Hey all!
I know it's been a little while since my last update and I do apologize. I hope you enjoy this chapter that I wrote for you when I was supposed to be memorizing amino acid structures for my Biochemistry class. Oh well, this was more fun and I couldn't concentrate on the structures anyway. So enough rambling from me. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing and make no claim to!
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Kain sighed again, even though they were still outside and the dawn was approaching because his cousin was still arguing with Ruka. All he wanted to do was get inside and get to sleep; apparently all they wanted to do was bicker. They were beginning to give him a headache.
"I swear," Aidou yelled in Ruka's face, "You must be the stupidest person on the entire planet to believe something like that!" Rather than retaliate, Ruka smirked in triumph. What is wrong with this girl, he asked himself. I just insulted her and she didn't say anything!
"HANABUSA!" roared a voice that sounded suspiciously like his father's. He turned around slowly hoping that he was mistaken about who the voice belonged to, only to see his father standing there dumbfounded. "HOW DARE YOU SPEEK TO A LADY LIKE THAT! I KNOW I TAUGHT YOU BETTER!"
"Father," the younger Aidou said trying to dodge blows from his father while Ruka shook silently with laughter, "I hardly think she counts as a lady."
As Ruka heard this she lunged at him to attack him for insulting her status as a lady, only to be restrained by her own father.
"I'm inclined to agree with your son at the moment Aidou-san. She was not behaving like a young lady of breeding," he said leveling a glare at his daughter who hung her head in shame at being caught in her behavior.
"Welcome to Cross Academy!" the headmaster called throwing the door open to his home. "May I ask what brings such distinguished visitors to us at this hour?"
"Hello Headmaster," Aidou senior said warmly, "we are looking for Kaname-sama. Do you know where we can find him?"
"Of course!" Kaien chirped, "He's inside. If you would come in, I will go and get him for you."
"That would be much appreciated," Ruka's father said with a smile.
The entire group entered the headmaster's house and went into the sitting room where Aidou and Ruka had been arguing not an hour before. All of the younger nobles (as well as the headmaster) wondering what had brought such a large contingent of nobles to Cross Academy at such a late hour for them. They had said that they were there to see Kaname, but what was so urgent that it couldn't wait until a more reasonable hour.
Well, Hanabusa thought, if they are willing to risk the anger of getting a pureblood out of bed at dawn, it must be important. Despite his curiosity, he like the other young nobles hoped that if they we silent their parents would not send them away from the discussion.
Soon the headmaster returned offering all manner of snacks and refreshments (except for the refreshment that most present would most like). After about ten minutes of waiting the nobles were beginning to get impatient. Just because a pureblood is allowed to make someone wait didn't mean that he should. Though they knew that no matter how impatient they got, they would wait for him because they had no other choice.
Eventually Kaname did appear, looking a little disheveled. His face was a mask but it was apparent from his hair and clothes that they had gotten him out of bed. Their frustration with the time it took him to get there disappearing in gratitude that he was willing to forego rest to speak with them.
"I'm sorry I made you wait," Kaname said quietly. He was soon flooded with "It was no trouble" and "it was our pleasure to wait."
Not wanting to reveal how extensive his spy network is he asked, "What brings you here at this hour?" The nobles shifted uncomfortably. Then one of them nudged Aidou senior suggestively. So it happens to Dad too, Hanabusa thought with a silent laugh.
"Well, Kaname-sama," he began slowly. "We hate to be the ones to tell you . . . but . . . the entire vampire council has been destroyed and the building it was housed in as well. We are unsure who did it and we are worried that whoever it was may pose a threat to you and the rest of the vampire world."
"Your fears are unfounded," Kaname said suddenly. "There is no threat to me or anyone else."
Aidou and the nobles looked confused for a moment the Ruka's father found his voice and asked, "I apologize for my rudeness, but how do you know that Kaname-sama?"
Kaname gave him a predatory smile and said slowly, "Because I am the one who destroyed the vampire council." His announcement was met with quiet muttering among the nobles and shocked expressions directed at him.
Finally one of the noble women present found the courage to ask the question that so many of them wanted the answer to, "Kaname-sama, Why?" As the words left her mouth she felt all the blood leave her face. She had just questioned a pureblood, and one that was capable of mass murder at that. He was not angry however and smiled at her almost warmly.
"Let me show you," he said quietly walking back towards the door he had just come in and putting his hand into the hallway. Everyone present was wondering about his sanity (everyone knew that he had had an uncle who was insane) when a small hand placed itself in his and allowed him to pull the body attached to it into the room. Though most of the people present had no idea who the young woman was many were struck by her resemblance to the young pureblood, though her smile as she surveyed the gathered nobles was much warmer.
"Allow me to introduce you to my sister and fiancée, Yuuki Kuran," he said pride evident in his voice and a warmth present in his eyes when he looked at her that they had never seen before.
"But Kaname-sama," Aidou senior began bravely. "Your parents only had ONE child before they died. We would have known if there was another Kuran born."
"I assure you," Kaname said coldly. "Yuuki is my sister. Our parents made sure that no one knew about her because they wanted her to grow up as normally as is possible for a pureblood vampire. Besides, look closely at her for yourselves, it is apparent that she is a pureblood is it not?"
Tired of being discussed and scrutinized as though she were a painting rather than a person Yuuki spoke a bit more sharply than she intended. "I can understand why you would be . . . apprehensive of someone claiming to be from the Kuran line when there is no previous mention of them, but I promise you that I am the daughter of Juuri and Haruka Kuran and the sister of Kaname."
At the sound of her voice many of the nobles stiffened, fearful that they may have provoked the wrath of someone who was assuredly a pureblood if not definitely a Kuran. "We apologize for our skepticism Yuuki-sama," began Ruka's father with a bow to the young woman.
"No I apologize," she cut him off gently with a smile. "My tone was harsher than I intended because it has been a long day and I am exhausted. Please accept my sincerest apologies. In your positions I would be skeptical as well." Her apology dumbfounded the elder noble vampires while the younger nobles who knew her just shook their heads indulgently. Too quickly for her taste they recovered and she received a flood of apologies for everything from waking her, to doubting her, to not realizing that she had had a bad day. It was more than enough to give her a headache. She wondered if they were always that spineless.
Kaname noticed Yuuki move beside him and looked down to see her pinching the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger. "You have done your part," he whispered in her ear. "You can go back to bed now if you would like."
Though the idea of her bed greatly tempted Yuuki, she shook her head. She knew that she needed to see what was going to happen next. She also wondered how much of the story Kaname was going to tell the nobles.
"I'm sure many of you are wondering what my sister has to do with my destruction of the council," Kaname said, his soft voice cutting through all the chatter and being heard by all. "The explanation is quite simple. The council was harboring my uncle, Rido Kuran and unleashed him upon us, and indirectly your children." He paused while the muttered among themselves, then continued, "My sister destroyed Rido but not before he caused some harm to her. All of this occurred while I was in discussion with Ichio in the senate house about his alliance with Rido."
Yuuki felt tears fill her eyes and her heart rate accelerate at the memory of what Rido had done and was thankful that Kaname had not elaborated. She wasn't sure that she could handle hearing it in such a matter-of-fact tone. She was also glad because she couldn't have stood the pitying glances from people who didn't know her.
Sensing her discomfort, Kaname gently pulled her to his side, sadness filling him as she momentarily struggled against his touch. Squashing his sadness, he continued speaking, "When I learned of what he had done to my sister, my rage got the better of me and I destroyed them all in retribution."
"The senate actively conspired to harm pureblood vampires," one of the nobles asked in a breathless voice. "So they were as corrupt and power hungry as we feared." Kaname breathed a silent sigh of relief at the fact that they were going to focus on that aspect, thankful for once for the reverence most vampires had for the purebloods.
"Kaname-sama," Aidou began again choosing his words carefully so as not to anger the young man, "I know this did not probably cross your mind, understandably, when you eliminated the senate, but we will need a governing body now. We have two options; we can reinstate the Kuran monarchy, or we can form a new senate. Either option you choose is acceptable for us but, though I hate to say this, you need to make the choice quickly."
Kaname ran a hand through his hair and sighed audibly. He had been intending to reclaim the throne, but he hadn't meant to do it this quickly. Well, why not? A voice inside him asked. Why is now not a good time? He had no answer except that he had been hoping to spend some time with Yuuki before they were obligated to responsibility rather than just to each other. "As my sister said, today has been a long and trying day. I would like to rest and think about the options as well as discuss them with my sister. I will get back to you with an answer tomorrow evening. If you would like, I'm sure the headmaster has a few guest bedrooms that he would be willing to allow you access to for the day."
"Of course, Kaname-sama," the nobles said as one and bowed as the potential future King and Queen left the room for the day.
Seiren had been standing outside the door listening to everything that had been said and found herself stunned that her master had really killed all of those people. She bowed automatically as he walked past her holding Yuuki gently by the arm to guide her.
"Seiren," Kaname said suddenly stopping to look at her.
"Yes Kaname-sama?" she asked.
"If anyone even thinks of coming into our room until nightfall, kill them," he said with absolute seriousness.
"Yes, Master," she said the idea of killing one or two people not bothering her at all.
"Kaname!" Yuuki squeaked. "You can't kill people just for interrupting your sleep!"
Kaname sighed in a put-out way and just barely refrained from telling her that he was a pureblood and as such could do whatever the hell he wanted to any other vampire. Instead he amended his order to, "Fine, don't kill them. Just maim them and tell them to come back at nightfall."
It wasn't what Yuuki wanted to hear, but it was better than his first order, though as far as Yuuki was concerned the second part alone would have sufficed. She knew that this was one argument that she wasn't going to win so she conceded that battle and followed Kaname to their room where she laid down on her bed fully clothed and fell asleep instantly.
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Well, what do you think? Is Kaname going to establish himself as king or is he going to set up a new council? Will Seiren get to maim anyone? Was it worth the wait?
As always thank you for reading my newest chapter and I will try to have a new one up for you next week *crosses fingers.* please leave a review if you feel so inclined.
Thank you,
Stickdonkeys