Eyes Red as Blood
Eleventh Night: Buried Memories
Panic started to settle in. Arisu's thoughts were jumbled up; every single one of them flying past one another. The image of a little girl smiling up at her came to mind. "We have to find her, Zero," Arisu said, grabbing Zero's arm, "other than Kaname, she's the only fa—"
"Arisu-sama, Kiryu, it's time to leave," Seiren spike, walking out of nowhere toward the two.
Zero couldn't hear her, everything in him was rejecting what Arisu had been about to say. Was Yuki Cross really a vampire? 'No it couldn't be,' Zero thought, 'The pureblood must be lying. Yuki is human. I know she is!'
Arisu turned away from Zero. His eyes were wide and expressed his confusion. Arisu had made a mistake, and knew if she didn't do anything now, the secret would be out and Yuki would be worse off.
"S-seiren, I need to speak with you," Arisu said regaining her composure, "Yuki Cross accompanied Sayori Wakaba to Rochester to go shopping. They were separated and only Miss Wakaba came back. Please send word to all the vampires to refrain from attacking any human from the academy or not, on my orders."
Seiren was caught off guard. Of course, she would have followed the orders given, but why was Arisu so eager to protect Yuki? It reminded her of Kaname.
"Yes, Arisu-sama," Seiren said after a thoughtful moment. All the similarities between the Kuran siblings and Yuki made sense to her now, but she wouldn't reveal their secret. Seirin quickly left.
'Don't worry Arisu-sama, I'll personally make sure Yuki Cross makes it back safe' Seiren's voice ringed clearly in Arisu's mind.
Arisu felt reassured, but she had to take care of the problem she created. When she turned around, she was met with Bloody Rose aimed directly at her head.
"What were you going to say, pureblood," Zero said. His violet eyes were in almost determined pain. Distrust, betrayal, and above all hatred shone in his eyes.
"I have no idea of what you are talking about," Arisu replied levelly.
"Don't you dare lie. Just when I thought one of you blasted purebloods wasn't despicable, I was proven wrong." The hatred he felt mixed with his voice, and his once violet eyes now glowed a deadly red. He lowered his gun a bit. A single solitary shot rang.
Arisu's eyes widened before her mind registered the pain. Blood ran down her shoulder and stained the blue portions of her dress a dark crimson color. Even though the bullet missed a vital spot, she felt like she was going to die. The pain was sharp and Arisu's first instinct was to attack, but she knew he would dodge and continue to shoot until she told him the truth. "If I tell you, you'll end up hating us and Yuki," Arisu cautioned. Her voice was strained due to the pain.
"It's not like if I don't hate vampires already," Zero spat, "tell me. Now!" He was on the brink of losing whatever control he had.
"Fine, I'll tell you, but first lower your gun," Arisu said, lifting her hands to show she wouldn't try anything. She winced as she raised her left arm. Zero reluctantly lowered Bloody Rose but kept it ready to fire. "Ten years ago my family was attacked..."
"Mother, I can sense a group of people coming to the house," six year old Arisu said as she looked up to her mother, "and there is also something else.. Something really scary... like what Yuki has nightmares about."
"I know, sweetie. I can sense them too," Juri replied, looking down at her daughter tenderly, "Let's go into the living room, so we can all be together." 'So that we can all be together for one last time at least'. Juri helped Arisu into a beige and coral dress before they left the room. She grabbed Arisu's hand and led her through the manor. The hallways seemed long and dark. When they got to the living room, which was usually filled with joy, was now filled with tension. The air was heavy and somber. Haruka, Kaname, and Yuki were already waiting.
Yuki came running up to them and hugged Juri around her legs, "Mommy! Kaname and Father won't tell me anything! What's going on?"
"Nothing you need to worry about, Yuki," Juri gave a smile that didn't reach her eyes. Yuki and Arisu were not convinced. They looked towards Kaname, but he avoided eye contact.
"Go play with Kaname. I have to speak with your father." Juri ushered them towards their brother. The siblings huddled close and watched theit parents talk in low rapid voices.
Arisu felt the people coming closer and closer. Soon they would reach the clearing in the forest. She looked towards Kaname who quickly looked away, but in the split second their eyes met Arisu knew everything. Her worst fears would come true that night.
"Okay, your father and I will greet our guests and see to it that they don't cause any trouble," Juri spoke turning back to the children.
"You three will remain here and under no circumstances shall you go outside," Haruka added in a serious tone. Yuki and Arisu nodded while Kaname remained impassive.
"Alright, we'll be back soon," Juri walked towards them and hugged each of them individually, telling them softly not to worry.
Haruka knelt in front of his children. He began to speak in a softer tone of voice.
"Kaname, whatever happens be sure to take care of your little sisters," he said, ruffling Kaname's hair, "and don't frown so much! We were blessed to have had you as our son."
"Yuki, sweatheart, always remember that you are never alone. You will always have your big brother and sister there for you-"
"Silly father, I already knew that. And besides I also have mommy and you" Yuki beamed at her father; her child like innocence was too much to bear. Juri's breath hitched and her eyes started to water. Arisu noticed, but was too afraid to say anything. "That's right. Most importantly, make sure Kaname and Arisu continue to smile." Yuki tilted her head in confusion and Haruka smiled at the cute and confused facial expression.
"Our noble Arisu," Haruka said, turning to kneel in front of Arisu with a soft smile on his face, "you and Yuki have given us hope, but most of all you have brought happiness in all of our lives. Continue to watch over Kaname and Yuki. I want you to continue to be happy." Tears were streaming down her face when Haruka pulled the three of them into a warm embrace. "We'll be back soon," Haruka said, patting each of them on the head, "So make sure you behave."
Arisu nodded, rubbing at her eyes to get them to stop watering.
Yuki went up to her and said in the quietest voice she had ever spoken in, "Don't worry, Father said so himself. He said that he would be back, so just trust in Father and Mother."
"We have raised them well, Juri," Haruka spoke softly as he led Juri to the door.
"Yes, I just wish we had had more time with them."
The door closed quietly behind them. It was deathly quiet. Usually when the three Kuran siblings were together they were always causing a ruckus, but this time the three were silent and waiting on what would happen next.
"We should sit down. It might take a while before they come back," Kaname suggested awkwardly. He looked down at the decorative carpet, but never once did he look at his little sisters. Yuki nodded and led Arisu to the sofa nearest to them while Kaname chose to follow them quietly and remain standing. One by one the presences of the 'visitors' were disappearing and, to Arisu's relief, their parent's presence was still strong. A few quiet minutes passed and the only presences left were those of Juri, Haruka, and a strange one that intermingled with theirs. The children were much too young to be able to sense the weaker presences nearby. The silence was broken when the door opened loudly. Juri quickly walked towards the three.
"Mother, is everything settled?" Arisu asked, hopeful.
"Not quite, Arisu," Juri replied in a soft voice, "Yuki, can you come with me? Arisu, stay with Kaname."
"But—"
"It's alright, Arisu, don't worry. Let Yuki go with mother." Kaname reached for Arisu's hand and pulled her away from Yuki.
"Thank you, Kaname. Haruka and I were really lucky to have you as our son, thank you." She kissed him on the forehead before going back and taking hold of Yuki.
"Mother, what's happening? What are you going to do," Yuki asked, starting to panic. Kaname and mother weren't acting normal. She had noticed it before, but she had been trying to ignore it.
"Nothing, just come with me," Juri replied as she pulled Yuki away from her older siblings.
"Wait, mother." Yuki's protests were futile.
"Yuki, we'll be waiting here, so go with mother," Kaname tried encouraging her. However, he retained an iron grip around Arisu's hand.
"Kaname! Arisu," Yuki yelled as the doors closed on her frantic expression. The click of the door brought Arisu back to her senses.
"Kaname, we have to stop mother. She'll die if we don't stop her," Arisu pleaded. She had read about the spell Juri was going to use a couple of days ago in the manor's library and had thrown a temper tantrum.
"It was what mother chose and what is best for Yuki," Kaname explained for the hundredth time, "We shouldn't interfere." Something caught Kaname's attention, and he froze. Haruka's life was wavering. "Arisu, promise me that you will remain inside with Yuki until I come back," Kaname stated abruptly.
"No, Kaname, I can't lose you too!" Arisu yelled as she began crying again.
He pulled her into a hug and murmured into her hair, "I promise I won't ever leave your side after this. I will always protect you and Yuki." He turned and walked out the door leading into a secret corridor. Arisu sat down before she heard a scream that shook her very core coming from the hallway. The young pureblood ran to the door her mother and Yuki had gone through and was horrified by what she saw. Her mother was lying on the floor in a deep crimson puddle. Arisu looked up, but it wasn't Yuki. The girl before her had Yuki's physics features, but the look in her eyes was different. Her eyes glazed over, dazed, and Arisu blacked out.
"After that, I don't really remember much," Arisu said, "I woke up a couple of hours later in the Asakura residence. I discovered that Kain Cross had taken in Yuki and would ensure her safety. Kaname placed me under house arrest, and I was never able to leave from wherever it was they moved me to."
Bloody Rose fell to the ground with a loud clatter. It wasn't long before Zero fell to his knees in utter shock. The girl whom he had trusted, confided in, and loved was actually a pure blood vampire. The very thing he hated turned out to be the thing he cherished the most.
"This is why I didn't want to tell you, Zero" Arisu murmured steadily, slowly walking to Zero. He was vaguely aware of Arisu's presence. "I'm sorry that things turned out this way," Arisu kneeled down, "Do you wish to forget what I just told you?"
Zero looked up, and in a moment of utter desperation he whispered, "Yes."
"I really am sorry, Zero." She placed her hands on either side of his head and erased his memories of the conversation
Revised 3/16/20