A week quickly passed. Asato had come through and had gotten Akari an invitation. He even turned up to take her to the ball, alongside his grandson, Takuma. Takuma seemed both surprised and happy to see her, complimenting her on how well she looked considering. She tried not to huff at him, she had let Rido pick out her dress after she couldn't decide for herself. She wasn't entirely sure if she liked the dress. It was a long sleeved, form-fitting, velvet, royal purple, floor length dress with a thigh slit on her right side. The neckline itself dipped a little below the start of her cleavage, not that she minded that too much when it was just her and Rido. As much as she enjoyed being sexy, it was men like Asato that made her regret wanting to feel and look that way. She had decided to leave her hair down, straight, it was one of the few occasions where she couldn't be bothered with doing something fancy. The event itself was weighing heavily on her mind.

"Asato, I am perfectly capable of getting myself to the ball." Akari pointed out as Asato held out his hand for her to take.

"The council felt it was best you had an escort, many suitors may push the boundaries." He explained and Akari rolled her eyes, making her own way to the waiting car.

"I doubt Takuma would push such boundaries, he is still a gentleman, right?" She clapped back at him, smirking. She heard a faint chuckle from Takuma as he entered the car after her, leaving a furious Asato behind. She could tell he was mainly upset about leaving him out of the realm of being a suitor.

When they arrived at the ball, Asato all but demanded that she was to enter on his arm. Akari almost last her temper with him in that moment. Takuma however, was able to defuse the situation. He offered to enter with her instead, as a compromise, as Asato had told the council that she was his chosen guest to witness the raise of the council. Many of the council disbelieved that Akari would attend such an event in the wake of Rido's death. But somehow, Asato had managed to convince them that Akari had reached out to his grandson Takuma, asking for advice on what to do next. Takuma had then sought out his grandfather for help. Asato then chose to visit Akari, to see what exactly was on the young women's mind. He stated that he couldn't be too sure if Rido had anything planned in the event of his death. He had to check and ensure the road was clear for the council. It had turned out, once Asato had spoken to her, that Akari had always wished to settle down but the Kuran's how had promised her to settle down, had not done so. So Asato offered to help her find someone who would, hence inviting her to the ball.

Many of the council eyed her with caution as she entered the ball with Takuma. She thanked him once they reached the ballroom floor but he didn't let her go. She looked at him confused and was about to question him when he asked her to dance. She wasn't sure if Takuma knew that her intention was not to settle down that evening.

"I know why you are here." He suddenly whispered in her ear as they danced. It tool Akari all her might not to freeze or show any emotion.

"To find a man, you know this already." She countered, hoping that by not admitting to anything, he would think he was wrong.

"No, I think you're here to steak your own claim to the throne, and you're going to use my grandfather to do so." He told her, almost making her laugh.

"No Takuma, I would not do such a thing." She told him with a smile. "I have no need to. It wasn't something I was after in the first place." She then added but he still eyed her with suspension.

"What were you after then?" He askes curious.

"Love." She answered simply. "All I wanted was love, I fell in love with Rido but would never give me a quiet and calm life. Kaname offered me a chance of settling down but it would be far from calm and peaceful." She went onto explain. "The sad thing is, I really did love Rido." She then added, trying sound a little bit upset. Takuma sighed and pulled her into a hug.

"I'm sorry." He told her before letting her go. Akari gave him a small smile before finding somewhere to wait for the reveal.

"Ladies and gentlemen." Asato spoke up after a long wait. Akari was sure she was going to end up dying from dancing and wine before Asato would make the announcement. She had to keep up the pretence of looking for a suitor, she only accepted dances from men that she would have gone for before Rido. She had to keep up appearances after all. "I know you are all wondering as to why the council has gathered us all here today." He then added, making Akari yawn, a hint to speed things up. "Well, as lack of an heir could be found for the throne, the Vampire Council has decided, in order to keep law within or society, that it should, form this day forth, take the place of the royal family…"

"You mean you didn't look hard enough." Akari interrupted him. Many guests turned and gasped at her, their eyes falling on her stomach. Akari rolled her eyes but took the opportunity to make her way to Asato.

"Is there an heir we were not informed of?" Asato asked nervously, following the cue that everyone else had assumed that she was pregnant with either Kuran's child.

"You all assumed that just because the hunters told you both Kuran's were dead, that they were telling the truth or that they were right. None of you bothered to check the information." Akari pointed out. "If it was up to me, I'd say you were all in the pockets of the hunters, in order to protect yourselves and your interests." She then added, earning a gasp from everyone.

"Which Kuran do you claim is still alive?" Asato asked, stepping closer to her as he felt the glare of the other council members. He could at least hope Akari would pity him enough to protect him.

"My dear Akari is referring to me." Rido suddenly spoke up from his hiding place in the shadows. Everyone bowed their heads immediately as Rido moved across the room. "I am deeply hurt and ashamed of the Vampire Council." He continued to speak, commanding the room to listen to him. "None of you bothered to look for me, to see if the hunters information was correct."

"Why didn't you step forward for the crown sooner?" Someone bravely yet stupidly spoke up. Rido recognised the speaker as a member of the Hanabusa family. They had always been loyal to his siblings and to Kaname. It didn't surprise him the cocky breed of aristocrats.

"I was injured, I had to not only defeated my pathetic nephew Kaname in battle, but also the vampire hunters in almost all of their entirety." Rido explained, his voice sounding menacing. "Would you manage that unscathed?" He then asked, the man shrunk back and shook his head. "Akari was the one who came looking for me after she escaped the clutches of the hunters. She risked her own life to find me. She didn't listen to the lies of hunters." He stepped towards Akari and took her hand. "One women did the job that several men should have done. It leads me to question, who's side are you really on?" He then asked the whole Vampire Council.

"We all honestly thought you were dead." One spoke up.

"What reason would the hunters have to lie?" Another asked.

"They would lie to cause a war between myself and the council." Rido pointed out. "But my main concern, is that there are members of this council who have or are working with the hunters to save their own skin. And for that, this council will no longer exist!" He then added, his anger showing through.

"You can't just stop the council from existing." Asato pointed out.

"Why? Would you rather I killed you all." Rido hissed through clenched teeth. Akari stepped between them, her hand resting on Rido's chest.

"How about we go to your throne?" She suggested calmly. Rido grunted and stormed off. Asato took a deep breath, he had no idea he had been holding his own breath. Akari rushed off after Rido, hoping that would be the last of it.

"Running away with job half done." Someone heckled. Akari recognised the voice straight away, it was Zero. Rido turned around abruptly, causing Akari to collide with his chest.

"You want me to kill them all, and you?!" Rido all but roared. Akari wondered how he got into the ball and then managed to hide from her. "Or are you after a prize you'll never get." He then hinted as he wrapped his arm tightly around Akari's waist.

"We only came to see what was going on." Zero stated. Akari quickly looked around, he had come with someone else, but how many and who? She quickly spotted Toga hovering near Zero, clearly expecting Rido to bite. But she couldn't see if Cross or anyone else was there.

"Rido, let's go. It's not worth it." Akari tried to calm him. He had been worked up for days, she had no idea why but now he had calm down. "What has gotten into you." She then snapped at him, gaining his attention.

"That thing you're so fond of has been following you and you have been to blind to see it." Rido hissed at her. "You led him here, did you want me to be ambushed by them?!" He then squeezed her tight, making her gasp.

"I love you Rido. He means nothing to me, you know that." She tried to reassure him. "Besides, it's not the first time someone has stalked me." She then pointed out. "I take no notice of them because I can protect myself and I have you to focus all of my attention on." She added and he relaxed a little.

"I don't have time to deal with whatever petty treaty you hunters want." Rido turned his attention back to Zero. "I suggest you go find a vampire more your level." He then added, walking away. Akari quickly followed him, unsure of what Zero was playing at. Something big was coming and she wasn't sure what Zero had to do with it.