Eyes red as Blood

Authors note: Italics represent thoughts unless they are used for emphasis.

Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Knight but Matsuri Hino does.

Second Night: Cross Academy Part 1

Juri only had the strength to grant one of them a relatively normal life. Because she was the oldest, Juri told her all about Rido. She said that when the time came- if it came- that she could only save one of them.

"Arisu, come take a walk with me," Juri said, looking at the small child.

"No fair! How come she gets to go outside," Yuki complained. She and Arisu stopped playing with their toys and faced their mother.

"Oh, Yuki, we aren't going outside we are just going to walk in the hallways," Juri said, smiling at her pouting daughter.

"Then how come I can't come along?" Yuki was inseparable from Arisu. Ever since they were tiny babies, one could not be without the other for too long otherwise they would get fussy.

"Okay, Mother," Arisu replied. She turned to her sister and smiled conspiratorially. "Don't worry, Yuki, I'll just tell you what Mother tells me when I come back!"

"Do you promise," Yuki asked, the beginning of a smile on her lips.

"I promise," Arisu said, ruffling Yuki's hair. This action made her seem years older when in reality the two were only hours apart.

Mother and daughter exited the room. The heavy wooden doors closed behind them and Yuki resumed her playing.

"Arisu, you have to understand that what I say right now, you can't tell Yuki," Juri's voice was firm, but she was looking at Arisu with loving and trusting eyes. The woman tool hold of Arisu's hand and led her down the hall.

"What is it, mother?" Arisu was starting to worry. Her mother never spoke in such a serious tone often, but when she did, it it was obviously very important.'

For a second, Juri's hold on her hand tightened. She wasn't sure if it was to comfort Arisu or herself.

"Remember when you asked if you had other relatives? Well, you have one Uncle. Rido used to be my brother, but he betrayed our family and for that he was disowned from the Kuran bloodline." Juri paused, hoping that Arisu could take this all in.

"I don't get it." Arisu looked up to her mother.

"He is the reason why the two of you are hiding here. Rido went after Kaname when he was born. Your father and I are concerned that he will come after you and Yuki." When Arisu's face still shown of confusion, Juri amended her explanation, "He is a bad man."

"Why?"

"When the time comes, you will know, but he will be after one or both of you. I only have enough power to save one of you." Her mother's eyes were brimming with tears., but she plowed on, though her voice was softer, barely audible. "In order to do that I will have to seal the vampire genes and instincts from one of you so you can lead a normal human life."

"Yuki… save Yuki, not me."

Juri smiled, her eldest daughter was growing up to be kind and protective of her family. They stopped at the end of the hallway and Juri turned Arisu so they were facing each other.

"I will still do this one thing for you," Juri spoke as she put her hand on top of Arisu's head. There was a faint glow before Arisu fell into unconsciousness.

When Arisu woke up, she was in her bedroom and Kaname was sitting next to her bed.

"Arisu, are you alright?" Kaname asked. THe eldest Kuran child leaned forward, reaching to fix Arisu's tangled mess of hair.

"Yes, but what happened?"

"Mother says that you felt ill and that you fainted," Kaname answered. He frowned and continued to scrutinize her.

"Don't worry Kaname, I'm fine," Arisu said as she sat down in her bed, "where's Yuki?"

"She should be coming-"

"Arisu!" The door to her bedroom swung open, revealing an exuberant girl.

"Yuki," Arisu replied, just as happy to see her. Yuki ran in, hugged Arisu, and sat next to her.

"Tell her about your trip Kaname," Yuki said, beaming at Kaname. She started to happily hum to herself quietly.

Kaname gently smiled indulgently and nodded, "I told Yuki that I saw a rose that only blooms once every ten years and I was going to bring one back next time."

"That is so sweet of you, Kaname," Arisu said teasing Kaname, but she found it hard to smile. Haruka and Juri entered the room, by that time both Yuki and Arisu were teasing Kaname who was furiously blushing.

"Stop teasing him," Haruka scolded his daughters, but he was only kidding, of course.

"Did you guys bring anything back, father," Arisu asked, a hopeful gleam in her eyes once she spotted the two packages in his hands.

"They did, but they wouldn't let us see until you woke up," Yuki pouted. She stuck her tongue out at Kaname.

"Like mother like daughter," Haruka said smiling at Juri. "Here." Haruka handed the presents to Yuki and Arisu.

"Thank you, Father," Arisu replied. Yuki's present was covered in light pink wrapping paper and when she opened it there was a brand new red dress and a gold bracelet.

"Thank you, Kaname, Father," Yuki said as she got up and hugged them. Arisu opened hers and there was the exact same dress only in cobalt blue. It was knee-length and had elbow sleeves. The only thing that was different was that Arisu got a necklace that was all gold except for the moon shaped gem. Arisu beamed up at her father and Kaname.

"Wow, that is really pretty," Yuki said admiring the necklace, but she thought her bracelet was better. Along with the dresses the girls also received new ribbons and toys.

"I hate to interrupt, but Arisu needs to rest," Juri spoke soon after all the presents were opened.

"But, Mother," Yuki started to complain, but was cut off when Haruka picked her up and swung her around and out of the room. Yuki squealed in delight, and Arisu giggled.

"Take care," Kaname told Arisu as he stepped out of the room following their father and sister.

Juri stayed behind. "Arisu, come over here." Juri walked over to the dresser. Arisu was confused but did what her mother told her. Her mother knelt down beside her. "Look at yourself in the mirror and imagine what it's like to be human."

Arisu looked at herself and gasped. Instead of seeing the deep red-brown hue of her eyes, she saw that they were dark brown. Her cheeks turned a light pink and overall she felt her temperature elevate, "M-mother, what's wrong with me!"

"Nothing, sweetie; I gave you this power so that when the time comes you can safely be hidden. If you learn to master this power then you can hide your vampire aura so that you can mingle with humans and other vampires without them knowing," Juri explained to a terrified Arisu.

"What about Yuki," Arisu spoke out of concern for her sister. Arisu was crying, she didn't want to leave her family ever.

"Remember I told you that I could only seal one of you? That is what I'm going to do if Riddo ever comes back." Juri pulled her eldest daughter into a hug, patting her back soothingly to comfort the girl all the while murmuring assurances.

That happened over ten years ago and I still miss them.

"Arisu-sama, are you alright?"

"Yes, I am. It's just that I'm a bit nervous." Arisu looked at the trees passing by. They started to become less dense as they neared the town indicateing they were ever closer to Cross Academy.

"If you want I could go with you," he offered.

"Don't worry I'll be fine," Arisu said trying to assure him. It was quiet for the rest of the car ride. Eventually the car slowly came to a stop.

"Arisu-sama, we are here."

Arisu looked out the window. The imposing gate leading to Cross Academy loomed over them. She turned to look into the light purple eyes of one of the Kiryu twins. "Can you accompany me for a bit, Ichiru?"

"Of course, Arisu-sama."

Revised 12/01/19