Haru Yukimura was escorted from Cross Academy that night by representatives from both, The Hunters Association and The Vampire Council. Kaien Cross had been present, along with Kaname, when Haru was handed over to the authorities. The boy had sincerely apologised to his headmaster and Dorm President for his transgressions, to which Kaien replied;
"Thank you, Yukimura. I hope the authorities are sympathetic towards you." Haru dipped his head in thanks, then turned to the Pureblood. He bowed low but met the rich stare of his superior as he rose.
"Please give Miss Nakamura my thanks, Lord Kuran. To know, an ex-Human understands, gives me hope that my situation maybe not be as dire as I fear." He received no reply. Haru turned to his escorts and followed them to the waiting car, his wrists in shackles.
When Kaname returned to The Moon Dorms, it was to find some of his inner circle waiting in the lobby, Akane included. She stood from her seat next to Ichijo and Aido and moved around the granite coffee table to meet him. Her eyes were large, enquiring after the boy she'd left in Kaien Cross's office hours ago.
"Haru Yukimura has been handed over to the authorities, his fate rests with them now." Akane stilled, gazing up at Kaname for a time before she finally bowed to her master. Ruka's and Ichijo's eyes widened, while Aido stood, watching his friend with a troubled look. Akane had never bowed to Kaname, never displayed her acceptance of his authority over The Moon Dorms, and herself. What happened?
"Thank you, Kuran," she said as she straightened to look the Pureblood in the eye.
Kaname felt, an almost, painful twinge in his heart at Akane's words. He inclined his head to the girl as she retreated towards the kitchens, looking for something to eat in the hopes of settling her stomach. She'd been anxious for Haru since she'd left him at Kaien's office, with only the feared ex-Hunter and detached Pureblood for company.
"Will Yukimura face a trial, Kaname?" Ichijo asked as Kaname walked to the stairs, intending to sleep off his immense irritation towards the guards that had collected the boy. He paused, hand on the railing and a foot poised on the first step. Ichijo watched the slight dip in Kaname's brow as he turned.
"I doubt the council would waste their time." The Pureblood retired to his room after that, leaving his subordinates to conclude for themselves, Haru Yukimura's fate.
Aido excused himself from the group and walked to the kitchens. He found Akane sitting on a stool at the counter, a glass of pale, pink liquid in front of her and a half-eaten piece of toast. He knew immediately she'd already realized the Vampire boy's destiny. Her head was dropped forward, her hands clasped together under her bouncing thighs as if she was trying to stop herself from reaching for something to throw.
Aido quietly took up the seat beside her, waiting for her to talk to him if she needed to. All she'd told them when she'd returned (sans Kaname), was that Haru Yukimura had been behind the attack on the Human and that Kaien and Kaname had already contacted the authorities. He didn't know what the look between Pureblood and Progeny meant. When Akane thanked him, Kaname had looked almost pained by it. He didn't know what had been discussed between them, but he did know there would be little interest, on the Vampire Council's part, to discipline Haru. Whereas, The Hunters Association wouldn't pass up the chance to kill a Noble. Did they even make it out of the academy grounds before they killed him? Aido doubted it.
Akane took an aggressive swig from her glass, dropping it back onto the counter none too gently. She couldn't save Haru, that much had been clear to her the moment she realised Kaname had been willing to kill him just to save face. The council probably wouldn't care to defend him over something so 'trivial', while the Hunters would use his breaking of treaty rules on the neutral ground of Cross Academy, as all the justification they'd need to carry out their judgement. He's just an idiot boy! He'd never been around Humans like this, before coming here! But, what would that matter to the likes of the council or the association?
At least, she thought as she nibbled half-heartedly on her toast, ignoring Aido for the time being. I saved Kuran the guilt of taking another life. She understood the Pureblood may not have felt such emotion for some time, but knew, nameless faces must invade his mind, as well as the dilemma he had over his existence. She knew empathy was a play Kaname Kuran acted out but that the emotion itself had been buried long ago out of necessity to protect himself. He'd forgotten how to reach the feeling it seemed. Akane pitied him for that. With a sigh, she let herself lean onto the shoulder of her friend, accepting his silent support.
Cross Academy continued as normal after Haru Yukimura's exit. Sayaka Kita made a full recovery and any memories related to her attacks were wiped clean from her mind by Siren, Kaname's bodyguard. On Thursday, the head maid was waiting in the lobby of The Moon Dorms, holding a silver tray, a formal looking scroll, sealed with red wax resting in its centre. Kaname stepped forward and took the scroll, thanking the maid who bowed low.
"I have an envelope for you too, Master Aido," she called to the Aristocrat. Aido walked up with a perplexed frown and excepted the envelope from the maid. She bowed once again before leaving to attend to her other duties. Ichijo came to stand with his friends as the rest of his peers walked by, heading to their rooms for a good day's sleep.
"What is it?" he asked them both as they opened and read the contents of the letters addressed to them. Akane stood beside Aido, as did Kain. Both wore surprisingly similar quizzical looks as they watched Aido's face morph from confusion to frustration and back.
"It's an invitation," Kaname answered Ichijo's inquiry. "Nagamichi Aido, the head of the Aido family, has invited the Nobles of the Night Class to a ball he's hosting this Saturday night." Aido met the Pureblood with a troubled look, while Kaname gazed back impassively. Both were disgruntled that Akane was subtly (or unsubtly, in Aido's case) excluded from the invite.
Nagamichi Aido was an old Vampire. The head of a very traditionalist family and obviously, not best pleased to hear his only son had established a 'questionable' friendship with an ex-Human. Akane being the product of Kaname's intervention in her death, meant very little to Vampires of his mindset. Akane was a turned Vampire, regarded as the lowest class of their society. Some even considered her kind to be on the same tier as the Level E's. Ex-Humans wouldn't even be drafted in as servers for a party thrown by families like theirs.
Aido passed the letter to his cousin and strode off up the stairs, Akane and Kain following him. Akane concerned and confused by his change in mood and Kain with a tired sigh at his younger cousin's temper tantrum. Kaname watched them go before looking back down at the elegantly drawn script on his scroll. Aido senior had been painfully courteous in expressing his desire for the Pureblood to attend, along with extending his invitation to the Night Class, but at every available juncture, Aido senior expressed his wish for the Noble class of society to reconnect, for the Noble class to strengthen bonds, and for the Noble class to reach out to one another. He was very careful and clever with his wording, but it was plain, Nagamichi Aido did not acknowledge Kaname's Progeny to be a true Vampire or even noteworthy. He passed the parchment to Ichijo, fearing he would incinerate it before the location was committed to memory. Ichijo followed his friend up the stairs to his suite as he read over the invitation, a disappointed glaze to his eyes when he finished.
Sayori Wakaba looked over the various notebooks, diaries and stationery for sale at the second such store they'd been to, but again, she couldn't decide. She'd already bought what she needed for school, this last purchase was just something for herself, something to use during school to uplift her mood when classes became tiresome. A glittery pen, a colourful notebook, a bookmark with a popular singer printed on it. She couldn't decide.
Sayori turned to her roommate for her take on what frivolous novelty she should buy when she noticed Yuki was staring, lost in her thoughts again.
"I'm sorry for dragging you out with me on your day off Yuki. I'll be done here quickly, then we can get some ice-cream for the walk back to school." Yuki jumped at the sound of her name but quickly recovered.
"It's no problem Yori," Yuki reassured, embarrassed to have been caught in her little world… sigh… again. "I had nothing to do today, so this is fine."
Now, Sayori was very observant and empathic towards her friends, so she could usually tell when someone was troubled but trying to hide it. Yuki, on the other hand, was a terrible liar and couldn't have hidden her stranger than normal pattern of behaviour if her life depended on it. So, it was easy for Sayori to notice when something was off with her friend again.
"You've been spacing out like that all week, more than usual. You've been avoiding Zero too. Maybe when we get back, I'll ask him about it?" she pondered, placing a finger on her chin. Yuki stiffened at the look in Sayori's eyes. "Whenever something's bothering you, it either has something to do with him or Kuran. It'll be fun coaxing some answers out of them."
Yuki laughed nervously. She sometimes forgot her smart, compassionate and composed friend was from a cut-throat, political family who could do and say almost anything and have everyone follow suit. I forget how scary she can be.
"I don't care for Kuran much though," Sayori confessed thoughtfully, turning to her friend. "You're keeping your distance from the Night Class more now too. I think it's good though,"
"Good?"
"Yeah, everyone in the Night Class is kind of scary, except Nakamura, she was nice at Hayashi's birthday putting. I like her." Yuki wouldn't have been able to think of a response to this no matter how much time she had, so she was thankful to be interrupted by an insistent tugging on her jacket. She turned to a young boy quietly sobbing, looking around nervously at all the people he didn't recognise. Sayori noticed the child and asked him if he was lost but he hid behind Yuki, calling out meekly for his mother.
Yuki could feel the child shaking as he wound his tiny arms around her arm, pulling her to hide his face and so he could rub his teary eyes. She knelt next to the little boy and smiled at his sad face reassuringly.
"Did you lose your mommy?" she asked. The boy nodded, fat tears gathering and falling from his mismatched eyes.
"Please take me back to Mommy!" Yuki's heart clenched at the heartbreaking fear on the little boy's face. She understood what it felt like to be lost, alone and scared. It was a traumatic feeling, one she wanted to lessen for this boy as much as possible.
"Yori, I'm gonna help him find his mom, just finish shopping without me. I'll meet you back at school"
"Ok, I guess." Yuki took the little boy's hand and turned to him with a sincere smile.
"Now, let's start with the last place you saw her, yeah?"
Zero knocked on Kaien Cross's door on Saturday morning, after his Dorm President told him the headmaster had asked to see him in his office. He had no idea what he was being called for, but he had a rather uncomfortable feeling it was to do with The Hunters Association. His last assignment had been before Shizuka reappeared. Were they looking to test him again or was this something else?
"Come in!" Kaien called. Zero entered trademark scowl fully in place at the smile on Kaien's lips. He'd come to recognise the smiles the headmaster had given him over the years. A smile of pity, of comfort, of happiness and genuine fondness, as well as the smile he wore today, guarded and unhappy. A smile like this never reached his eyes, he was never able to hide behind this smile, even when he stretched his mouth as wide as he could, his anger still flashed in his eyes.
Kaien invited Zero to take one of the available chairs in front of his desk. Once the teen was seated, Kaien opened a drawer in his desk and dropped an envelope on the desktop between them. He steepled his fingers under his chin and dropped his gaze from the boy to the envelope.
"It's an order from the association," he confirmed. "There's a party to be held in town tonight, by the head of the Aido family, Nagamichi Aido. You've been selected by The Hunters Association to attend to keep the Vampires in check." Zero felt very uncomfortable to know he'd be surrounded by so many Vampires and expected to deter and detain them for any lawbreaking, but a job from the association was a binding contract, a call every Hunter had to answer.
"I understand… I'll go."
Kaien leant back in his chair, unhappy Zero was being tested like this. He was still under suspicion for Shizuka Hio's death, and while Kaname had defended him from the council, he could be in danger all too easily if the Pureblood was distracted.
"There'll be many Vampires there, Purebloods and Nobles from all over the country. It will likely, be a lot of work," Kaien informed him, hoping to prepare him for what he might hear and see in such a party.
"I'm ready!" Zero declared ardently as he stood with the envelope in hand and left the room.
"I have no doubt," Kaien sighed in the empty room.
The little boy lead Yuki through the shopping district of town. The parade of people was thinning out this far out of the centre of town. Fewer shops lined the streets, replaced by more residential buildings. Yuki had asked the little boy many times if he lived up any of the streets or houses, they'd passed, but each time he'd shaken his head.
"Are you sure this is where you last saw her?" Yuki asked when they entered a more industrial area.
"It was this way, just a little further," he answered again. Yuki frowned sceptically. The child had been so frightened when he found her. He could have run around for ages looking for his mother, distressed, disoriented, he could have easily been turned around, but his insistence this was the right way placated Yuki, especially when he excitedly declared he recognised the buildings they passed.
They walked through an open wire fence, towards a disused industrial building when the little boy stopped and turned to Yuki with a happy smile on his cherubic face.
"This is it?" Yuki asked doubtfully.
"Yep!" he answered happily. "Mommy's in here, this is where she said she was going."
"But it doesn't look like anyone's here now," Yuki reasoned gently. She didn't want to leave the boy here if he truly would be alone. His mother could have been looking to view the building or the land before her son got away from her, but she would have thought she would've gone looking for him after losing him in a place like this. "I don't know, I'll wait here with you until your mommy comes and maybe look for a police officer if she's not back soon. She might have already told them to look for you."
The little boy smiled up at Yuki. His dark mahogany and crystal blue eyes crinkling at the sides as his smile widened.
"You're so sweet, Big Sister," he said, reaching up for Yuki's cheeks, pulling her down so he could reach her. Yuki let the boy pull her down so he could kiss her cheek sweetly. "Thank you," he whispered just before his lips pecked her cheek. Yuki wasn't prepared for the sudden shock of nausea that overcame her, as if her head had just been dunked underwater, her body, tumbling under the waves. What's happening?! She thought weakly as gravity shifted, making it so she couldn't have been sure her feet were on the ground or in the clouds before her vision went black.
Aido was tying the intricate knot on his bow when Akane knocked on his and Kain's door. He looked over to her leaning on his doorframe, her arms folded as she scrutinised his expensive clothing passively. He would have been more offended she didn't seem impressed by his dark burgundy suit if it wasn't for his foul mood. The letter his father had sent had practically threatened him with severe consequences if he so much as 'entertained' the idea of 'taking the company' of such a lowly Vampire. He knew his place; he knew his duties and what was expected of him. He didn't need his father reminding him of that!
He had held some naïve hope that he'd have the chance to explore his feelings for Akane, but she'd made it plain they were not going to address the elephants in all the rooms they'd ever been in, no matter how conspicuous. He'd also hoped his father wouldn't have read too much into his involvement with Akane. Aido suspected his father was just being cautious, establishing the boundaries and limitations of his station before anything came to light within the wider Vampire community. Almost a direct quote from the stupid letter. Someone had been blabbing to their Mommy and Daddy, it seemed, and the gossip had reached his father. Three guesses who! Aido thought irritably, remembering the smug grin Rin Yamiyo had sported after passing him in the hall.
"Would it be impolite of me to say you look ridiculous growling at your reflection while dressed like that?" Akane asked drily, to which Aido replied with a scathing look. The knot he was trying to tie was just getting more and more haphazard in his irritation. He hadn't told Akane the full contents of the letter, but he hadn't needed to. When he said his father was only inviting the Nobles and Kaname from the Night Class, it was a clear dismissal of her. Akane was already aware of the kind of family Aido belonged to and hadn't been surprised to learn she was being overlooked for such a party. She'd even consoled him somewhat, stating, a room full of snooty Vampires was no party she wanted an invite to.
"It's bad enough having to pull your nose down from the clouds," she'd said hoping to sweeten his sour mood.
Aido dropped his hands with a frustrated huff at the treacherous piece of cloth that refused to cooperate. Akane straightened and walked to her friend, turning him to face her sharply and picking at the mess he'd made of the ribbon. Aido stood grumpily but made no protest to Akane fixing his bowtie. He felt guilty, embarrassed by his father's prejudice, something he'd never considered before meeting and befriending Akane. He watched the concentration in her frown and the focus in her eyes as she fixed his bowtie carefully. Why did he feel this way? Why did she have to be so interesting, so maddeningly complex and challenging? Fun, entertaining, beautiful! Why couldn't he just shut it off like she could?
"There," Akane said satisfied, turning Aido to appraise her work in the mirror. The knot wasn't perfect, it was obvious she had tried to emulate what he'd been attempting before he ruined it. Despite the fact the tie was not 'proper' he was unwilling to alter it and offered a grateful smile to her reflection in the mirror. She tapped his shoulders with a smile and stepped back, turning away so her reaction to his smile couldn't be seen, though there was nothing she could do about her accelerated heartbeat.
"Not so ridiculous now then?" Aido teased with one of his more common grins. Akane rolled her eyes at her friend before wishing him good night for the party and exiting the room.
The Vampires had left some ten minutes ago and Akane was already bored. She'd waved Aido, Ichijo, Shiki and Rima off at the doors and already quenched her thirst, now, she was just roaming the halls. She didn't have any homework to complete and she didn't want to get lost in the books in the Archives below the building right now. She was on the second floor, in the left-wing of The Moon Dorms when she caught a sent from one of the open windows. Looking outside, Akane saw the silver head of Zero Kiryu stood at the entrance of The Moon Dorms, by the looks of it, deciding whether to enter the building or not.
Zero had stared up at the building so many times over the last few weeks, he was becoming frustrated with himself. He'd seen Akane was fully recovered and wanted to ask her about her relationship with his brother and Shizuka. But every time he talked himself into confronting her, the memory of her frightened face from the main hall, when he lay in a puddle of his own blood, reminded him of the monster he'd revealed and revelled in, in the darkest reses of his mind at night. He was ashamed and conflicted, this was the closest he'd come to the dorms, to her, but he would have to leave soon to chaperon the Aido party.
The Hunter jumped as the heavy iron handle suddenly twisted and the large mahogany door opened with a creak. Akane stood there, staring at the startled Hunter with a blank look before stepping to the side, inviting him in. Zero's frown reappeared, he looked untrustingly up at the building.
"They've left already. It's just me," Akane assured, seeing his mistrust in her invite.
"Why'd they leave you behind?" he fired. Akane cocked a hip, her body language screaming her displeasure at his tone and her eyes hardening at his icy glare.
"I didn't get an invite."
The two glowered at each other for a time before Akane became frustrated and just walked away, leaving the door open and leaving Zero to decide to follow her to the seating area in the lobby or not. Zero hesitated briefly before stepping into the darkening lobby of The Mood Dorms. He strode towards Akane, walking around the granite coffee table, never taking his eyes from her forest-green stare. Eventually, he sat in the large, white couch opposite the Vampire, taking a moment for them both to breathe. Despite the calm movements by the pair, they regarded each other as dangerous predators and were both fighting to make sure they didn't become the prey.
"How do you know my brother?" His voice was sharp, accusing, almost. Akane bristled, she didn't like talking about this, but unlike Aido, or Kaname, Zero, at least had a right to know of her involvement with his brother.
"He was a distraction when Shizuka Hio attacked my parents." Zero's face hardened and turned away, angry that his assumption had been correct. Kaien had only told him her family had been attacked by a Vampire. Knowing Ichiru had willingly helped Shizuka enact her revenge on not just their parents, but to secure the blood of an innocent girl too. It made him sick.
"How did you know Shizuka attacked your family if you were 'distracted'?" Akane raised an eyebrow at this but decided to answer him.
"Because I saw her with Ichiru when they took my father to the hospital. She…" Akane faltered. "She turned my father, forced him to take care of me and ferry my blood back to her so I'd stay untainted." Zero stood suddenly. He couldn't stand to hear any more of what his brother had been involved in and couldn't endure the thirst that was building at being with Akane any longer. He left, slamming the door on his way out. Akane let him leave.
Aido was still grumbling as he climbed out of the car. He followed Kain towards the building, wishing for this night to be over quickly so he didn't have to endure his father's intrusiveness into his feelings for Akane any longer than he needed to. Kain had reminded his cousin back at the dorms, that their position placed an expectation and duty on them to their race, and that he needed to think long and hard about what metered most to him in the end. Aido had brushed him off, as he knew he would, telling him he was reading too much into things, just like his father.
Kain shook his head as he stepped up to the entrance of the building and stopped. A sight he hadn't expected and was thoroughly perplexed by greeted him.
"What is it Akatsuki?" Aido asked when his cousin suddenly stopped in front of him.
"Hanabusa, why is Yuki Cross lying unconscious at the entrance to the venue of your fathers' party?" Aido's face twisted in confusion. He stepped beside his cousin to see for himself. There, lying like a dropped sack, legs sprawled awkwardly and hair covering part of her face, was Yuki Cross, breathing evenly as if she was just taking a nap. Kaname appeared beside the two then. He looked down at the slumbering girl and sighed. What am I going to do with you? he thought as he instructed Kain to carry her inside.
While Kaname remained with Yuki, hidden up on the third floor, Aido found his father and introduced him to his peers before moving off to wait for the rest of his fathers' guests to arrive. They'd set off earlier than intended from the academy, a blessing in disguise it would seem, as Yuki would have been carried in as a snack for whoever would have found her otherwise. He scowled as the Hunters that were to chaperone the party, began showing up, stationing themselves on the fringes of the room, wearing identical, hard expressions. One such scowl was more familiar than the rest. Toga Yagari had been drafted in to 'keep the peace' and he seemed to enjoy the sneers guests threw when they passed him at the entrance.
Aido made sure to portray himself as the dutiful son, following his father through the crowds, greeting all the guests as they entered, kissing the hand of every eligible female Vampire he interacted with. He pasted a charming smile on his face, a smile he was becoming less and less accustomed to using. Mainly because Akane hated his 'fake smile', as she called it, and he found himself smiling more honestly nowadays anyway, but here, it was a shield and a weapon, and he needed to use it.
Once the greetings were out the way, Aido was free to leave his father's side and return to his friends. As he walked back to where he last saw Ruka and Kain, he spotted a shock of silver in the crowd. Aido stopped, searching for the owner walking through the crowd, and quickly found the silver framing hard amethyst. Zero and Aido glared at one another from an arms-length apart. Both unhappy to be stuck in such a place and even more unhappy to have encountered each other at such an unwelcome time.
Aido scoffed at Zero's unflinching gaze when the Hunter turned away sharply, leaving before the Noble could goad him into anything. He still had to prove himself, he had a job to do. Aido continued and quickly located his friends in a more secluded corner, near an ornately decorated table, topped with sweet treats and champagne flutes filled with bubbly pink liquid.
The party had been going for a little over twenty minutes and Ruka was less amused and more bored with Aido scowling at Zero from across the room. It had been comical at first, but that novelty had worn thin quickly.
"Stop staring at him, would you! No one else cares that they're here. They're only here because this is such a large gathering, your father spared no expense for this evening and the invites were far-reaching."
"Having the Hunter's here doesn't bother me that much. They must be here as part of the treaty. It's just, why him?" Ruka said nothing, she understood her least favourite cousin's dislike of the Disciplinary Committee Member.
"Yes, Lord Kaname expressed his happy acceptance of my invitation. Excuse me, while I check with my son when Lord Kaname will arrive." Nagamichi Aido said, smiling at the circle of Vampires he'd found himself. The reason so many of them had agreed to attend was due to the Pureblood's presence, so Nagamichi was under pressure to prove their travel was worthwhile. He bustled through the crowd to his son, near the confectionaries. "Hanabusa!" he called. "Is Lord Kaname here yet? I have many guests who wish to meet him."
"Yes, I know, Father. Our Dorm Vice President has gone to see if Lord Kaname is ready to meet everyone. He'll come out when he's ready."
"Well, quiet," Nagamichi agreed stiffly. He looked his son over critically, noting his disinterested expression and his less than properly tied bowtie. "Inform me, the moment he is present; I must present myself a grateful host to our Lord. And for Heaven's sake, straighten that tie! Your sisters are performing their duties impeccably, yet the heir of the Aido Household lurks in a corner when there are guests to be attended to!" Aido kept his neutral expression until his father was out of sight before a scowl darkened his face. He replaced his honest expression with a forced smile and followed his father into the throng to mingle and extend the reach of the Aido Family's influence.
Zero was bored. He hadn't contemplated the possibility he would be stood staring listlessly out at a room filled with Vampires and feel nothing but dull irritation. The room was filled with the highest of Vampiric society and many of which had infiltrated the Human domain, placing themselves in positions of fame and authority. Using their unnatural gifts to influence and sway weak-willed Humans. But all Zero could think about was how much longer he'd have to stand here before his right foot went dead and he'd have to shift his weight to his left. It wasn't long before his secluded spot at the back of the room was invaded. He'd seen him when he'd entered but hadn't said anything to his former master and saw no need to strike up a conversation now, especially since their last involved attempted murder.
Yagari was not a man of words or patience for that matter, so Zero's lack of acknowledgement was swiftly addressed in a firm ruffle of his silver locks, instantly irritating the young Hunter as Yagari's fingers clutched at his hair tightly.
"Oi! What do you think you're doing, Master?"
"Hello to you too, my Idiot Apprentice," Yagari replied letting go of Zero's hair and placing his hands back in the pockets of his dark blue suit blazer. He was dressed to the nines Zero observed, somewhat amusedly. He'd been told to wear formal attire but settled on a black dinner jacket, his school uniform shirt and trousers, and a blue tie he'd swiped from Kaien. Seeing this gruff, cold man dressed like something akin to a gentleman, was almost laughable.
"What are you doing here anyway?" Zero asked irritably.
"I'm curious to see if the Vampire I'm hunting will show," he answered flippantly, his piercing, blue eye sweeping the room once again. He recognised many of the young Vampires flitting about the room as Night Class members. He wanted to understand his former master's thought prosses when it came to these creatures, why he gave them such freedom when he claimed to enforce rules designed to limit them at the academy.
"Hay, Prefect! Care to explain to me why Night Class students are off school grounds?" Zero sighed, glanced at his wall companion before shifting to his left foot.
"They're 'chaperoned', so they're, apparently, exempt from the rule, Mr Teacher."
The stoic men let the silence return as they watched the minutes run by in a blur of expensive fabrics, pointless gossip and curious glances.
"Look at them," Yagari rumbled. "They act as if they couldn't care less about you being here, but they can't help themselves looking over." Zero frowned. He had expected the glances, he was a Hunter, a teenager at that. It wasn't often such a fresh to the field Hunter was given such an important mission as this. "Hunters are 'disliked' by the majority of the higherups in this freakshow they call a ball, but the daggers being sent at you after you killed the Hio Princess…"
"I didn't kill her," Zero interrupted. Yagari watched his former pupil as a contemplative look took over his face. He hadn't expected Zero's contradiction, even the report at The Hunters Association had Zero categorically logged as the murderer. "I saw… Ichiru," Zero revealed, a slight tremor in his voice, proving the wounds his brother had inflicted were still very raw.
"I see…"
The moment Kaname stepped into the room, the atmosphere changed. All the Vampires' idle chatter died, replaced by whispers and awed exclamations as they all turned and bowed to the Pureblood.
"My apologies, I didn't mean to disturb everyone," Kaname's mellow voice sounded as he stepped fully into the room. A Vampire wearing a garishly bright, silver suit raised slightly to address the Pureblood as he neared, raising his voice to be heard.
"Lord Kaname, is it true you sided with the Human, this Human, during a meeting with the Board of Ancients?" The Vampire gestured to Zero who had stood from the wall when Kaname had entered.
"It is true," Kaname answered evenly, expressing neither conviction nor regret of his decision to defend Zero.
The Vampires straightened, singing their praises of the Pureblood and his righteous forgiveness of Zero as a positive step in the goal of peace between Humans and Vampires. Kaname forced a smile, showing his acceptance of their praise, but inside, he was gritting his teeth at the lies he heard, the blatant falseness he saw in all their eyes and words. It was laughable.
"Lord Kaname," Nagamichi greeted with a welcoming smile, Aido standing dutifully behind his father along with his sisters. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking care of my son at Cross Academy."
"Thank you, Mr Aido, for inviting me to your party. I'm afraid I don't attend many parties such as this, so I've found myself running a little late," Kaname said, always the polite Pureblood Prince.
"No matter of that Lord Kaname," Nagamichi said as he gestured to his side where a young Vampire girl stepped forward. She was beautiful, though her expression was blank. Ivory skin, curtains of shoulder-length straw-blonde hair and clear, crystal blue eyes that gazed up at him with a hardness to them the contradicted her youthful face. It was not adoration he saw in her eyes but fear, though she hid it well.
She wore a light blue dress with a high collar, capped sleeves and a white, silk sash, tied in a bow at her waist. The very sight of her standing there so still and placid though her eyes showed her wish to hide, suddenly caused a flash of green to enter his thoughts.
"This is my daughter, Tsukiko," Nagamichi said proudly, displaying his daughter to the Pureblood.
"Father!" Aido protested loudly. He was not only embarrassed for his sister but Kaname. He'd come to this party, where his Progeny had been ignored, and now his father was offering up his youngest daughter! Did his father not realise how inappropriate this was, or is it that Kaname was young, and that he thought he could get his daughter in good standing before anyone else came to take the Pureblood's, coveted heart.
Nagamichi continued as if his son hadn't spoken.
"She is my youngest daughter and a very gifted musician. It would be an honour if you would take an interest in her, consider her for the future."
"Father, please! Lord Kaname didn't ask for this!" Aido's protest went ignored. Kaname looked from the proud smile on his host's face to the blank look of his youngest child. Despite his revulsion, he couldn't keep skirting around these subject and didn't want to seem like the girl was not desirable. If he dismissed her completely, it was likely she would be further rejected by other Vampires just because she wasn't to the taste of a Pureblood.
"I don't know what the future holds, but I will keep it in mind, Mr Aido."
There was an eerie silence for a moment before others in the crowd began to beckon Kaname to see their daughters, to consider them as a potential companion. Many discussed amongst themselves how much Kaname must have matured as he'd never entertained the subject before now. The Pureblood had to suppress a sigh as the other guests began to step forward some with their daughters in tow, others ready to talk their children into the Pureblood's list of candidates. Thankfully, in this case, at least, the advancing hoard was stopped when a presence, followed by the sound of heeled footsteps, invaded the excitement. A female Vampire had just entered the room, her long, golden blonde hair falling in elegant waves around her shoulders and down her back as she walked towards the crowd surrounding Kaname.
Her skin had a soft blush of colour making her deep, ocean blue eyes pop, and the jewels on her ears, neck and wrists glitter, catching the light with every move of her lithe body. Her dress was exquisite, soft silken ivory, a jewel neckline and long sleeves that flowed from her arms like her hair from her back. The skirt of the dress was shorter in the front and trailed behind her in a fluttering train. Everything about her portrait an angel in flight, the wind softly blowing around her ethereal looking form.
The Nobles parted, gasping in awe and bowing as they retreated, giving the new arrival a clear path to the Pureblood. This Vampire appeared not to have been expected to attend, judging by the surprise on many faces in the room.
"You shouldn't say such things, everyone," the Vampire said, her clear, melodic voice floating through the room like a wisp of smoke, light but unmistakable. "Poor Kaname," she said breathily as she came to a stop in front of him.
The room was awash with gossip and urgent whispers about the female Vampire. She was a rare Pureblood female, one of a handful left in the world. The Shirabuki family was not as revered as the Kuran clan but was just as colourful as the famed Hio and Toma lines. Sara smiled courteously, inclining her head politely and allowing Kaname to take her hand to lightly kiss her knuckles.
"It's been some time, Lady Sara," Kaname said as his lips connected.
"My dear Lord Kaname, I haven't seen you even once since you started going to that school. I've been lonely," Sara said, stepping closer to Kaname and looking deeply into his dark eyes. "You and I are two of, but a small number of Purebloods left, we must stick together, no?"
The party started to quieten back down after the Pureblood's brief encounter. Kaname was, surprisingly, glad Sara had made an appearance. She distracted the partygoers enough for him to slip away, back to Yuki on the third floor. As he entered the open hall over the party, Yuki's scent began to invade his senses. She'd been out of the room. Kaname sighed and quickened his pace, grateful Yuki's sent was relatively concentrated to just two corridors, away from the gathering below.
As he tried the handle, he met resistance on the other side of the door, quickly followed by a frightened squeak from Yuki.
"It's me, can I come in?" Yuki shuffled up and away from the door quickly to let Kaname in and stood as he closed the door, surprised by his sudden anger at Yuki's actions. He understood why he was upset. She could have been seen, sensed, eaten if he hadn't been the first Vampire to venture further into the building. "I told you, not to leave this room." Yuki stiffened at the hardness to his voice and eyes when he turned to her. She wasn't used to this calm display of anger from Kaname, it was unnerving.
"I'm sorry," she said weakly, jumping when she found herself in the Purebloods embrace in the blink of an eye.
"A simple apology isn't going to be enough for me to forgive you, Yuki."
Yuki squeaked again when she felt herself be lifted then suddenly deposited onto the chaise long, she'd woken on earlier. Kaname hovered above her, covering her body with his own. She realised at this point, how much smaller than Kaname she was, how much weaker, it scared her. Kaname looked down at her, so trusting, even when he frightened her, she didn't even attempt to fight him off, cry out or ask him to stop. She was so very compliant, so willing.
"Why did you leave the room," he asked, his voice a whisper and deep with suppressed emotion.
"There was a little boy, he was lost. He said his mother was here before I fainted. I saw him at the door, I wanted to make sure he was ok."
Kaname was surprised her voice hadn't faltered but was relieved she hadn't defied him on a whim or due to her curiosity of the Vampires below. Yuki had a dangerous trait of getting herself mixed up with undesirable people, and though, the Vampires below all looked beautiful, many were vicious monsters, even to the standards of a Pureblood. He shifted and let his body rest more comfortably over Yuki, placing his head against her chest, hearing her heart fluttering rapidly.
"Before I forgive you, let me stay here a while," he said, his eyes closing and his lungs drawing in Yuki's sweet apple blossom scent. Seeing Kaname seem so drained pulled at Yuki's heart. She hadn't intended to worry him so much and felt bad for making him take care of her again when he probably would have preferred a night to just relax.
"It's ok, I'd do anything for Lord Kaname," Yuki breathed as she wrapped her arms around him and held him close.
Zero had stationed himself near the entrance of the building, watching all the Vampires leave with their noses held high and some sending cold glances his way. He noticed a small Vampire boy dressed in a dark blue short suit, lent against the wall alone. He appeared to be lost in thought, his mismatched eyes of blue and brown glazed over as his mind drifted.
"Let's go home," a woman said, holding out her hand to the boy with a smile. The child's blank expression exploded into a joyous smile as he accepted the hand of the woman.
"Yes, Mama!" he cried happily as she guided him from the building.
Zero watched them leave, feeling a strange sense of fondness for the child and his innocence. He saw, out of the corner of his eye, his old master Yagari, walking towards him with a casual air.
"That Vampire I was looking for didn't show after all," he said as he came to a stop beside Zero.
"Are you heading off now?"
"Yeah," Yagari answered while ruffling Zero's hair for a second time. Zero shook his head away irritably but otherwise, didn't protest. "Give that little prefect my regards."
"Yuki's not little, not to me, at least."
Yuki held Kaname with gentle warm arms, enveloping him lovingly and drawing him to her chest. She felt comforted and glad Kaname sought comfort in her too, but she was conflicted. He was a Vampire; a Pureblood and he could never feel anything real for her. She could never compare to a Vampire like that woman she saw before, the blonde one, the beautiful one, the Pureblood, like Kaname.
Kaname's mind was reeling. He'd gone from concern to frustration, to dread, to anger, relief and finally, calm. Only Yuki could cause such a tumultuous amount of emotion to well up in him in just a short few hours. But calm was dangerous, calm let his mind drop its' defences and it's carefully held control on his desires, his simple wants and needs that, if indulged in too soon, would undermine his whole purpose. Kaname felt as Yuki drew away from him, covering her wincing face from him. The inferiority, the difference between them, his title, it all made him so out of her reach, it was ridiculous for her to even fantasise about it. But she wanted to, she wanted to mean more to Kaname, more than anything, she wanted to matter to him so much.
"Yuki?"
"I didn't want to call you Lord," she began to explain weakly, tears gathering in her eyes. "I didn't want to be the clueless little girl anymore. It makes you seem so far away now, but its selfish of me to want more. Your kindness was supposed to be enough, and it was but…" Yuki had been turned away from Kaname, forcing her eyes closed out of embarrassment for her outburst but her breath caught in her throat when warm air and light tickling of hair at her neck startled her. Kaname's eyes were red as his lips and tongue met Yuki's skin. She shuddered as a strange sensation coursed through her. She was terrified, but it wasn't the usual fear she was accustomed to, this was thrilling, forcing blood and adrenaline through her veins.
Her body was stiff but hyper-aware of every move the Vampire above her made. Eyes wide, pupils blown as hormones and emotions churned. Kaname was so close, he could faintly taste her flavour on her skin, with his tongue flattened against her neck. His lips closed, leaving a searing kiss on the girl, causing her whole body to shudder once again. With all his power he moved away to look at the frightened tears in the eyes of the Human beneath him.
"Your kind, are so fleeting, lives feeling like mere seconds to us… Do you want to become a Vampire, Yuki?" Her heartfelt like it stopped then doubled in speed, so quickly she felt light-headed. "Would you become a monster with me, live forever with me?" She shook with the adrenaline pumping thick and fast, making her feel the need to run but her body having no strength to move. I… I want to be with Kaname.
"Yes…" she answered in a strangled whisper, almost as if a sob or scream was trapped in her throat.
Kaname found himself at her neck, fully prepared to divert from his plans and destroy the trust she had in him for this simple need, this desire. A flash of green, bitter disappointment, these are what suddenly occurred to him as his lips met Yuki's neck again. He couldn't falter, he couldn't ruin her, he couldn't risk her, not for anything, nothing was more important than Yuki.
Yuki's eyes were screwed shut, tears falling freely and breath panting in fright as she felt a gentle hand at her cheek coaxing her to open her eyes.
"I'm sorry," he said, smiling reassuringly and fighting the guilt that twisted in his gut at her tears. "I got carried away with myself. I won't hurt you." He pulled the shaken girl to sit beside him, wrapping his arms around her trembling shoulders and holding her to his chest comfortingly. "I'm sorry for scaring you."
"Kaname… I?"
"Don't make a face like that," Kaname said, mildly amused by Yuki's confused dejection. "Let this be a lesson to be more careful in future."
With the party officially over, Kaname was able to smuggle Yuki out of the Aido building and into his waiting car. The ride back was quiet and awkward. Yuki had to ignore the sideways glares from Ruka and Aido while trying not to be unnerved by the blank stares of Rima and Shiki. While also, trying to understand what had transpired and whether she would even be able to look Kaname in the eye again. Eventually, they reached Cross Academy and left Yuki at the entrance to Kaien Cross's personal residence where Sayuri stood shivering, waiting.