A/N: Hello again it's been a while! I've been seriously ill for the past month or so otherwise I would have gotten this up much sooner and though I'm not recovered I decided I couldn't keep anyone waiting anymore. Despite everything going on with my health, I'm so grateful to see that people are still reading this story and that new people are favoriting it as well. With older fandoms like VK I never expect to get many readers so thank you to everyone that has come to this story and liked it enough to keep on reading. As I may have mentioned before we're really getting down to the last of this fic which is bittersweet for a lot of reasons. Of course, I'll save all my sappy memories for the last chapter posting and a possible epilogue but it is getting close to that time. With that being said, however, I am happy to present to you all chapter 16 and I hope you enjoy! ~Len
Ch. 16: Ill Intentions
By the time the moon rose the vampires had already pulled themselves out of bed and headed up to Luna's room. 'Have they been here the whole night?' Takuma questioned as they opened the door to find the two hunters in the same positions as the previous night. Walking over to the older, Takuma was about to lay a hand on his shoulder when his wrist was grabbed in a fluid motion. Kaito's eyes snapped open and he turned to face the vampire before visibly relaxing and letting him go again.
"Gomen Takuma-san, it's been a long night." He apologized with a yawn. Takuma gave him a nod of understanding that turned into concern when he watched the hunter replace a damp washcloth on the pureblood's forehead.
"Did something happen during the night?" Kaname questioned with narrowed eyes.
"Yeah, she developed a fever of sorts and occasionally she gets tremors and doesn't breathe correctly." Kaito answered with a tired sigh as he ran fingers through his hair. The nobles shared looks of concern just before the silver haired pureblood started to shake uncontrollably. Elegant brows furrowed in pain and she seemed to wish to curl up in a fetal-like position. Kaito and the others could only watch helplessly until it passed and Luna resumed her peaceful sleep.
"That's quite strange, is there some sort of side effect of changing into her pureblood form that caused this?" Aido questioned, the only thing he could currently think of was if the vampire and hunter blood were reacting with each other negatively. 'But that shouldn't happen if she fully turned from hunter to pureblood. If anything it would enhance the blood.' The blond thought to himself as he moved closer to the pureblood on the bed. Having switched to his medical persona the other vampires made way from him to do whatever it was he was thinking of. Even Kaito and Taiyo allowed the noble to begin a physical assessment of the silverette without concern or wariness.
'Shows how much they care for her, how they are willing to let Aido approach now when just a couple months ago they'd have likely ripped us all apart.' Takuma admired the two hunters greatly for how well they had been working with the night class despite the clear differences.
"It seems hunters are not as static in their ways as you once thought hm?" A voice from behind Takuma sounded causing the group to spin around and face the rest of the TAU students.
"Welcome home." Taiyo greeted them quietly though he was still quite clearly focused on the bedridden silverette. Isei gave him a sympathetic glance as she and the others walked over and took up positions around the pureblood though they made sure not to get in Aido's way. Kaito stood and gave the group a nod before he sluggishly walked out of room likely to go sleep for a couple hours. He knew Luna was in good hands with the night class and her students.
"Aido-san, I believe there are some of the Kiryuu family medical files available downstairs if that would be helpful at all I can go get those for you." The girl with silvery eyes spoke up when it seemed the noble had come to a wall in what he was looking for.
"That would surely be helpful um..." The blond fished for her name before realizing none of the night class knew any of the TAU students' names aside from Taiyo.
"Mai, we don't normally give our names out to anyone but since you will be staying here for a while it will be beneficial." Mai replied looking towards Isei and the others for approval.
"That would be wonderful if you feel comfortable about it." Takuma chimed in with a kind smile. The group nodded and turned to the girl that seemed to lead the group when Zero wasn't available.
"For classification reasons, we can't give you our last names but I'm Isei, eighteen years old and I take on a command position when Sensei isn't with us." Isei, the girl with jet black hair and charcoal eyes introduced before nodding to the boy beside her.
"Kai, also eighteen years old and I take a second in command position." He greeted with a nod and a hand running through unusually red colored hair.
"Mai, seventeen years old and I take on an informative position for the group." The girl with silver-grey eyes spoke quietly almost like a whispering wind that still sent chills up Aido's spine. Mai looked to her left at a blond haired boy that resembled what could be a mix of Takuma and Aido.
"Tama, also seventeen, I have a main battle position." He stated smoothly nodding to the girl on his left.
"Pleased to meet you, I'm Kao and I'm sixteen years old, like Tama I have a battle position though it's far more coveted." She smiled, almost too sweetly, as she braided autumn red hair that was streaked with black.
"I'm Tari, fifteen years old and I have a shadowed battle position as well." Sunset colored eyes glinted with a not so innocent hint as she spoke.
"You kinda already know me, but formally I'm Taiyo and I'm thirteen, I have a range battle position like Sensei." Taiyo spoke up though his attention was still held by Luna.
"Wonderful, glad we were able to learn a little about the infamous TAU group." Takuma smiled and gained a couple of nods in return.
"I'll go get those files for you now Aido-san." Mai piped up before she exited the room without further prompting.
"So then, do you seven always all fight together as a unit or are you occasionally broken up?" Kaname questioned looking towards Isei.
"Because of what we do it's very important that we always work as a unit. The only times we've been separated on missions is when it's an assessment and Sensei is checking our progress and development." She responded reminding the vampire that they were, once again, in the presence of a highly trained assassin unit.
"It must be very nice to have a reliable team, Luna-san must be very proud of you all." Rima stepped in sensing the worry start cloud the air a bit in the room.
"I am, immensely proud of these seven for everything they've been through and accomplished thus far." Luna's voice rang out from her position on the bed causing everyone's attention to turn to the silverette's slightly clouded amethyst lilac eyes.
"Sensei!" A couple of voices rang out from the students though they swiftly moved out of the way of Aido as he immediately went to check the pureblood's temperature and vital functions.
"You have a pretty high temperature still, how do you feel and do you have any idea on what's going on?" The blond questioned once he pulled back a little ways. He and the other vampires were equally surprised at how calm Luna was and allowing for Aido to go about his business without protest of hostility.
"I have a vague idea, I'm lucky I was able to leave the compound when I did otherwise I could be very close to not living. The Chairman didn't want to make it easy for me to hold up, the air that was ventilated into my chamber was carrying a form of poison. Normally it would have been such a small amount it wouldn't really hinder me however because of the open wounds it got into my bloodstream which makes things far more difficult to deal with. In the meantime I'm unable to heal myself, fighting wears me out much faster and simply talking and breathing for too long while conscious makes me dizzy." The pureblood explained bringing a bandaged hand up to cover her eyes for a few moments.
"The Chairman was trying to kill you?" Ruka questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Not quite, the poison affects vampires much stronger than it does hunters; the higher the rank the vampire the more damage it can do. So had I stayed in the form of Black Rose this wouldn't be an issue, however that would have given the Chairman control over me within a day of being at the Compound. I couldn't let that happen." Luna replied tiredly though she didn't remove her hand from shielding her eyes.
"The more that man does the more I think we should just kill his ass already. Let someone be in power that won't abuse it or cause shit like this all the damn time." Kaito growled from where he stood at the doorway. Despite themselves, the night class couldn't really help but to agree with him.
"We can't yet as it stands...you know that." Luna sighed before breaking into a light coughing. Kaito gave his friend a sympathetic look as he joined the others by her bedside.
"Is there anything you know of that would help you right now?" The ashen haired hunter asked tracing a finger on his friend's delicate hand.
"I don't actually know...at the moment." Luna replied tiredly. Kaito shot a look at Aido that the blond nodded at slightly before he stepped in.
"Luna-sama, I think you should rest now, we will do everything we can to help you as quickly as possible." He told her gently. The silverette nodded and turned her head to the side before falling into an uneasy sleep. When the group was sure she was fully asleep, discussion broke out.
"I think saying 'this isn't good' would be a grave understatement. But..." Kain started off with some of the others nodding.
"We have to find out what she was poisoned with or I doubt she'll make it through the next week at this rate." Aido voiced after checking her temperature and a few other things.
"There are only two ways to successfully do that, either we go back to the compound and get samples or we break into the Chairman's private lab just off the association property." Tama informed the vampires.
"Neither of those are going to be easy...however they're both doable and it wouldn't be the first time we've broken into the lab for one reason or another." Isei added on crossing her arms over her chest and looking off to the side.
"With that being said, it would be best for the night class to stay here to avoid being sensed at either location. Kaito-san that goes for you as well." Mai joined in after handing Aido a stack of medical records from the archives in the basement.
"If we were to leave for the association we'd have to do so quickly, the less time spent between leaving and returning the better." Isei stated more to the others of the TAU than the vampires.
"We'll be back as soon as possible Aido-san, I assume Taiyo will be staying behind with you all, so if there is anything you need he can direct you." Kai assured before the group left the estate grounds to complete their task. The night class was left blinking in their wake.
"They are...very efficient." Shiki commented after a few moments of silence. Kaito snorted.
"They certainly don't leave much room for discussion or argument, but I suppose that's not needed when you're all on the same page." Ruka agreed, despite herself, had grown rather fond of the relationship and workability of the hunters.
"In this case, it's needed, the faster we can get Luna well again the better." Kaito mumbled.
"I just hope they're able to make it back quickly." Takuma sighed as he joined Kaito and Taiyo at Luna's bedside. "She's been through far too much for sure. No one I know has been through as much and I wouldn't wish what happened to her even on my worst enemies." The noble continued mentally recounting the events he knew of that she had been through.
"I feel as though we owe her a lot, we gave Zero so much trouble and we didn't even know the half of what was going on all this time..." Rima whispered to the ground, vampires were very proud beings; they let their status and power get in the way of real connections and being able to see reason or someone struggling. Zero's case was special and he had been a level D however that hardly excused their behavior towards him for so long. Looking around the room Kaito could tell many of the others felt a pang of similar guilt to what Rima had described.
"But you're helping now. That's what matters. Sensei always told us that we're bound to make mistakes, we're bound to hurt others but what's most important in the end is being able to turn around and help those people you've hurt or those that hurt you and forgive not only them but yourself. By helping us and Sensei you're doing that and Sensei will forgive what has happened in the past as long as the future is looking brighter." Taiyo explained to the group, though he didn't look up from where his eyes were fixed on his Sensei he felt a hand ruffle his hair slightly.
"I couldn't have said it better myself. Now we should all probably get some rest, the TAU is going to need us to be hard at work soon and we're not going to be able to do jack for Luna if we're all dead tired." Kaito advised as he stood and made his way towards the bathroom.
"I believe Kaito-kun is correct, we should all get some rest until the TAU returns and we can get to work." Kaname agreed, he was planning on making a call to Cross and Touga as well in order to update them on the situation.
"Of course Kaname-sama." The group chorused before making their ways out of the silverette's room.
Upon getting back to his room Kaname used the phone to call Cross' office back at the school, they hadn't been in contact with him since everything done by the association towards Zero now went through him instead of Cross. Kaname highly doubted the former hunter was all that informed about the current plots of the association Chairman but he was still a force and name to be reckoned with. 'Especially when his adopted child is involved.' The brunette mused to himself as the other end rang only once before the chipper man answered.
"Cross Kaien speaking!" Kaname could almost hear the smile in his voice as he answered.
"Kaien, it's Kaname, I've called to update you on our situation." He started right off the bat.
"Kaname-kun! It's so good to hear from you, how is everything going?" He questioned, though the ex-hunter had his ideas of what all was happening behind the back of the association he didn't press Kaito to tell him beforehand. Now however with the night class, Kaito and Zero gone there was little doubt in his mind the events were connected.
"Yes, well, I have both good and bad news for you. As you know Kiryuu-kun was taken to the Compound, however, intelligence forces informed us that the Chairman of the Association had a severely sinister intent behind his actions. In result of this we now have Kiryuu-kun with us and are planning our next moves. Of course we ask you to keep this all under wraps until we are able to make it back to the school." The pureblood explained hoping Cross wouldn't ask too many questions he couldn't fully answer. Especially not without telling Cross about Silverblood.
"I see, Kaname I trust you all to make it back safely then I'm sure you will inform me of all the intimate details and reasoning behind your trip." Kaien spoke professionally but there was a hard undertone that told Kaname he would be expecting straight answers and he wasn't taking no for any reason at all.
"Of course headmaster, we shall speak again soon." He assured the man before the two said their goodbyes and hung up. Kaname glanced out his window and sighed, this was not going to be an easy journey and he hoped Zero would be open to a discussion session with the headmaster and himself once they got back. If not there could be some very large issues in the future. 'And there's still Yuuki to keep in mind.' The younger Kuran was being entirely kept out of the loop in fear of what her rashness would lead to but Kaname couldn't help but feel guilty for keeping secrets. 'Why is it so hard this time? I've kept thousands of secrets from her and everyone else for hundreds of years. What makes this one so different? Because it involves Zero?' The pureblood wondered thinking back to the being that seemed to carry the world on their shoulders. There was always something with Zero, nothing was ever straightforward and easy. This, of course, was no exception and yet Kaname wanted to involve him more in the silverette's life. There was so much to someone seemingly so simple, he wanted to know everything and be at every major turn in the younger's life. That was new, he didn't feel this way for anyone else but Zero. Not even Yuuki. But what the hell did that mean? And would the other accept it? Kaname sighed as he lay down with his head buzzing; in all his years he never felt as troubled as he did right now. 'Damn you Kiryuu, your beautiful disrespectful complex ass.' He thought before finally closing his eyes and drifting to a dream lined in silver.
Aido woke up the next evening to someone knocking on his door quite insistently, groaning slightly the blond opened it to reveal two pairs of slightly unimpressed eyes looking at him. Still in a haze Aido didn't recognize them at first but when it eventually clicked his eyes went wide and he started sputtering. "We collected samples from a substance that the Chairman was working with that we assumed was the likeliest contender of what poisoned Luna-sensei." Kai announced seeing as the noble wasn't making much verbal sense.
"That's wonderful, um, let me put on some clothes then I will make an antidote for Luna-sama." Aido eventually spoke vanishing into the bathroom for a few minutes before joining the other two again.
"We have a lab downstairs to aid in your research as well as anyone here will give you anything you need in order to help Sensei recover." Isei explained leading the noble to the main room before she opened a door partially hidden in the wall.
"Wow, you all have everything set up here amazingly well." Aido whispered as he looked around the elaborate lab structure.
"Sensei set it up long ago and taught us all how to use it in order to help us in our jobs in whichever ways we need." Kai explained thought it was clear they weren't going to go into much more detail about how it was used for them and their jobs.
"Long ago?" Aido decided on asking as he prepared a workspace and started separating samples. He missed the two giving each other a sharp look before answering.
"Since you're likely going to find out about it eventually...I suppose we can tell you." Isei began though slightly hesitant. "Because the Kiryuu Clan origins, Sensei has been alive much longer than any current vampires in this area of Japan. Though this place has been modified since the stone ages it's been around long before even Kuran Kaname was brought into the world." She continued as the hunters witnessed the noble nearly drop the samples he was working with. Turning unbelieving eyes onto the students the vampire was hardly able to retort.
"But...Kaname-sama knew Kiryuu as a child!" He eventually sputtered out.
"Luna-sama was sealed into the form of a child for a long time before she was brought to Cross Academy." Kai offhandedly shrugged. Truth be told they themselves didn't know all about the silverette's past of how exactly the Kiryuu Clan came to exist, unlike their own lines that once came from powerful vampire clans.
"So then is it possible that Luna-sama knew the past of Kaname-sama? How he came to be and all?" Though Aido spoke only slightly above a whisper, the question rang through the air like a pin dropped in a silent room.
"It is likely that is the case yes. Though Luna-sama would never use her knowledge to harm anyone unless necessary so I doubt you or anyone in Kuran-san's circle has anything to worry about." Isei assured the shocked blond.
"Kaname-sama never mentioned having met a Kiryuu member directly before Luna-sama was brought back to the academy..." He mumbled, it wasn't as though Kaname was one to share his secrets with anyone and everyone but surely if he had known Zero was a sealed pureblood there would have been some mention of it to the night class. A pureblood, sealed or not, was still a pureblood.
"It's likely that Kuran-san did not know Luna-sensei before she was sealed. Though we don't know the details of the Kiryuu Clan entirely ourselves it is common knowledge that they were a ghost power clan. Unknown intimately but valued and recognized by name and trait. None of the Kiryuu members had close ties with more than one or two people and they kept themselves purposely out of gatherings or meetings." Isei explained, she had always been curious as to how and why it was that the Kiryuu Clan was secretive beyond any other hunter or vampire clan, or individual for that matter, known.
"If they were still alive it is likely that Kaname-san's parents would have met Luna-sama once." Kai added on after a moment of thought. "Though even if they knew of Luna-sensei it is probable they would have no idea about the Kiryuu Clan or the connection between Luna and Zero." He pointed out.
"What exactly was Luna-sama's role in the vampire society before she was sealed? The Council and the Kiryuu have always been at odds...you would think they would act more respectful if they knew they were dealing with a sealed pureblood. She could have reigned hell on them or destroyed the elders without anyone to stop her." Aido shivered at the thought, Zero was a force to be reckoned with alone much less with the power of a pureblood.
"Luna-sama would doubtfully be that vengeful or reckless. She is calculating but not stupid. She wouldn't do something that put so many innocents in danger and the three communities in chaos all over again." Takuma's voice sounded from the entry to the lab. Aido huffed at him as the taller noble gave the hunters a nod and apologetic smile. "In other news, the others are wondering how close you are to an antidote for Luna-san, Aido." The older blond switched topics looking over at the number of vials and clear test subjects the young genius had scattered around him.
"Right now as a matter of fact, I've created a solution that will dissolve and nullify any and all effects of the powder used on Luna-sama. I'll administer it via injection, depending on her strength and how well she takes to it I predict Luna-sama will be up and functioning by tomorrow evening if not sooner." Came the eager response as Aido pulled away from the table holding a vile of light blue liquid.
"Wonderful, let's go give it to her shall we?" Takuma smiled before the four returned to the pureblood's room to the others waiting impatiently for their return. Though most of them didn't show it, the aura's spoke volumes of their relief after Aido administered his solution.
"Now the hard part, waiting until she wakes." Kao sighed, with the other TAU students nodding. Her anxiety was close to reaching its peak and she could tell the others on her team were in similar positions.
"She is strong, you must believe that Luna-san will wake soon." Kaname stepped in to hopefully ease the minds of the young hunters. They put their lives in Luna's hands, trusted her with everything, he couldn't imagine the thought of losing someone he felt that way towards. Even if Luna wasn't dead, the idea that she could be was very real and weighing on the children's shoulders.
"I do hope you're right Kaname-san." Tari mumbled as she looked over to Taiyo. The boy looked like he could collapse with worry yet he was pretending to stay strong and emotionless to not come off as weak to the others.
"I hate to admit it, but he usually is." The mumble came before blurry amethyst-lilac eyes opened and cleared enough to register everyone else in the room.
"Sensei!" Taiyo was the first to speak and run to get the vampire a preserved packet of blood diluted only slightly with water to make drinking it easier. The silverette nodded to him in thanks before drinking the liquid and turning to the group of vampires.
"I suppose I didn't say this last time, but I formally welcome you all to the Kiryuu estate. I trust the TAU has treated you well and aided in anything you may have needed?" She spoke leveling her gaze with Kaname's.
"They have been wonderful hosts, they even gave us a little history about this place." The brunette replied though there was a hidden tense tone in his words. He wanted answers, and he wanted Luna to know that.
"I'm sure they have. Thank you, Aido, for everything you have done as well, I hope our facilities were adequate for what you needed." Turning her gaze onto the blue eyes noble she gave him a nod in recognition for all he had done for her.
"I was just doing what any noble should, besides I wouldn't have gotten anywhere without the help of your students. And the facilities here are outstanding." He answered with a small bow. Though aristocrats were generally given credit, unlike common vampires, for their accomplishments and duty to purebloods, Aido felt that for some reason the gratitude of the once ex-human felt like that of when Kaname himself recognized him. 'And she's so casual about it.' He thought. There was always something about the other that had been incredibly informal, however now instead of taking it as disrespect Aido was thankful for it.
"I believe we can drop the formalities now, and there's likely some explanations I'm sure you all would like." Luna broke the settling silence looking over at Kaname.
"Eventually yes, but I believe we have bigger issues at hand for the moment. I doubt it'll take long for the Chairman of the association to realize your absence, once he does there might be a witch hunt out for your blood assuming he has allies within the hunters. Furthermore, we should address the idea of getting back to the academy and finally what we will be telling the others when we get there. I don't doubt Cross and Yagari-san will want answers, as well as Yuuki." Kaname concluded, he had an eternity to get answers from the ex-human turned pureblood, there were more immediate problems to deal with at the moment. The silver haired pureblood nodded and though it wasn't obvious Kaname assumed she was relieved at his statements.
A/N: Alright and there was chapter sixteen, I think the only thing I regret about this chapter is the title of it...but oh well you can't win them all I suppose. To give everyone an idea about where we are in this story in my document on my computer this whole fiction is 123 pages, this chapter ends at page 104 so I have two maybe three more depending on how long or short I make them and if I decide to include a fan-service epilogue that will be an extra chapter. As always I hope everyone enjoyed this, I hope you are all in good health and if you're not I wish you a fast and easy recovery, I will do my best to get chapter seventeen up and running as soon as possible. Maybe even in the next day or two. Thank you again to everyone reading, those that have been here and those just joining me, and always remember: ~Keep Calm and Fanfiction On~