Eyes Red as Blood

Twenty Eighth Night: Aftermath I

Gods, this is terribly boring. Arisu sat in a cell, staring at the wall opposite of her. She had already counted all the superficial cracks in the stone and found every possible image or pattern there was to find. There wasn't even a window for her to look out from. How could she? She was in the dungeon. She sighed, and got up, wondering what time it was. She walked over to the bars, that started to spark in warning. Smirking briefly, she used her human form to get closer to get a closer view outside the cell. Not that it helped much because the dim lighting made it difficult for her human eyes to see much detail.

"Zero, are you there?" No response. Arisu sighed again, and walked back to the bed at the corner of the unit. She laid down and stared at the ceiling. Oh, look, there was a bird shape... Her eyes became heavy, and she guessed it was late considering her human body needed rest. She turned to her side and closed her eyes, willing for dreamless sleep to come.

"How the hell do you keep doing that?"

Arisu sat up, and squinted past the bars at the figure. Though she could hardly see anything, she could tell who it was by their voice. "What are you talking about, Mr. Yagari?"

"Disappearing."

"What?" She feigned innocence quite well.

"Cut the bull, Kuran. You keep disappearing from the sensors used in these cells," he hissed, "You will explain."

"Uhm, faulty equipment?" Shrugging her shoulders cheerfully. Really, if this was the only entertainment she would have, why not make the most of it? "I really have no idea what you're talking about. I have been here this whole time, however long that's been."

"I swear to God, Kuran, either you tell me or I'll find some other way to figure this out." Another set of footsteps came to join them.

"Just drop it, sir. She won't tell you anything if she doesn't want to."

"How would you know, Zero?" Yagari asked as Zero joined him. Then more hotly, "Do you know?"

Zero rolled his eyes at his former teacher and turned to Arisu. "Close your mouth or you'll catch something. Not that I mind. It would be hilarious."

"What?" She was astonished to say the least and a little betrayed. Zero hadn't even thought about telling her that he could leave his cell. "How are you there? I thought you were in one of these," waving her arms around, "blasted things."

Zero sniggered, "Unlike you, I was only detained because the Association thought me volatile. Honestly, I don't know where they got that from."

Yagari stood there, looking between the two teenagers. They were just... acting so... civilly towards each other. Zero wasn't being an angry ball of hate per usual.

"Shut up!" She responded, grinning to keep the act up, "What's in the bag?"

Zero raised the plastic bag he was carrying and maneuvered it through two of the bars, "Food... take it."

"You want me to purposefully get hurt," she deadpanned, not moving from her bed.

"I will drop it." Zero raised a brow, fully ready to deliver on his threat.

"Hold on!" Arisu scurried over to the bars, forgetting to turn back. She took the bag from Zero; it had a bit of weight to it.

"That's what I'm talking about," Yagari exclaimed, pointing at her accusingly, "you shouldn't even be able to be that close to the bars. I understand Zero, since he's been... tamed. But, you -"

"Yes, yes," Zero interrupted, earning a glare from the older hunter, "I do believe we have a meeting to attend soon. We should be leaving."

Yagari seemed disgruntled, but nodded. He took one last accusatory glance at Arisu, who smiled back pleasantly, before turning and walking away. Zero quickly followed without another word, so Arisu went slowly back to the bed, placing the bag on the edge. Tentatively, she opened it and peered inside. There was a water bottle, a packet of blood tablets, and a small take out plate. Apart from that she was surprised to find a small book and a folded change of clothes.

"Seriously, how long does he think I'll be staying here for," she murmured to herself. Arisu had to keep herself from smiling for the first time since she was thrown into this prison. She had been offered to contact some before she was brought in, but really, Kai already knew where she was and why. There was no point in asking the hunters to go out of their way to contact anyone else. She was sure the others would find out eventually. Besides, the solitude would allow her to grieve without having people constantly worrying over her... Arisu shook her head, trying to will herself to stop thinking. She tore open the container and found solace in filing her empty stomach before laying on her side, back to the bars, looking at the barren wall.

``Co``

"What do you mean she was arrested?" Reiko fumed, cheeks flushing to rival her hair.

"Two hunters came into the room and did exactly what we've told you, Miss," Charlie intervened when it looked like Kai was about to reply something nasty.

"Those slimy, good for nothing rats! How dare they?"

"Ditto," Kai muttered from the sofa where he had been forced to rest after having been brought to the Asakura manor. It was the closest safe place away from the Academy. He winced when he tried moving his legs.

"Don't move unless you want to do permanent damage," Nathaniel entered the room with a tray that had a tea set and some mild pain suppressants. "It's bad enough you pretended you were fine and walked as much as you did."

"Yes, that was stupid of you, boy," Reiko turned her glare at him. Kai scowled looking down.

"Why don't you take a seat, my dear," Nathaniel told Charlie. The girl had been standing next to Kai the whole time. Her gaze flicked over to the pureblood as she tentatively sat down on the nearby arm chair. The older man began serving tea to the guests.

"This isn't time for tea, Nathaniel," Reiko snapped, "Arisu has been taken prisoner for god's sake!"

"It would do us all much better if we calm down," he explained unperturbed, "that way we can look at our options objectively and choose the best one. Now, have you managed to get a hold of Kaname?"

Silence.

"That's what I mean about keeping a level head," Nathaniel lectured. "I'll get a hold of him as soon as possible."

"I highly doubt you'll be able to reach him unless you know where the Kuran Manor is," Kai spoke up. The three of the looked at him questioningly. "Oh, I guess I forgot to mention that Kuran disposed of the Vampire Council, so it's more than likely that he and Yuki Cross - Kuran, I mean - have gone into hiding."

Reiko froze in her seat while Nathaniel forgot he had been pouring a cup of tea. It overflowed, spilling into the saucer.

"Sir?"

"Apologies," Nathaniel muttered, "I'll go get a wash rag."

Kai looked at Reiko uncomfortably. She was still, but she was no longer in shock. "Miss Asakura?"

"Hmm. I didn't think he'd resort to something such as that. I always knew he hated them." she replied, "but that's beside the point." Reiko gave a long sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose, "I don't think we'll be able to contact him anytime soon... unless your father knows where the Manor is."

"I'm not sure," Kai admitted after a moment. The two carried on the conversation, discussing what they needed to do to get Arisu back. They ignored the fidgeting vampire. In her seat Charlie was starting to drown in worry. She couldn't sense her tie to Arisu for as much as she tried. Arisu's presence was distinctly faint when Charlie had been able to feel it hours after they separated, but then it would suddenly disappear and reappear. Right now, it was as if her pureblood master had disappeared off the face of the earth.

Are you alright, Arisu? No response. ARISU! Answer me! Are you hurt? Just static.

``Intriguing``

"Kaname!"

"What, Yuki?" Kaname gave her an exasperated side glance. Yuki frowned at him and turned away. Kaname sighed, pulling Yuki to a stop beside him. "I didn't mean the way it sounded, sorry." Yuki pouted, but relented and she looked up at him again. "What is it you wanted to tell me?"

"Uhm, is Arisu alright? I mean her presence disappears and reappears every so often." Yuki unconsciously scanned the forest that surrounded them. They had been unfollowed so far on their way back home.

Kaname frowned, "You can feel her presence from this far away?"

Yuki furrowed her eyebrows, "well, not exactly... how do I explain? It's more like I know when she's there and when she isn't. It's like a flicker of light. I can tell something is wrong with her, emotionally at least, but I don't know what."

"That's interesting," Kaname murmured to himself. His eyes focused on a point above Yuki's head as he thought about the implications of this new information.

"Kaname."

"We'll have to dig through the library once we get back home." Maybe they could find a way to enhance this link. Oh, the possibilities.

"Kaname." He finally looked at Yuki, and she was furious. Her brows furrowed in discontent and her mouth did that odd little thing of jutting her lower lip into a pout. Not menacing at all, Kaname thought.

He sighed, "I'm sure she's fine, Yuki. What you're sensing is probably nothing." Yuki tilted her head, anger dissolving into confusion. "Nothing to worry about."

Yuki frowned, unconvinced. Kaname pulled her along the forest path.

``Deliberation``

"Just take the damn position already, Cross," an ash blond hunter insisted. Fuchs was his surname. There were several murmurs of assent from the hunters seated at the large oval table. The heads of the prominent families belonging to the Hunter Association had gathered to decide the presidency among other things. It was a painstaking process filled with arguments and snide remarks on part of the rowdier hunters. It had taken them ages to even decide to give the position of President to Kaien Cross, yet the man had the audacity to insist there was someone better qualified than he.

"Who's more qualified than the person who killed that corrupt bastard?"

Cross sighed, rubbing his temples with a hand, "Helsing, there's got to be something more than being able to kill someone!"

"I'm not saying that's all you have going for you, Cross," the scruffy looking man replied levelly. His chin-length raven hair fell in disheveled waves around his face, accentuating his tan skin and teal eyes. He hadn't shaved in the time he had been hunting down his target and hadn't had time to shower considering he was summoned straight to headquarters upon his arrival. He was sporting what was the start of a substantial beard. "You do have some other redeeming qualities. Don't sell yourself short, Mr. Hotshot."

Some of the other hunters snickered at the banter, and Cross rolled his eyes. Leave it to Van to make light of the situation to ease the tension of the room.

"Just do it, Cross," Yagari muttered from beside him. Then he added more quietly so that only the hunter turned headmaster could hear, "besides, the brat's going to need your influence soon enough."

Cross theatrically sighed, going along with the lightened mood, "I guess I could take up the position now that I'm so assured that I qualify."

From across the table, Helsing guffawed and the other hunters looked on more relaxed.

"Now that particular issue is settled," Vasilisa Alexeev, a woman with stone grey eyes, deep red hair, and delicate pointed nose, moved the conversation along, "what do you propose we do with the pureblood child Yagari so gracefully arrested?"

Yagari glared at the woman, and she sneered at him. To her, vampire or not, the girl they had in the dungeons was just a child, no older than her own. Some would say that this leniency would be the Alexeev family's downfall, but she didn't think so. Children could be taught.

"Before we touch on that, I would like to address the issue regarding the Vampire Council, or lack thereof," Vincent Zaldívar said. He was a strange, rickety old man with white hair and ancient gold brown eyes. Despite his age, Cross and the others considered him to be one of the deadliest hunters among them. Also, it didn't help that he was the reason why the Lincoln and Zaldívar hunter lines converged. It made voting a hassle when there was a tie because Abra Zaldívar née Lincoln didn't usually come in for the meetings often enough.

"Yes, that is quite troubling," Fuchs mussed. Zero rolled his eyes. Everyone knew that he was could care less about the death of the vampire council. In fact, he had been happy that those bloodsuckers had perished. Fuchs had always suspected them of being corrupt monsters. The former president... Well, Fuchs wanted to murder him himself now that he knew just how involved he had been with the council.

"Did they even have a backup plan in case of a revolt?" Katherine Abbott asked. She was a petite hunter with sandy brown and blond curls cut into a bob that framed her face. Her slim figure allowed her to easily master stealth and the art of reconnaissance, but it also made her lethal in battle if she was underestimated. Abbott was deadly with the knives she used.

"What do you think?" Yagari grunted. Abbott glared at him. They had somewhat of a feud going on ever since Yagari had beaten her at hand to hand combat in front of the trainees.

"Well, I think we should contact the Kuran boy and deal that way," Zaldívar interjected before the other two could start a fight, "ultimately, without a vampire council, there is little we can do about the girl. The vampires may see any punishment we give too harsh."

"Or think our punishment is too lenient," Helsing reasoned, "the Kuran heir was the one who caused the end of the council so to speak."

"He was?" Fuchs exclaimed surprised.

"You mean you came to this meeting without reading the briefing document completely?" Zero asked, a hint of snark in his voice. Yagari gave him a leveled look of warning to which the younger hunter just shrugged and looked away. Helsing openly smiled.

"Yes, well," Aleevev started, amused, "I agree with what Zaldívar suggested. It would be more prudent to hold a trial with the Kuran head present."

"Does anyone have any objections?" President Cross asked. He was met with shakes of heads and a cheery "nope" from Helsing. " Then, I will contact Kaname as soon as possible. In the meantime, Arisu Kuran is to stay in the dungeons until further notice."

"But-" Zero cut himself off and looked away when a couple of questioning gazes turned to him. There were no other objections.

"I would like to assess the mental health of the human students who were exposed to... the attack," Abbott chimed. "It would be a waste to simply rob them of them of their memories-"

"A waste? What are you on about?" Fuchs gruffly asked, crossing his arms in front of himself.

"It's just that- and bear with me. If we are to ever have peaceful coexistence, the humans will need to know about vampires, about us," she lifted her hand to make the others quell their objections until she was done, "we have this opportunity, a test group if you will, to see how humans would respond to knowing about all of this."

Helsing looked thoughtful as did Zaldívar. Alexeev looked surprised, a bit skeptical of the idea, but not outright rejecting if it. Cross was the most surprised, however. Hardly any, only two in reality, of the hunters present had ever expressed desire for coexistence. Abbott had hardly ever been a supporter of the cause. Then again, she had taken a neutral ground on the subject before her tyrannical mother passed away under suspicious circumstances. Fuchs and Yagari seemed the only ones ready to oppose the idea. Zero looked on impassively.

"And if they react adversely? Not just the concept, the knowledge of vampires; it was a traumatic event for many of them."

"Then we erase their memories as we originally intended, Lis," Abbott replied firmly. Honestly, it sounded much easier when she said it. Fuchs had no qualms about bringing that argument up. "Isn't everything easier said than done?" Fuchs grumbled and prepared to continue his spiel.

"For what it's worth," Zero interrupted, "I agree with what Abbott is proposing. It's not a bad idea."

"Why, Zero, I'm glad to hear you think my idea is marvelous," Abbott teased, so Zero scowled.

"Does anyone else have any other suggestions on this matter?" Cross took control over the situation before it divulged into childish bickering from the youngest two.

"Yeah, how about not doing it?" Fuchs leaned forward, placing his left arm on the table, "It'll be more thought than it's worth."

"Didn't know you thought at all," Zero remarked under his breath. The only one who seemed to have heard clearly was Abbott, who was seated next to Zero and who snorted. Even so, Fuchs flushed red because of his blunder.

"We all understood what you meant, Fuchs," Zaldívar stressed, apparently also having overheard Zero's barb, "And while my wife would be inclined to agree with you, I have to side with Miss Abbott."

"I also agree with, Katherine," Alexeev chimed in.

"That makes five votes yes," Cross announced, "we already have a majority vote unless one of you would like to dispute this topic further." Yagari scowled but nodded, signaling his consent. Fuchs stood up angrily but after a moment decided to sit back down at the table.

"Fine. Alright, carry out this little experiment of yours," Fuchs spat out.

"Alright then," Cross cheerfully replied. Then speaking to the others, "is there anything else of concern that needs to be addressed?" When nobody spoke up, Cross nodded, "This meeting is adjourned. I ask you to be available for the next week's meeting."

Usually the lot didn't meet up on a weekly basis, at most it had been monthly meetings. However, with the empty president seat, the heads of houses agreed to schedule consistent meetings to discuss and share information. Eventually things would go back to normal with the new president taking the brunt of the vampire politics. At least that's what Cross guessed would happen. The others would be highly critical of him in the months to come. He wouldn't have it any other way, considering the previous corruption. All of them were still trying to weed out all the moles and traitors within their ranks even if they were family members. Luckily, very few were involved with the shady dealings of the previous president.

Cross watched on as the others individually went up to express their condolences to Zero, who accepted their statements with a carefully blank expression. Zero grimaced when Abbott reached out to him, making her hesitate before clapping him on the shoulder as she left the conference room. Soon everyone else filed out.

``Information``

"So that's what happened." Zero leaned against the wall opposite of Arisu's cell. His arms crossed in front of himself.

"... okay?" Arisu replied, sitting on the hard bed, "There's not much I can do from here is there?"

"Tell me where I can find that bastard." His even tone was cold. Arisu glanced into his eyes and almost flinched.

"So, you can go hunt him down the first chance you get?" It was probably a bad idea to antagonize the hunter in front of her, yet here she was. The cell bars helped bolster her resolve. "I can see it in your eyes." They were cold, uncaring.

"Aren't you as angry, as enraged, hateful even, as I am? He played dirty. He toyed with the two of us." Zero uncrossed his arms. Now they were balled into dusts at his side.

"Yes, he did. I will not deny that. How could I deny when he drugged me?" Her own voice hardened with every word she spat back. Arisu stood up and walked forward and was vaguely aware of how close she stood to the bars because they crackled.

"Then what's the problem?"

"Tell me, does your little, twisted plan also involve murdering my sister?" There was no room for uncertainty. She had to know. Zero's face went blank in that calculated sort of way. His jaw clenched, and she had her answer. "We may have lost Ichiru that night, but -"

"There is no we! How dare you- do you honestly think you know how I feel?"

"What? So you can claim that I'm as angry as you are, but you can't accept the fact that both of us are grieving the loss of the same person?!" She shouted back, pointing an accusing finger at the taller male. He looked like he'd gotten slapped. She added softly, "You lost a brother, but I lost my best friend. The only friend I ever willingly made on my own."

Zero made a strangled noise, and looked sick. Arisu opened her mouth to say something else, but he didn't stay to hear it, fleeing from the dungeons.

``Asking``

"We are also unable to contact Kaname at the moment," there was some shuffling in the background and a muffled shout.

"No, its fine, Nathaniel" Cross sighed as he rubbed his temples with his free hand. The other was holding the phone up to his hear. "I was hoping one of you knew how to get a hold of him."

"Actually, we are – Hey!"

"Cross! Where is Arisu?" Reiko's shrill voice demanded. Sounding further away, Nathaniel argued to get the phone back.

"I am unable to disclose that information."

"I am her guardian! I have the right to know!"

Cross winced at the anger in her voice, "I understand your worry; however, trust that the Association and I are working towards solving this matter as quickly as we possibly can."

"You and the Association? I would rather –

"Apologies. Reiko has been a bit… overzealous as of date." Nathaniel had snatched the phone back, but not without Reiko yelling at him to give her the phone so that she could tell Cross exactly what she thought of his plan.

"Understandable."

"Anyways, we don't know…maybe Atsushi Koruya does. He was a close family friend to the Kurans. We are expecting him tomorrow evening, but I doubt that he'll be happy to communicate such information with the Association, considering you guys shot his son twice."

Cross internally groaned. Some of the younger hunters under Fuchs were too hasty. "Please just tell Mr. Koruya that it is Arisu's best interest that he gives us the information if he does know."

"Yes –WILL YOU STOP AND LET ME SPEAK WITH THE MAN – Can you at least tell me that she's fine?" Nathaniel sounded tired, as if he were running a hand down his face exhaustedly.

"Really, Nathaniel? Do you think I would harm her?" Cross was almost insulted. Almost. He knew that if he had been in their place, he would be fighting tooth and nail to get Arisu back, literally.

"It's not you we are concerned about."

Cross bit the inside of his cheek, and then replied, "No harm shall come to her. Don't worry."

"Kind of hard not to worry, but we trust you. If that is all, I have to go otherwise Reiko will start plotting something extreme again." There was a small chuckle as Reiko yelled furiously that she was planning no such thing… maybe.

"Sure." Cross smiled a bit as he cut the line.

``Dead End``

"Where is he?" Her frantic tone couldn't have been more evident. There was a flurry of crème lace and silk while Renee practically ran out of the car once it came to a stop in the driveway of the manor. Her raven bob and bangs bounced with her movements. "Where is my son?"

"He is inside resting, Mistress."

Renee glared at Nathaniel until he called her by name. She nodded and pushed past him to get into the manor. She wanted to see her little boy. Inside, Renee fussed about Kai as soon as she laid eyes on him. That is until she saw that he was healing along well enough. At which point Kai tried to weasel his way out of a third lecture on his foolishness by commenting on his mother's change in hair color. It suited her and contrasted nicely with her milky white skin.

"Son, if that worked half as well as you think it does, I would have avoided a lot of arguments with your mother by just complementing her." Atsushi Koruya strolled into the parlor where they all were, followed closely by Nathaniel.

"Father!" Kai made to get up from the sofa, but Renee knocked him on the head and forced his back down. Kai whined, insisting that he was fine, but Renee wasn't having it.

"Settle down and listen to your mother. You'll get yourself injured again," Reiko chastised from near the fireplace. Renee triumphantly grinned at her son and seeing that he wouldn't try getting up again, she leaned on the side of the sofa.

"Nathaniel briefed us over the phone on the drive here." Mr. Koruya went straight to the point now that he saw his son was doing fine. Nathaniel and he sat down on the arm chairs in the parlor.

"And?" Reiko prompted eagerly. She was anxious to know.

"Unfortunately, we don't know where the Kuran Manor is." Mr. Koruya looked apologetic. Reiko frowned.

"When Juri invited us over, she would always invite us to one of their other residences," Renee explained, "I doubt Kaname would be at one of those."

Nathaniel nodded, "Do you know of any other way to reach him?"

Mr. Koruya looked uncomfortable, and Renee went to stand behind him, rubbing his shoulders comfortingly. The man reached up to take one of her hands in his before replying, "No."

``Interrogation``

"Will you please tell us, Arisu?"

"No. No. No. A thousand times no." She shook her head and clutched the edges of the wooden chair. The white light from the overhead lamp illuminated the steel table in front. The walls of the interrogation room were sterile white. "You are asking me to betray my family. To reveal our only safe location."

"Arisu-"

"The answer will always be no." Her resolve was unwavering.

"I was hoping you'd make this easier for me." Cross seemed defeated.

Arisu sighed, "I have no guarantees that they would be safe. You must understand. I've had plenty of time to think things through in my cell." Cross remained silent for her to continue. "Kaname murdered the council members. Surely some aristocrats want him dead. What happens to Yuki then? Developmentally, she shouldn't be more than a child still learning to use her fangs. She'll be the most vulnerable to them."

"Then we bring her here. We bring them here."

"And see how Zero reacts to them? I think not," her voice turned into a hurried whisper, "have you not seen the coldness in his eyes? It's unsettling to say the least. I wouldn't put it past him to attack them first chance he gets."

"I wouldn't either," Cross agreed. Then he admitted, "We aren't being monitored. I disconnected the surveillance camera, so there is no need to whisper."

"Oh." Arisu straightened from where she had been leaning forward then relaxed in her seat

"But I wonder… He had plenty of chances to harm you down in the dungeons, considering he can move freely around there," Cross rested his chin on his hand, studying the girl carefully, "but from what I've heard, he chose to bring you food, entertainment… and information."

It was true, Zero had been oscillating between hostility and strange camaraderie with Arisu ever since they got to the Association headquarters. Initially, Arisu had chalked it up to shock, but as the days went by Zero seemed unstable. She couldn't predict his moods. Sometimes it seemed like they were really starting to get along, starting off on a better foot, but then Zero would pull away again, baring his fangs at her, shutting her away. Still, she was surprised that the Headmaster knew so much. This must have been evident on her face because Cross elaborated, "We still have him under surveillance. He knows of course."

"Then you know how he responded when I accused him of trying to go after my family." She schooled her expressions into polite indifference.

"So… you won't tell us how to contact Kaname?" Though she was almost sure he had been joking mostly, she still shook her head, no. "Then your sentence will be up to the Association only." Arisu didn't seem fazed by this news; she had been expecting it. "About Zero –

"I'm sure you'll be able to draw a similar conclusion as my current theory," she interrupted, uncomfortable again, "considering what he was forced to do that night, I would prefer not discussing it."

Cross nodded and didn't push the subject further. He had managed to get Zero to confess that he had been the one to kill Ichiru. Because eating his younger brother ended up helping to stabilize him, Cross didn't set a punishment on Zero. Even he knew how difficult and jarring it had to be to kill your own… That was punishment enough. He also knew that Arisu had somehow had ties to the younger Kiryu twin, but he didn't know how deep they ran. On the surveillance footage, he could pick up on the queues for her depression and distraught even if she had tried masking them. She was still young and with no formal training, many of her emotions slipped through.

"Alright then. Would you like to amend any of your previous statements regarding the night of the attack on the Academy?" Again, she shook her head. "I need a verbal confirmation or denial, Arisu."

"I do not."

"Is there anything else you wish to ask about or reveal?" Arisu looked like she was about to speak, but then decided against it and muttered a soft 'no.' "Then this interrogation is over. Your trial date is set for the following week; however, it may be postponed or pushed forth. We will advise you of the exact date soon." Cross looked relieved that it was finally over. Arisu moved to get up, and hopefully, go back to her cell. Except Cross stopped her. She stayed by the door, looking uncertain. "About Ichiru's funeral… I've left it up to Zero to decide if you are to be allowed to go. The others aren't opposed to it. You would just need an escort if you do go."

"Thank you, Headmas– President Cross," she smiled weakly, "but as long as he is given a proper burial, I don't have to be there. I'll be fine with whatever would make Zero most comfortable." Without another word, Arisu knocked on the door and the guards opened it, leading her back down to the dungeons.

``Conversation``

It must not have been long, then again Arisu had no real way to tell time anymore, but Zero came to talk with her. They made small talk easy enough. Arisu tried not to touch upon any subject that might set the hunter off. Even so, he seemed to be on edge, distracted even. The two shared a joke or two, but neither could laugh sincerely.

It surprised Arisu when he asked about Ichiru. "How did you meet?"

Well, that wasn't hard at all to explain. It really was a chance meeting at some market place. Arisu had been intrigued. He was a human that knew of vampires. A human that didn't seemed perturbed by them, but held something dark within his heart. They hadn't talked much before Reiko had pulled her away. By that time Arisu had managed to place a rudimentary tracking spell on Ichiru. From then on, she would send her familiar with letters to him. At first the other boy wouldn't respond, but eventually he sent his responses via her familiar. They got to know one another, and Ichiru had been able to realize how destructive Shizuka's methods were. He confided in Arisu as she confided in him. Ichiru had been her first true friend. She trusted him with her life.

Zero stared intently at her as if he were under a spell, searching. The next question was more somber. It was soft, and barely carried into her cell. "Did you know what he was planning?"

"No. If I did, I would have stopped him."

"Would you have stopped me?"

There was a pause. She looked at him through the bars. They were both sitting on the ground. Arisu was sitting cross legged while Zero leaned against the stone wall outside. After deciding to answer, she spoke with certainty, "Yes."

He nodded. Zero wanted to ask that if she had to decide, which of the two would she save, but he didn't want to force her to answer. Either way he knew what she would respond, and there was no point in hypotheticals. It wouldn't change what had already happened.

"I would have done anything to keep him alive, you know."

Ah, so that confirmed his conclusion. He wanted to say he wasn't even a tiny bit hurt by the truth. He couldn't.

"Anything, absolutely anything," she stressed with clear sincerity and resolve, "but I would never consider killing you to save him. You are also important to me."

This time, Zero couldn't hide his surprise, and after a while he regained his composure he chuckled. "Arisu, you are too kind. Why would you even care about me? You hardly even know me." The last bit was said with a bit of hostility.

Their conversation would be coming to a close soon, she gathered. Which is why she smiled back. She already knew she was too kind. That made her weak. She let too many things slide. She had let others decide for her far too many times. Because of that, she was naïve. She had been a child playing dress up, thinking she could protect the people she cared for. How she had been wrong. In the end, she had been nothing but a flailing chess piece that had come into its own far too late. "You're right that I hardly know you. Do you want to know why you are important to me?"

Slowly, Zero nodded.

"Because the people whom I love, cared for you." She should stop now before overstepping a boundary. Too late. Zero already had that cornered animal look, so she had to make this quick and leave out much of what she wanted to say. "Ichiru rarely talked about you, but when he did, I could see that he cherished you. Even when he was insulting you, he couldn't hide it. So, I decided to give you a chance. Surely, you were more than an angry ball of hate. You are. When you – when you showed me Ichiru, I could feel your pain. I also felt it. I don't hate you for what you did. You didn't want to do it. You didn't have another choise. I don't blame you, Zero. You have to understand that."

The hunter was stunned, and couldn't find the words to respond with.

"I'm sure Cross has already..." Zero was reluctant to speak. He wouldn't look Arisu in the eye. She didn't press him on, allowing him to be sure of what he was going to say. "Ichiru's funeral is next week, Monday to be exact. Hardly anyone will be attending... If you wish to attend."

"Would you like me to be there?" There was no question that she wanted to be there, to say good bye, but as she said earlier - it was Zero's decision if she were to be allowed to partake.

"I - You should be there."

Arisu had to clear her throat before answering to try to get rid of the lump in her throat. "Thank you."

Zero rubbed the back of his neck, still looking away, and made a noncommittal hum in response. They continued an amiable conversation after a couple of tense minutes.

A/N: Hello, so I noticed a trend. I tend to update every three months… that's a heck of a long time in between chapters. Well, wait no further for the next one. It will be up on Monday and will be roughly as long as this chapter. Please follow/favorite or review!