you!" Rima told him straight out. Her face unimpressed.
"It doesn't really need to be. This is Takuma's after all." Senri said walking off with the sword.
"Where are you going?" Rima asked.
He halted in his footsteps and half turned, swinging the weapon in the air.
"Well… to give it back to Takuma."
"Give it back?" Rima doubted Ichijou would so easily be found.
"There must be some kind of reward for it." Senri spoke in a tone that suggested he firmly believes that Takuma is alive.
"I'll come too." Fixing her umbrella she pulled out a box of poky from her pocket before approaching him.
"Huh… why…?"
"Someone has to feed you… here." She offered him a pocky stick that he accepted with his mouth.
Meanwhile at the Shirabuki residence:
Shirabuki Sara watched the sleeping figure while a playful smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
She hurried to the council to make Kuran Kaname change his mind. But it was too late. The damage was already done. Turned out, her presence did come useful in an unexpected way. If she hadn't shown up and intervened, this young man would have sacrificed himself to take down his grandfather.
How lucky! She thought.
Sara was already planning to coax Ichio into giving her his grandson. He will surely come handy, especially when it comes to digging dirt on Kuran Kaname and to know his plans. Indeed a wonderful pawn fell into her hand.
The movement from the sleeping figure on the bed caught her attention.
"Ugh!! The sunlight is too bright." Came Takuma's murmur.
"Ah, you're finally awake." Sara's voice dripped with excitement. "You took much too long to wake up. Even if your heart was almost cut out of the chest by Ichio."
"You…? Shirabuki Sara… Sara-sama."
"The last time we saw each other was at that party, wasn't it Takuma-san?" Sara pulled the curtain on purpose and let the harsh sunlight wash over the injured vampire.
"Um… I'm sorry to ask…" Takuma began in utmost desperation, "but could you please—"
"Oh I will close the curtains, if only you answer some of my question right now." Sara cut him off, already knowing what he was going to say. Then, letting out a soft melodic giggle she let the curtain slip from her finger and blocked the incoming sunlight.
"Don't worry, it was just a joke. I'll wait till you heal, before I begin to torture you."
The aristocrat quietly listened, not that there was anything he could do against a pureblood.
"Although… I do have some questions about Kaname-san that I want answered right now. Especially about the relationship he shares with the youngest Kuran."
The pureblood now strutted towards the bed.
"Will you kindly tell me everything you know about Kaname-san? And his precious little Aiyora. That girl, who was so shameless and bold to accuse him of rape and got away with absolutely no consequences."
"You do understand that I can't tell you 'everything' about Kaname. That would make him very angry. And as far as Aiyora-chan is involved he will go rouge if you as much even glance at her with ill intent. So, how about you ask him directly." He smartly threw in the suggestion at the end.
"I did that. But he refused to answer. Which is why I'm asking you instead; after all you used to be close to both of them..." Sara pressed but Takuma kept his lips tightly sealed.
When several minutes passed and nothing came out of him Sara lost her cool.
"You know, I have really short patience." Her palm gently pressed against his chest. He would never forget her eyes in that moment. The pure, unbridled rage that was aimed directly at him.
"I'm tired of beating around the bush and asking in such bothersome manner…" her fingers dug into his chest and tore through the flesh right above his heart.
Takuma hissed and then cried out in pain. Yet not a word left his mouth.
"Such a fool!" The pureblood sneered, eyes glowing red. "Mark my words, you will regret protecting Kaname-san with your silence."
The time was barely before noon when the three Kuran came out. Kaname was holding Aiyora by the wrist in one hand while his other hand carried a luggage. And Yuuki was a step behind following their trail.
"Don't you need to say goodbye to the Chairman before we leave?" Kaname asked Yuuki, turning slightly and noticed that she was now walking beside him.
"No…" her grip tightened on the handle of her luggage. "I'm afraid that he might start crying if I do—"
"Of course I will cry!" The three looked ahead to find the chairman running towards his adopted daughter, with tears pouring out of his eyes like waterfall. "Come on let me have a good cry! Yuuki~"
Just as he was about to pounce, the aforementioned female moved out of the way. Making him land on the ground, over a small puddle of his own tears.
"Ouch! I won't be able to experience this feeling in a long time."
"Headmaster…?" Yuuki called him hesitantly.
At that he got up and threw himself into her arms and cried into her chest like a comedian trying to get pity laughter out of the audience.
"Oh no don't say that! You were calling me father earlier!" He whined.
Kaname and Aiyora stood-by and watched this utterly ridiculous drama unfold.
Yuuki finally broke free from his hold and pushed him back by force.
"Can't breathe!"
And it was the moment when Yuuki pushed him that Cross Kaien took notice of Kaname and Aiyora's tightly intertwined palms.
Despite wearing heavy powered glasses Cross wasn't blind. The simple gesture of holding hands revealed a lot. Somehow it all started to make sense to the legendary hunter. And now he was worried about his daughter. The last thing he wanted for Yuuki was to be cast aside in a completely new environment.
So, in hopes to change his daughter's mind he asked again, in a voice that was dead serious.
"Yuuki, you are going of your own free will right?"
Yuuki nodded, the look of her face matching his seriousness.
"I am." She confirmed.
"Alright." He placed a comforting hand over her head before turning to the man to whom he will be entrusting his daughter to.
"Kaname-kun if you ever hurt Yuuki, I will never forgive you." The underlying threat clear in his voice.
Hearing this Aiyora arched an amused brow but said nothing.
Kaname nodded his head in acceptance and Kaien cast a quick glance down at the pureblood's hand, and found it still intertwined with the other girl.
"Thank you…" Yuuki embraced her father tightly and bid him farewell. "I'm going now… father."
As the pureblood reached stairs of the demolished main gate they came face to face with the small group of aristocrats who were already waiting for them.
"Let's be clear…" Ruka began. "We're not pawns for you to play with. So even if you disapprove, we are still going to follow you. Is that understood?" She spoke for all three of them. Well mostly two, since Akatsuki will follow whatever path Ruka walked on.
"You may do as you please." Kaname said as he walked past them and headed towards the awaiting vehicle tugging Aiyora along.
With melancholic eyes the headmaster watched the last group of night class students depart. Yuuki leaving with them. His heart felt heavy having to watch his adoptive daughter go. While Kuran Juuri's last wish ringing like a bell to his ear. Her desire to have her daughter grow up and smile like a normal human girl and be free from the fate of being pureblood vampire.
Juuri-san in the end Yuuki chose not to runaway from her fate. But, I want you to know that she still smiles like a normal human girl.
As they got to the limousine Seiran was already waiting for them holding the door open.
Like a perfect gentleman Kaname gestured Aiyora to climb in first and followed after taking the seat beside her. Yuuki slipped in and took the seat across from Kaname and Aiyora. The three cousins climbed in one after another whilst Seiran sat in the front beside the chauffeur.
The car started to drive away and both Yuuki and Aiyora looked at the window with a sorrowful expression on their faces.
For Yuuki the sadness of leaving behind her old human life was soon replaced by excitement of her new beginning as a Kuran. Whereas with Aiyora, it was different. All that waited for the daughter of Kuran Rido was a blank canvas. Where she would draw her own future in her own fashion.
In other words Kuran Aiyora wasn't sure whether she had anything to be excited about the future she was about to step into.
The End— of anime arc.
A/N: Alright folks, so this is it, the end of the anime arc. Although Aiyora's journey isn't over, as a matter of fact both Yuuki and Aiyora are stepping into the real world. I will be continuing the manga arc here. But for those of you who only prefer up to the anime I'd like to thank you for your time and interest in my story. Hope it was worth it. Let me know your thoughts what you liked, what you hated.
And those of you coming into the manga arc if you have and ideas, thoughts or suggestions on how the trio (Kaname, Yuuki and Aiyora) should begin their new journey feel free to share. While I hammer my brain and figure out how to work on the manga timeline. Even though I already have some plans for Aiyora, I'm just trying to figure out how to implement them.
Reply to guestwithreviews: Not sure what Kaname and Yuuki are going to do, but Aiyora certainly will try to figure out a path to better establish herself in the newly formed vampire society whenever that is formed. But before that she should come to terms with her feelings. As you have seen in the chapter both her emotional and mental state is very vulnerable at the moment. However I also believe when she meets Senri next she will be a better version of herself.
Reply to the other guest review: It was one of my reader Astri Claire who once mentioned this important point about Juuri and Haruka's nature. All they focused on was their little family and turned blind eye to the vampire world. Juuri's main focus all throughout was so that Yuuki can have a childhood without having to carry the burden of being a pureblood vampire.
Even if they weren't royalty they were still very influential. They could have shown some sort of support. But no nothing!
