For some reason the 3rd person I wanted to include in my extended gratitude did not show up in the Introduction, so I'll add them here: Moonlight45nightingale "Moonlight Children" had also inspired me to proceed with T-M-T-E-T-S.
Also, thanks to all my readers for giving this story a chance :D Enjoy :3
THE MOON THAT EMBRACES THE SUN
Chapter I
The Day of Annunciation
16 years later...
Riding the opulent limousine toward their presumed destination, six faces stared at one another in awkard silence as the view of the town disappeared behind forested mountaintops. After the time seemed to prolongue, the silence began to sway with the rumbling of the running tires against the paved road.
One of them, a young boy - not yet a teenager, but no longer a child - with messy, flaming red hair and deep emerald eyes, rolled down the passenger window, sticking his head out to feel the mid-day breeze against his slightly tanned skin.
"Akumu, get in!" another boy, physically similar to him - despite the 3 year age gap - grabbed the younger one from the shirt and pulled him back inside the smoothly running vehicle. His hair, though a darker shade than the brighter hue of his younger brother's, was neatly combed - strands of reddish-brown reflecting an almost copper-like shine under the rays of the mid-day sun permeating through the tinted window. Turning around, seemingly ignoring the grunts of the youngest, Actinolite eyes contemplated the lush scenery as the green hue enhanced his own.
"Geez, Kaname-nii, you're no fun!" The emerald eyed youth 'hmph'-ed and crossed his arms against his chest, pouting.
"If you keep acting like a brat all the time, you're going to end up causing big trouble, Akumu~."
Facing right his side, Akumu took notice of the beautiful teenage girl sitting with one leg crossed over the other, a gossip magazine resting comfortably against her propped knee as a well-manicured nail flipped the page over. Her luscious golden hair was fixed in a classy braid, reaching past her elbows as it lay against her shoulder; bright aquamarine eyes deeply concentrated on the images of the glossed paper.
"Well, at least that's better than pampering myself like a narcisstic princess, Hime-nee~" The redhead returned the jibe with as much sarcasm as he could.
"Hmph!" She faced him, "Says the one that always considers himself the best at everything!"
"That's because I am!"
"And who do you think you are to suggest I'm not!"
"I am greater than anybody! I don't have to spend hours in the mirror each day to make myself look awesome, because I already am!"
"Why you-!"
"Enough! Can't you see you're bothering Nee-san?!" Kaname chastised as he faced the girl at the far end of the limousine.
Morganite eyes glowed with mirth as she watched the argument in silence.
"Sorry..." Brother and sister quickly apologized to the eldest.
Releasing a small giggle behind a dainty hand, the teenage girl tenderly smiled at the scene. "Usually I wouldn't mind the banter, but right now the youngest are sleeping...its best we let them rest until we arrive, alright? Akumu-kun, it's not safe for you to be sticking your head out the window like that - you could fall and hurt yourself. Would you mind staying seated for a little while longer? It won't be long now, I promise. Kaname-kun, you shouldn't mind Akumu-kun's actions - it has been a long ride for us all, its only natural that he'll get impatient. Hime-chan, it's not nice to pick on your brother."
"Yes, Nee-san"
"...Nee-chan"
"...Nee-sama"
A gentle smile graced her features, providing a peaceful comfort to the others as her melodic humming rang within the lavishly draped cabin. Long, dark tresses - as black as the sable night - pooled in small swirls against the wine-colored seats of the limousine. A soothing hand - with skin as white as the moonlight - brushed platinum blonde locks sprawled against her lap; the little girl with creamy skin, lay sound asleep. Resting in one arm, face comfortably pressed against the eldest's bountiful bosom, was a toddler, whose violet strands deeply contrasted his porcelain complexion.
After the car ride prolonged for another 10 minutes, which to a certain redhead felt eternal, he opted in making light conversation about a previously unspoken question.
"Regina Nee-chan," Akumu asked, breaking the momentary silence, "Was it really necessary to leave the Old Fart's house? Not that I'm complainin', but isn't it kind of...sudden?"
"Akumu..." Kaname chastised through clenched teeth, berrating the youngest on the way he addressed their adoptive father. "Whether it was necessary or not, it is done. End of discussion."
"Well, if you think about it," Hime responded, placing the magazine on her side, "It's not like we had much of a choice on the subject, Kaname."
"You too, Hime-nee?"
"Akumu-kun, Kaname-kun, Hime-chan," Regina called the three's attention, "Perhaps it was a bit, abrupt, but I can assure you that Father Komori had thought clearly about it before making such a decision. You all have seen the letters he receives every year from Tougo Sakami, right?"
The siblings nodded.
"Well, for some reason, the letter that arrived yesterday, which bore the golden insignia of the Sakami Family, must have been far more important than the others, for him to react the way he did."
"Guess so," Akumu sighed, resting his head back against the leather seat, "But what the hell was in that damned letter that made the Old Fart react like it was a matter of life or death? I mean, the only thing that we're doing is moving in with our Fathers."
"Akumu is right, Nee-san," Kaname interceded, "For once in his life-"
"Oi, you got something to say to me, Kaname-nii."
"Nothing you already don't know, idiot." Kaname pinched his brother's nose, causing the redhead to yelp in pain. Turning abruptly serious after the little arguement, Kaname bent forward, elbows resting atop his knees, as fingers intertwined in a singular fist in front of him. "Nee-san, what I'm most concerned about is meeting our Fathers at this point. As far as Father Komori had told us, none of them, aside from this mysterious Tougo Sakamaki know of our affiliation to the Sakamaki name. What if they don't-?"
"Accept us?" She asked knowingly as morganite eyes glanced down at the two seraphims asleep in her arms.
Kaname silently nodded.
"Remember when I used to read to you Mother's Diary?"
All three nodded.
"How she described our Fathers, their likes and dislikes?"
They nodded again.
"That is all you'll need to know when meeting with them. Perhaps first impressions may mean the start of a good relationship, or the beginning of a bad one, but for the moment let's just enjoy the idea that we'll get to meet the men Mother loved dearly."
The heavy mood leavened instantly upon her words as the vehicle made a quick ascent toward a steep hill.
"Well, to be honest, I'm actually excited to meet my Daddy!" Hime smiled. "Because I know that he's going to pamper me properly, unlike the priest. Daddy's going to buy me all the fashion clothes I want, and all the make up, and the accesories, and the jewels, and-!"
"You barely know the man and already you're calling him 'Daddy'?" Kaname looked at his older sister disapprovingly.
"Well, he is my Daddy, and since he's the eldest son, that means he has more power than all of my uncles, which means that I have more power over you two!"
"Says who?!" both boys yelled, silencing at once when the eldest sister placed her finger against her lips.
"Well, if that's the case, I kinda wanna see what Oyaji is like! Mom said he's a really cool guy! I wanna see if he's cooler than me!" Akumu beamed, emerald eyes shining as he imagined all the kinds of competicions he would have with his Father - to prove which one of them both was the best.
"I'd rather go a few centuries without meeting my Dad." Kaname sighed, already exhausted before the day began. "What about you, Nee-san?"
"Hm?"
"Yeah, Nee-sama, aren't you excited to see what your Daddy is like?" Hime asked, aquamarine eyes twinkling in excitement.
Regina blushed. "Well...um...I suppose that...well...yes..."
Kaname smirked at his sister's bashfulness, "Mom did say that Nee-san's Dad was more reliable than any of the others combined..."
"And, she did also say that he fit the title of a Prince with his 'Impeccable Perfection'..." Hime giggled.
"Yeah, but didn't she also say he was a tableware Otaku?"
"Akumu!" Kaname and Hime scolded.
"Sorry, but its true!"
Regina released a small giggle, that soon turned into contagious laughter as the cabin rumbled from their ceaseless giggles.
Akumu jumped from his seat toward his eldest sister and pushed the sliding window to the side. "Oi, Old Man McGruffs," he endearingly called the expressionelss driver, "How much longer till we get there?"
"Just a block downhill, young master."
"That's right, I'm the young master! Who's the boss? Me! Akumu!" Akumu smiled, chest puffed proudly, as he closed the window and returned to his seat beside Kaname.
A couple of minutes later, Regina felt the two children stir against her - finally awakening from their nap. "Good morning, Luna-chan, Luka-kun."
The platinum-blonde haired girl rubbed her sleepy eyes, ruby orbs looking up at her sister with delight. "Good morning, Nee-chama." Looking around she could see the rest of her siblings, who also said their 'morning's; all which were sleepily responded. Releasing a slight yawn, Luna stared out the window in momentary awe as she noticed the tall, green scenery change into white granite walls, before large black gates - bearing in the center of the two the Sakamaki crest - opened up to reveal a large estate.
"Are we going to meet my Papa?" Luna asked, eager as well as partially nervous at the much dreamed about meeting.
"Yes, we're going to meet your Princely Papa." Regina smiled, carressing the little girl's cheek.
"And he's going to take me to Wonderland to meet the White Rabbit?" she asked shyly.
"I'm not sure if he'll have time to right now," Regina said, placing a delicate finger against her chin, "But, how about this, when you meet him - why don't you ask him?"
Luna nodded happily.
The toddler, who had comfortably accomadated himself in the eldest's lap, head laying back against her pillowy chest, tugged on her dress' sleeve.
"Yes, Luca-kun?"
The boy silently pointed at the entrance of the manor, alexandrite eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Yes, Luca-kun, you're going to meet your Papa as well."
The toddler nodded happily as he continued to stare at the estate, which was becoming larger and darker the further in they approached.
~S.O.V~
"Are we sure this is the right house?"
"It is."
"Looks more like a haunted mansion up close than a castle on the sky, don't you think?"
"Idiot, the fact that mother considered them to be Princes didn't necessarily mean they lived in a castle. They're Vampire's for goodness sake." Kaname walked around the limousine to open up the trunk of the vehicle, ignoring Akumu's grunts of disapproval at the somber exterior of the grand mansion.
"Well, yeah, but would it kill them to, I don't know, make the place look like someone actually lives here? Anyone could mistake this place as being abandoned." Akumu argued, looking around at the sullen ambient of the house. "It looked much better from afar than up close."
"Oh, so now you're a genius in exterior decoration?" Hime teased.
"If I wanted to I could be the best decorator in the world, and you know it!" He pointed at himself, his ego inflating even more than what Hime had orginially intended, "I'm just sayin' because, well...a place this big ought to be...nicer looking."
"Can't say I don't agree with you on that." Hime sighed, glancing at how the sky had become rather sullen; dark gray clouds forming above them, spreading an almost somber aura around the lavish property. When the sun's splendorous rays became engulfed in rumbling clouds, the moutaintops seemed to roar as their tall and mighty frames cast a heavy shadow over the land.
"From what I heard," Kaname advised, as he took out the luggage bags from the trunk, "not many people know this house exists. I guess they like their privacy."
"So then, how do we know that its the right house?"
"Dummy," Hime hit Akumu on the back of his head, "How many Sakamaki houses do you think there are?"
"I don't know? Like 100 or so?"
"So far its only one...at least in the human world," Regina interrupted, carrying Luca in one arm, while Luna held her hand tightly - somewhat apprehensive of the gloomy surroundings. "Kaname-kun, Akumu-kun, would you be so kind as to get the luggage inside? It looks like its going to rain."
"Alright."
"And make sure to get my things too~" Hime smiled, walking toward her older sister as she observed the stone steps leading to the entrance of the manor.
"Why can't you get your things? You're not doing anything!" Akumu argued, carrying two bags on each side, and rolling another one behind him.
"Well, duh, I'm the second eldest, I'm a lady, my Daddy is the first-born son, and you're a guy. Unless of course, the 'Almighty Akumu' can't handle something like carrying wee little bags?" She smirked, knowing she had hit him right where it hurt.
"I'll show you what the great Akumu-sama can do!" he ran back to the car to grab the rest of the luggage. Kaname, sighing, followed him to get the rest before he hurt himself or destroyed the only clothes they had.
"Bingo." Hime smiled and turned toward her sister.
"Hime-chan, that was mean." Regina giggled, making Hime, Luna, and Luca smile.
"Well you know that I'm great at manipulating people around me, Nee-sama."
"I hope you don't do that often with me." Morganite glanced over at Aquamarine.
Hime looked scandalized, "Of course not, Nee-sama, I would never do something like manipulate you!" She hugged her older sister from the side, rubbing her cheek against the the eldest's shoulder. "You're my favorite big sister, Nee-sama!"
"I'm your only big sister."
"Which is why you don't have to worry about your spot being taken by anyone on my account!"
Bursting into a fit of giggles as they reached the large wooden doors of the Sakamaki manor, Regina and Hime took an abrupt step back as they felt a wave of darkness surround them, almost like the very aura of the place demanded intruders leave and never return.
It was in no way a comfortable feeling.
"Nee-chama..." Luna trembled, grasping Regina's hand with a quivering fist.
Rubbing soothing circles on the back of her hand, Regina gently whispered that everything would be alright. Then, when the two children visible calmed down, she handed them over to the second eldest. "Hime, take Luca and Luna; and no matter what, stay behind me."
"Yes, Nee-sama." The blonde responded hesitantly as she took her younger siblings and followed behind the black-haired teenager.
If gloomy had been a definition for the exterior, funereal seemed to be the appropriate word for the interior.
Red and black seemed to be a recurring color within the Elizabethan-styled estate. The second floor, alighted by the gold-bathed, crystallized chandelier hanging at the center of the large living room, appeared to focus its sole attention at the 3 couches, 2 loveseats, and 1 chaise surrounding a small wooden coffee table.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" Regina called out, her voice echoing within the large, empty, house.
"Nee-sama, I don't think anyone-..." But Hime's words were so rudely interrupted, when a young man, who oddly resembled Akumu, called out to them from atop the staircase.
"Who the hell are you?"
Regina stared at him in silence for a brief moment, immediately realizing who he was - having had recognized him for his overconfident stride as he descended the stairs toward them. However, before a proper greeting could escape her lips, Regina suddenly felt a hand clasp her throat and push her to the nearest wall.
"Nee-sama!" Hime cried out in panic.
Regina tried to pry off the strong grip against her throat as she felt him keep her there, in place. "How the hell are you still alive?"
"I..beg your pardon?" The morganite eyed girl asked, confused.
"I asked how the hell can you still be alive, Cordelia?" The redhead spat.
Regina didn't understand, but one thing was certain.
Creating a familial bond with pure-bred vampires was going to be no easy feat!
Terms and Definition
Nee-san/-chan/-sama/-chama - Different forms of the word "Older Sister" in Japanese.
Oyaji - "Old Man" in Japanese, which Akumu replaced for the word "Father"
Otou-sama - "Father" in Japanese.
-Nii or Nii-san - "Older Brother" in Japanese.