Kaname waited in the corner of a large ballroom, wine in hand. He was waiting for Akari to arrive. He needed to know that she was alright and to ensure that her help was genuine after all the things she had said before. Takuma's grandfather, Asato was hosting the dance, he had confirmed Rido was attending. Rido was sure to bring Akari with him, to show her off. Kaname had managed to talk to a few different people, asking questions about Akari. At first, he would pretend that he was confused as to why she hadn't arrived at the specified time. He had been corrected by a few people, Akari was always late to the party and often the first to leave. Not because she was a tardy person, but because she always turned up just before Rido when he was attending, as he was always tardy. No one knew why she did this. If Rido wasn't attending then she would always be on time if she did rarely attend without Rido. He had also learnt that Rido was often the reason why Akari left early. Rido would get jealous of the men around her and convince her to leave.
Just before Kaname gave up, she arrived. She was wearing a short-sleeved gold floor length mermaid dress. The dress shimmered in the light, showing off the flowery lace made of golden glitter. Kaname was surprised by her choice of dress. Her eyeshadow was soft golds and browns with black eyeliner. Her lips were painted a light glossy rose. Her hair was down, she had given it a slight wave and pulled it over one shoulder. Again, this surprised him. She looked elegant, beautiful, regal. Kaname couldn't believe it. It wasn't like anything he had seen her in before. Before, she wore something cute or revealing.
He smiled and stepped towards her but his smile soon vanished. An arm wrapped around her waist, Rido was already showing his ownership over her. "It's good to see you uncle." Kaname spoke up. He watched as Akari visibility froze. It was clear that she had no idea he was attending, that or she thought he wouldn't approach them. Rido's lack of a reaction showed that he did know.
The whole room fell silent, they were watching Kaname and Rido, waiting for all hell to break loose. None of the people at the dance knew about Yuki, they just knew Rido attacked the academy. Kaname had made sure no one would find out who Yuki really was. They knew that Kaname wanted Akari, and Rido had Akari.
"It's good to see you too nephew." Rido finally greeted back.
"Lady Akari, a pleasure as always." Kaname stepped forwards and took her hand in his. He gently brushed his lips over her knuckles. Akari blushed and pulled her hand back gently.
"Lord Kaname." She bowed her head lightly and smiled. Rido pulled her closer to his side. It may be harder than Kaname thought to talk to Akari.
"Come on Akari, we have other people to meet." Rido spoke up and gently led Akari away by the waist. Kaname watched them walk way, he didn't fail to notice Akari look back at him with pleading eyes. Kaname kept watch over her until Rido left her side. He must of thought Kaname had given up.
"Akari." Kaname had snuck up behind her, he kept his back to her. She kept her back to him, trying not to make it look like they were talking to each other.
"Kaname." She greeted back, taking a sip of champagne, trying hid the fact she was speaking.
"I will get you of there." He told her. "Akari, is it really you who is sending those letters?" He then asked.
"Yes. I write when I can and have them sent when I can." She explained simply. "It's hard when Rido wants me by his side all the time." She then admitted with a sigh.
"Has he hurt you?" He then asked her. Akari paused and tried hard not to laugh, it was clear the fake letter from her staff had worked. Kaname took the silence as a yes. "I need an answer." He told her, he had to be sure before he started making accusations.
"It isn't as bad as you think." She told him calmly. Kaname balled his fists, he had to control himself.
"How bad?" He pushed.
"Nothing as bad as when you chose to attack me, the first time." She answered, referencing the bite he gave her. "Or the second time." She was making a point that he too had hurt her, not that Rido ever had. She knew he would always think the worse of Rido, why not use it to their advantage? Kaname sighed and looked down, he wasn't proud of that day, he allowed his emotions to take over. All he saw was red, he didn't think twice about his actions. Now Kaname knew for the moment, Rido was being light with her. But he wondered how much longer that would last.
"I'm sorry. My behaviour was unacceptable and I aim to change, for you." He told her, sounding rather bold. "But now I need to know, do you have anything that could tell me that could help me? Help me with Rido or even help me to set you free from him." He needed information, he would set a time to fix things with Akari, to apologise to her properly once she was back with him, before or after Rido was dealt with.
"Rido is waiting on you. He's waiting for you to strike first." She told him calmly. "He won't tell me anything but more and more followers are turning up. I don't know what I'm meant to do." She added sounding disheartened.
"Just hang in there and tell us of any changes." Kaname told her but he couldn't take it any longer. He turned around and moved in front of her. Akari looked up at him shocked. "I miss you Akari. You can leave with me if you want. No one will stop you." He reassured her, placing his hand on her arm. He knew Rido wouldn't be able to cause a fight, or at least he could hope that would be the case. She looked up at him, shocked by his sudden boldness.
"Ka…" She started but before she could say his full name. Rido grabbed Kaname's arm, his grip was firm.
"Kaname, I think you should leave." Rido's voice full of warning, with a glare to match. "We don't need a repeat of that night when I had to pull you off her neck." He added, taking a dig at Kaname.
"We were simply talking." Kaname told him with a small smirk, ignoring Rido's last comment and pulling his arm free from Rido, letting Akari go.
"I think you're done talking." Rido pushed Kaname back from Akari.
"Are you threatened by me?" Kaname asked with confidence. "You know she would leave you for me, don't you?" He continued, pushing Rido's buttons. Rido's hands balled into fists.
"Stop!" Akari shouted at them, pushing her way between them as they squared off against each other. Both men paused as her hands pushed into their chests. "This is neutral ground." She hissed at them. "If you two fight now, you will open this up to more fights. This is meant to be a truce for everyone, don't change that!" Kaname stepped back, he knew she was right. Rido however was ready for the attack still. Akari turned to face Rido directly. "Let's go." She told him, taking Rido's balled fist into her hand. She gave him a gentle tug as she stepped to lead him away. Rido let her lead him away. Kaname was surprised that Rido would allow her to lead him away.
Once she managed to convince Rido to get in the back of their limo, she heard someone approaching them. Crisp footsteps on the gravel road. She turned, expecting to see Kaname. She spun around, ready to argue with him. But someone else was in his place.
"Zero, I never expected to see you here." She spoke as her eyes lay on the slim sliver haired man.
"I went back to your mansion. They told me you were here." Zero said simply. Akari frowned slightly, her staff had never done such a thing before. They would normally send someone way, never spilling where she was. The only one who they would speak to, was Rido and that was purely because she had ordered that. It made her sceptical that what he had just told her was true.
"Why come back to me? You don't like us purebloods." She teased him. Zero looked away and folded his arms over his chest.
"I can't go back to the academy. I'm a full vampire now, the Vampire Hunters Association will kill me on sight. They won't care that I'm on their side and always will be, they'll only see me as a vampire." Zero explained. Akari smiled, at least Shiruka was gone. One less enemy to deal with.
"You came to stay with me?" She asked sweetly, he still hadn't quite explained why he chose her. He could have travelled the world. He could have hunted vampires anywhere.
"You've always been straight with me. I need to work out if I'm still danger to humans before I approach Cross or Toga again. I guess I'm asking for a safe haven." Zero told her, Akari was sure he was still dancing around the real reason but it didn't matter right now. She knew Zero wasn't a danger to her, but Rido on the other hand…
"If you come with me, you will have to behave. Rido will say and do things to push your buttons. He will test your loyalty to me, even if your loyalty is temporary." She warned him. "Can you handle that?"
"Is he worse than Kaname?" He asked, clearly giving this consideration, may be even rethinking his decision.
"He won't tease you with humans if that's what you mean?" She lightly teased him, earning a glare. "It'll most likely to be jives at your previous Level-E status and he may call you my pet instead of by your name." She clarified.
"I will leave if I can't control myself, until then, I will stay with you if you allow me too." Zero spoke after a short silence. He was clearly wondering if this was truly a good idea.
"Good, jump in with the driver." She told him before getting in the back with Rido. As she shut the limo door, she made eye contact with Kaname. He had come out onto the balcony looking over the driveway. She knew he had watched the entire encounter. She wasn't sure if Zero's presence upset him or not, his face was flat and expressionless.
"Isn't that the Level-E from Cross academy?" Rido asked without much care once she closed the door.
"Yes, he killed Shiruka for us." She told him, earning a smirk from Rido.
"Ah, the naïve boy. Your charm never fails." He chuckled.
"I learnt from the best." She chimed, earning another chuckle. He took her hand and kissed the back of it.
"Even I'm not that good." He admitted and pulled her into his side. "What do you plan to do with him now?"
"I'm not sure. I know he's a vampire hunter at heart and he will go back to it at some point in the future. I have a few ideas, but this is just what I've come up just now. They may not work or need some more thought." She told him and he nodded in understanding.
"Just be careful, my followers have stated he has been back to that school." He told her as the limo started to move. "It was the last report this evening, before we came here." He then added and Akari frowned.
"That's funny, he told me he hadn't been back. He said he went straight to my house and the staff top him I was here."
"Curious." Rido hummed before smirking. "I wonder if he had orders to try and get within our walls? But who gave those orders, Cross or Kaname? And is it to protect you or to find out information?" He pondered outload.
"They're more than likely working together but Zero would never take an order or give a report to Kaname." She pointed out and she relaxed in her seat next to Rido. "And I would guess Kaname convinced Cross it would help me pass on information but really it would be able proving how evil you are. And possibly protect me." She added and Rido hummed in agreement, he had seen many times while possessing Senri that Zero couldn't stand Kaname. He couldn't any of them, but Kaname was the one who received the most hate out of all of them.
"How about we see if we can play on that fake letter from your staff?" He asked, he wanted to see how far he could push Zero. He wanted to see if Zero would stop him or if he would turn a blind eye.
"I already played on it with Kaname. He asked if you had hurt me and I implied that you hadn't hurt any more than when he bit me and when he attacked me." Akari told him with a smirk.
"I bet that pissed him off." Rido chuckled, he wished he had seen Kaname's face drop at the mention of his own actions towards her. He thought himself so much better than Rido yet he was one who was forcing her into things and physically hurting her.
"What were you thinking with Zero?" She then asked curious.
"Well, we told them that I was being heavy handed, correct?" She nodded in agreement. "That could really imply any sort of abuse, emotion, physical or sexual." Again, she nodded in agreement. "What if I was to force you to do a sexual act on me with the door open enough for a spy to see? He would report back and something will happen. Most likely, Kaname will lose it." He added with a grin. "Just follow my lead, you know how to act, right?" He then teased her, she smacked him lightly and smiled.
Rido knew that taking Zero in could end up being a big risk. Like she had stated, he's a vampire hunter at heart, no matter what he is now. They could very well be letting the fox into the chicken pen so to speak. He trusted Akari and her judgement, he however, didn't trust the boy.