A few days past and it was now time for their engagement announcement. Aina looked over her red silk dress. The same one she wore when she finally got over Zero. She want to tease Rido for the night. She wanted to see how long he could control himself. He was always teasing her, it her turn now. She put on a pearl necklace that dipped down past the neckline of the dress.
"You know I find you irresistible in red." Rido spoke up as he stepped behind her. His voice was almost a low growl. Aina smirked.
"Oh, I didn't know." She teased him. He growled at her, pulling her by her waist back towards him.
"I will take you right now if you're not careful."
Someone clearing their throat caught there attention. The both turned to see Haruka. "Can I help you brother?" Rido asked annoyed.
"It's your party. You need to make an appearance at some point." Haruka told them.
"I hope you kept the brats at home." Aina said as she started walking towards the door.
"Yuki is here. Kaname is not." He told them and Aina sighed.
"Just keep her away from me." She walked away, she would wait for Rido by the entrance to their ball. They had to appear together.
"Is Juri about too?" Rido asked and Haruka nodded. "You know over time, I might even consider you a real brother, not just a brother in name." He then added surprising Haruka.
"I am your brother, your blood brother, your real brother." He countered.
"In other words, I think we can actually act as brothers one day." Rido clarified before walking away.
Rido smirked when he found Aina waiting for him. "Now where were we?" He asked after he kissed her.
"Making our appearance." She told him once he pulled away from her.
"Too bad, I wanted to do something else." He told her with a smirk. Aina rolled her eyes but smiled at him. He took her arm in his and led the way.
"You look delightful in red." Someone said from behind Aina. She and Rido had separated during the party, greeting guests and making sure everyone was happy. She didn't need to look to know who it was.
"We were told you weren't attending." Aina said without looking at him.
"I changed my mind." He told her. "Things have been awfully quite since Shiruka's death." Aina tensed, his tone seemed to be hinting at something.
"I had nothing to do with it." She looked at him, Kaname smiled at her.
"Oh I know."
"It wasn't Rido either before you start." She then said, expecting him to start blaming Rido.
"I never said he did." He moved closer to her.
"Then what are you hinting at?" She asked confused.
"Your old butler was seen in the area just after she was killed." Kaname told her and she looked at him in shock.
"Zero? But why?" She couldn't believe Zero had done it. She never doubted his abilities but Shiruka was a pureblood with powers and Zero was an ex-human with an anti-vampire weapon. On his own, she doubted he could kill her, hurt her maybe and be hurt himself. Kaname shrugged.
"Maybe he feels he would be doing you a favour?" He suggested.
"Why would he?"
"Because you had to let him go. He would do anything to be back with his mistress." Kaname's tone sounded as if he knew something she didn't want him to know. He knew something about Shiruka's death and about Zero. But Aina knew if Zero had done it, he would have gone back to her. He would have told her himself, not send her a cryptic letter.
"Kaname what are you hinting at?" She asked, fed up of the game he was playing. He leaned closer to her, almost touching her.
"I know about Zero and Ichiru, the real truth." He whispered in her ear. Aina felt her blood freeze. She looked at him in fear.
"What will you do?" She asked worried.
"I won't do anything, I just wanted you to know." He smirked at her. "I will have you Aina. I will win."
"I am not a prize to be won." She hissed at him.
"What if I told you, I would reunite you with Zero. I know where he is." Aina froze. She wanted to ask where he was. She missed him, she truly did.
"Kaname." Rido's voice growled from behind Aina. "Haurka said you were staying at home." He added as his arm snaked around Aina's waist. He pulled her tight to his chest.
"I changed my mind. I thought I should come by and congratulate you." Kaname explained, his eyes staying Aina as he spoke, ignoring Rido.
"Just don't out stay your welcome." Rido hissed at him.
Before anymore words could be exchanged, a servant approached Aina and whispered into her ear. Aina looked concerned and freed herself from Rido's arms. Kaname simply smirked as he watched Rido rush after Aina.
Aina ran to the front door. She could see them through the glass. Her parents standing there with two people clad in black stood behind them. Aina watched in horror as their heads were sliced off. She screamed and fell to the floor as they shattered into shards of glass. Rido threw opened the doors, chancing after the fleeing men.
Aina felt a pair of arms around her, holding her tightly as she sobbed. She didn't open her eyes, she couldn't bare to look.
"You're safe. I have you." Kaname whispered as he rocked her gently in his arms trying to sooth her. She shook her head, her hands balled into fists, holding onto him as she cried. He tucked her hair under his chin and gently kissed the top of her head. "I have you." He told her.
A small crowd of guests stated to surround them. Haruka rushed over and helped Kaname get Aina onto her feet. They quickly rushed Aina away to an empty room, the library. Juri and Yuki followed them as they spotted them moving through the crowd.
Aina wouldn't let Kaname go, she just held on. He sat down with her in his lap. Juri kneeled down on the floor next to them while Haruka and Yuki stood back, watching.
"Aina, what happened?" Juri asked her softly. She may not like the woman but she was with Kaname in that moment. Kaname had her and Juri had to be nice or face Kaname's wrath.
"Dead." Aina tried to speak through her sobs.
"Take a deep breath." Kamane told her. "Keep taking deep breaths." Aina did as she was told, hiccupping a little.
"What happened?" Juri asked again once she had calmed down a little more.
"I was told my parents had arrived." Aina's voice cracked and wavered. "I told them I didn't want them here and had told them to stay away!" She started sobbing again as she referenced the conversation Rido had had with them previously.
"It's alright, its not your fault." Juri told her.
"I went to make them leave and they were just standing there." Aina whispered, feeling guilty. "Someone behind them and then..." She paused and started to breath quickly. Kaname held her tighter.
"It's alright Aina. I have you." He told her softly. "You're safe, no one can touch you." He tried to reassure her. Kaname looked down at Juri, a pained expression on his face, he looked almost guilty.
"They... They killed them." She cried out in pain. Kaname closes his eyes, almost in pain himself as he held her.
Soon after Rido came back, he was covered in blood. He had quickly found them, following the sound of Aina's sobs. The sound broke his heart. He ignored Kaname as he held her and ushered Juri out of the way. He kneeled down next to them.
"Aina." He spoke softly. She didn't move, sobbing into Kaname's chest. "Aina you are safe. I have destroyed them. They can't get to you." He told her. It was clear to everyone, he had caught them and completely lost it.
Aina slowly looked over at him.
"Who were they?" She whispered.
"Pawns. Someone was controlling them." He told her. That ruled out everyone but Purebloods.
"Why? I don't understand..." Rido hushed her and kissed her forehead.
"We can work that out later." He told her. "Right now, you need to rest." He told her. He could see how exhausted she was. Aina relaxed, letting Kaname's jacket go. She reached her arms out for Rido. He smiled at her and lifted her into his arms, holding her like a bride. She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.
"Why me?" She whispered as she fell asleep. Rido sighed and kissed her forehead.
"I don't know my love." He told her even though she was already asleep. He carried her to her room, leaving his family in the library.
"What did you see?" Juri asked curiously.
"I followed them, curiosity got the better of me." Kaname told her. "All I saw was shattered glass and Rido running after someone or two people I think." He paused and rubbed his face. "I saw Aina on the floor, distraught. I had to help her."
"It's alright." Juri told him with a smile.
"I wish I could have done more." Kaname sighed.
"It's not your place to do more for her." Haruka told him. "It is Rido's place." Juri glared at him but didn't say anything.
"There was nothing else you could have done nii-san." Yuki spoke up as she walked up to him. She hugged him and smiled. He looked down at her.
"Go back to your new play thing." He snapped at her and walked out of the library. Yuki looked at her parents with tears in her eyes.
"That have you done?" Juri asked annoyed. Yuki was a terrible flirt.
"I haven't done anything!" She snapped at her mother. Haruka sighed and rubbed his face.
"We should all leave." Haruka spoke up and ushered them all out of the house.
As they left, Haruka spotted a folded piece of paper by the shattered glass. He wondered if her parents were delivering it when they were attacked. He picked it up and unfolded it. He frowned.
'Aina,
I did it for you.
Not many more are in our way now.
Just Rido, Kaname and your old lover left to go.
I promise I'll make this all as happen as quick as possible.
Your Love.'
Haruka looked back at the mansion. Someone was targeting Aina, she must know them. They had to be close to her, how else would they know to lure her out with her parents. He wondered if this had anything to do with Shiruka.
He went back into the mansion and searched for Rido. He found him, still in Aina's room. He was sat on the bed, gently stroking her hair. He had undressed her and tucked her into bed. Rido looked up at the door annoyed. Haurka didn't speak but showed him the letter in his hand. Rido was quick to get up and read it. He sighed and lead Haurka away from her room.
"We got a letter similar after Shiruka's death." Rido admitted with a sigh. "It was along the same lines, they did it for her and that he would come for her. But now it appears they want her to know who they will target next." He added as he read the letter as he continued to lead Haruka to his study.
"What will you do?" Haruka asked, worried for his brother.
"Find out who is doing this. That means I may have to call on you to take Aina in. If I knew were her old butler was, I would leave her in his care." Haruka looked confused.
"Why would her old butler be better than being surrounded by us?" He asked.
"He had been protecting her for over a century on his own. He is more than capable on his own." Rido told him.
"Then why isn't he here anyway?"
"They were lovers as well." Rido admitted as they entered the study. Haruka looked surprised. "I tolerated it at first..."
"Why? Why tolerate that?" He asked confused. He would never tolerate it if it was Juri.
"Because I wanted her to see I was the better choice. Besides, he walked away from her. When Aina was ready to talk, she realised that the relationship was lust filled, not love." Rido explained.
"Sometime born out of being so close to each other rather than love." Haruka said with a sigh.
"Yes, well that was the past. She is now mine." Rido sighed and sat at his desk. "Take her in while I find out who is doing this." He all but ordered. "She isn't safe on her own."
"I will have a room prepared within the hour for her." Haruka promised.
"Just promise me one thing." Rido started.
"Name it."
"Keep Kaname away from her."
"I will do my best." Haruka promised and left Rido to think.
Rido went back to Aina and smiled at her sleeping form. He kissed her forehead before packing her belongings. He handed her things to his servants, ordering them to deliver it to the Kuran's. He sat down on her bed and looked at her peaceful form. He pulled back her blankets and gently wrapped her in a dressing gown. He lifted her up into his arms and held her close. He didn't want to let her go but he had to find out who was doing this. And they had directly threatened him and Zero. He didn't want Zero back in the picture but his death would devastate her. He couldn't bare to see her in that pain ever again.
He carried her all the way to his family's' home. He refused to let anyone one take her from him. He held her above her new bed, he was fighting himself. He gently placed her down, as he did, a single tear escaped him. He leaned down and kissed her forehead before placing down a note for her. With that he left.