Hey all! I have another update for you. . . and this one is huge, even for me. (Speaking of huge, this fic is beyond huge. . . I had to type this chapter in a new document and paste it into the main later because my spell-check seemed to think, I don't get paid enough for this shit! And mutinied. I was wondering if my spelling and typing had suddenly gotten better. . . nope a spell check strike. :/ )
Anyways, I hope you enjoy it!
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The headmaster sat in the darkened living room, waiting for Kaname and Yuuki to return home. He hadn't intended to go for the dramatic effect, but when he had sat down, there had been plenty of natural light, and now he just couldn't summon the energy to turn an artificial one on. He knew it was wrong to be so upset that she was happy, but he couldn't help it: and he hated himself for it. It's my job to look after her, he thought to himself. Juuri asked me to do it and I have done a good job . . . I think. And even though I knowthat they are meant to be together, I just worry that they are doing it now for all the wrong reasons. He continued that line of thinking until he heard the front door open.
"I don't think anyone's home," he heard Yuuki say. "Would you like to do something relaxing before the meeting with the nobles?"
"We could play a game," he heard Kaname reply, he wondered at the smirk he heard in Kaname's voice and figured he should make his presence known before they started doing what he thought they were hinting at. Though why they would use code when they thought they were alone was beyond him.
"Kaname, Yuuki," he called, "can I talk to the two of you for a moment?"
Yuuki and Kaname exchanged a look. Something about the headmaster's tone reminded both of them of the times they had been caught doing something naughty as children. Though that was admittedly a longer time back for one of them, the memories were still there for both of them. Yuuki grimaced at the tone of reproach with the hints of disappointment that was present in those few words.
"He knows," she breathed. Kaname looked at her in question.
What does Kaien know, he thought in confusion. Oh. . . he nervously rubbed the back of his neck as he realized exactly what Kaien knew. This was not going to be a fun conversation. "How?" he asked her almost silently.
She shrugged and he could see the same embarrassment that he felt written across her face. Neither of them was sure how to deal with the situation they were in. They hadn't done anything wrong, per se, and it wasn't like they should have asked his permission to do it, but they both felt guilty.
"Yuuki, Kaname?" the headmaster asked again, frustration edging into his tone. Kaname felt himself flinch and laughed nervously at himself. This was ridiculous! True, he may be upset, but Kaien wasn't going to kill them! Sure, he thought to himself, insane rampaging purebloods and open war I can handle, but one angry father and I'm a coward. Let's get this over with. It won't be pleasant, but it won't be hazardous to our health. . . I hope.
Yuuki let out a huff of incredulity at his laughter. There was nothing remotely funny about this! She was mortified! Her father knew that she was having sex and the other half of the couple though this was funny. Kaname took a deep breath and grabbed her hand, pulling her into the room the headmaster was waiting in. For a moment, she thought about resisting him, but realized that they were going to have to have this conversation sooner or later.
"Hi daddy," she said nervously, knowing that he had always wanted her to call him that and hoping to get on his good side by doing it.
"Don't you 'daddy' me, Yuuki," he replied. He knew what she was trying to do and it wasn't going to work. "Do you know what I heard today?"
Yuuki shook her head emphatically while Kaname attempted to keep his face neutral, but raised an eyebrow in curiosity as he said, "No headmaster, we don't know what you heard. What was it?"
"Really?" Kaien asked willing to play along for now if they wanted to play innocent. "Would it surprise you to learn that things of a carnal nature have been occurring in this house?"
"A carnal nature? Really?" Kaname asked his voice both polite and disinterested. Yuuki had no idea how he could act so cool, she felt like her heart was about to pound out of her chest.
"Yes, and perpetrated by two vampires who should really set a better example than premarital sex," Kaien continued.
"Well that is detrimental then," Kaname replied. "Have you considered talking to those vampires?"
Kaien saw that Kaname was not going to admit to anything without him saying it directly first, though the look on Yuuki's face was enough to tell him that Zero had been telling the truth and not just speculating. "Well, I would," Kaien said as though considering it, "but I'm not entirely sure how to tell two pureblooded vampires that they are behaving like rabbits during mating season."
"Rabbits have a mating season?" Yuuki asked, her curiosity overweighing her guilt.
"That's not the point," Kaien continued. "While I understand that this was inevitable—given the sexual attraction that has been simmering between the two of you for years—I just hope that you made the decision to do so for the right reasons. And that you were at least safe about it."
Yuuki rubbed her eyes, she wasn't sure what she had been expecting when Kaien said he wanted to talk, but she hadn't been expecting this! It was bad enough that he knew that she and Kaname were having sex, but wanting to discuss sexual tension and safe sex with them . . . it almost made her wish that Rido or Sara had killed her . . . or that some kind of distraction would come soon, even if it was a mortar from the sky, since that would be far less embarrassing. She felt a blush creep up her face; she really didn't want to be there right then.
Once again, however, Kaname's reaction was completely inappropriate: he started laughing, again. She glared at him wondering what the hell was up with him today. Kaien seemed to agree with her because he frowned at Kaname.
"What's so funny?" he asked, wondering how on Earth Kaname had found anything even remotely humorous about this conversation.
"I'm sorry," Kaname said between laughs. "It is just that cautioning us about safe sex is such a human thing to do. " Seeing the confusion on both Kaien and Yuuki's faces, Kaname continued, "Both of the reasons for practicing safe sex are moot in vampires. There are no known vampiric venereal diseases, and there are no 'accidents'. For a vampiric conception to occur, both parties have to enter into sexual relations with the intent of creating a child, there are no surprises. This is also one of the reasons vampire numbers are falling. If you live forever, and can plan when you want children, why not wait?"
As she processed his words, Yuuki felt her body go numb. Why hadn't it occurred to her before? Despite all his apparent innocence in sexual knowledge, she was not his first. There was no way that she was. He was the Kuran ancestor which meant that he must have had sex at least once with at least one other woman or there would be no Kurans. She really couldn't fault him for it, since it had been more than a lifetime ago and since if it hadn't happened she wouldn't be here at all, but it still hurt a little. Despite what she had come to think there was no way that they could ever really be equals. He had already lived more than one lifetime and she was still a child. She felt tears begin, but refused to let them fall. This was neither the time nor the place.
Kaname sensed the change in her mood and wondered what had caused it, but she was refusing to look at him, not that he could have figured it out if she would have been looking at him. It wasn't like he could read minds. Instead he focused his attention on Kaien who seemed to be having difficulty processing the information Kaname had just given him.
Finally he seemed to recover. "Be that as it may," Kaien said slowly. "It is still irresponsible. Your people are at war this is not the appropriate time for that."
"I respectfully disagree," Kaname said. "This is the perfect time for that. We are at war. None of us is promised a tomorrow, why should we not indulge today?"
Kaien though about Kaname's words for a moment, before he laughed a little and said, "I suppose I am being a foolish old man. I'm trying to treat you both like children when both of you have seen and done things that no children should. It's just that that's how I see both of you. I have watched you both grow and it's hard for me to remember that you are adults now. And monarchs at that. I will try to remember that, as long as you all try to keep you indiscretions discrete."
Kaname nodded in agreement of the terms before he felt mischief rise in him and said, "I thought we had been keeping them discrete. How did you find out?"
Kaien briefly considered telling them the truth but decided that it was not in the best interest of either him or Zero. "I have my ways," Kaien finally said with a small smile. Kaname returned his smile feeling like that was something more like what he would generally say than Kaien. And was about to say something along that line when Seiren entered the room.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," she told them. "But the nobles have begun to arrive. I have led them to the large auditorium, but I can take them somewhere else if that displeases you, Kaname-sama."
"No, Seiren," Kaname said. "The auditorium is perfect. We will prepare for the meeting and join you there when more have arrived. I only want to explain this once."
She gave him a shallow bow and left the room, with the intent of continuing to escort the rest of the nobles as they arrived. She was opening the main door to exit the building when she almost ran in Zero who was attempting enter.
"I'm sorry," he said backing up to let her leave.
"For almost running me over or for earlier?" she asked a little surprised at the acidity in her tone.
"Both," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. She swallowed at the intensity in his violet eyes. There was so much emotion present there that it hurt her to see it.
Despite what she had originally thought about making him squirm a bit before she accepted his apology, she couldn't go through with it. "It's ok," she said. "I understand why you did both things. I don't necessarily like why you treated me the way you did earlier, but I do understand . . . or at least I think I do. You and I need to sit down and talk about it before you are completely forgiven."
Zero felt himself begin to sweat a little at her last words. She wanted to talk about what was bothering him. He wasn't comfortable talking about it . . . but he supposed if that was what it took to keep her happy he would try. "I'll try," was what he finally managed to say when it was clear that she was expecting an answer.
"That's good enough for now," she smiled. "I have some things I need to take care of right now, but I will see you later," she said before giving him a quick hug and running off before he could even return it.
Once he got over his initial shock, he his head gently to clear it before he turned to the still open door and walked in, a contented smile on his face. He didn't have long to stay content since the sight that greeted him was enough to ruin anyone's good mood. Kaname, Kaien and Yuuki were in the same room. Yuuki's face was covered in a blush. This was bad.
"Hi Zero," Yuuki greeted him with a smile. "What were you and Seiren arguing about?"
He wanted to tell her that it was none of her business, but was unsure what the headmaster had told them about how he had found out about their relationship and had no desire to irk an already potentially pissed off pureblood, which is what he would be doing to Kaname if he insulted Yuuki that way. So instead he told her, "I said some mean things to her earlier because I was angry and I just apologized."
He saw her face light up and sensed that there was an "awww" coming, but he warned her with a glace that he would not appreciate it. He saw her face work in concentration as she forcibly resisted the urge to do it. What he didn't see, however, was the headmaster's ecstatic expression. In fact, he was so focused on repressing Yuuki's reaction that he failed to dodge the headmaster's hug.
Once he had Zero in his clutches he exclaimed, "My little Zero is finally growing up!"
"Don't patronize me!" Zero shouted as he freed himself from the headmaster's grasp. "I've been grown for a while now."
"Physically maybe," Yuuki added under her breath, forgetting that Zero had vampire hearing too.
"At least I did mature physically," Zero replied choosing something that he knew bothered her since all the men in her life were head and shoulders taller than her.
"I would prefer to look like a child that to act like one," she retorted, sticking her tongue out at him.
"Yeah," he scoffed, "'cause that's not childish at all."
She glared at him in response and was about to launch herself at him when Kaname grabbed her wrist and pulled her back against his chest. "Don't worry," he whispered just loud enough that he knew Zero would hear and the headmaster wouldn't. "He doesn't know what he's talking about. There is nothing childish about your body." He watched Zero's face as he said the last part, knowing that it still bothered the silver-haired young man that he was in a position to know that.
"That's it," Zero said disgust written across his features. "I'm out of here before anything more disturbing happens."
"Why?" Kaien asked genuinely confused. "What happened?"
"Trust me," Zero replied as he walked out the door. "You don't want to know."
Kaien looked at Kaname and Yuuki who both shrugged innocently before he said, "I'm going to go see if Seiren needs any help setting everything up. I will see you two there" before he followed Zero out the door.
"We have about an hour until the meeting is supposed to start," Kaname said raising an eyebrow at Yuuki. "What should we do to pass the time?"
"I'm sure you have an idea or you wouldn't have asked," she replied with a laugh. She would ask him about what she had realized earlier, but it still wasn't the time. "What would you like to do?"
"Let's go over to the moon dorm, and I'll show you," he said with a sly smile. Even though she wasn't sure why she needed to go to the moon dorm for him to show her what he wanted to do, she agreed and they too left the headmaster's house.
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A half an hour later, Yuuki was glaring at Kaname across the checkered board between them. Even though he had let her go first, she was down to two pieces while he still had almost all of his. All she had managed to capture had been his stupid knight. Why did I agree to play with him? She wondered bitterly. I hate this game.
Kaname, however, was unfazed by both her glare and the frustration radiating off her. Even though she was going to lose, she had shown some skill. He just had more experience and was able to trap her in such a way that she had to choose which pieces she wanted to lose. If he could get her to continue playing, she could be good. He was trying to decide if he wanted to end the game quickly or play a little before he finally beat her, when a frustrated growl from Yuuki decided it for him. If he ever wanted her to play again, he needed to end this quickly. A few turns later, he finally had her where he wanted her.
"Check mate," he said with a small smile.
"Oh thank god it's over!" Yuuki said pushing her chair away from the table and moving away from it like it was a snake about to bite her and not a chess board.
"Do you really hate it that much?" Kaname asked in a quiet voice. He hated to think that he had made her do something that she despised just to satisfy his own curiosity at her skills.
Catching his tone, she replied, "I don't hate it . . . exactly . . . but it will never be one of my favorite things to do. But I will do it because you enjoy it. And you deserve to be happy too. A little bit of . . . frustration is worth it for you to be happy."
"Then I thank you in advance for your future sacrifices," He replied with a smirk. "For I greatly enjoy chess."
She fought back a groan at his statement and took his hand to lead him back to the headmaster's house. "Come on," she said. "I need to change clothes before the meeting. Can't be presented to nobles in jeans and a t-shirt."
"Give me a moment," Kaname said, gently removing his hand from hers. "I need to change as well, and most of my clothing is still here." He walked to the closet and selected an outfit. He briefly entertained the idea of stepping into the bathroom to change, but decided that he could just change where he was.
Yuuki was a little surprised when Kaname started removing clothing in the middle of the room, but she wasn't disappointed. Not long ago the idea of seeing him naked, even partially, would have caused her to run from the room in embarrassment, but now she was used to it. Or perhaps not used to it, since she still felt a thrill go through her at the sight of his perfect skin, but she was now comfortable with the idea . . . most of the time. Her reaction earlier still shocked and upset her, but he didn't seem to be mad. In fact, he was almost too patient with her. It was almost like he thought she was incapable doing anything wrong. It frustrated her. If he thought that she was perfect, it meant that he wasn't seeing the real her.
She recognized that he had flaws. And there were things about him that drove her a little nuts, like his ability to be cruel to others, but she understood that he tended to have reasons for his cruelty—most of which revolved around her lately. She also realized that he tended to get melancholy, and that he could be aloof. But he could also be gentle, kind, mischievous. Even though she saw both sides, the good in him outweighed the bad. But it didn't seem like he saw the bad in her, only the good. She decided that she needed to know.
"Kaname?" she asked. When he turned to face her, she almost lost her nerve but decided that she had to ask. "Tell me one thing about me that frustrates you, irritates you, or pisses you off."
At first he thought she was joking, but he took in her serious expression and realized that she wanted an answer. "Nothing you do causes any of those reactions in me," he replied, thinking that was what she wanted to hear. When her expression darkened he knew that he had given her the wrong answer.
"Really?" she asked angrily, starting to tear up. He moved towards her unsure what had upset her, but wanting to comfort her all the same. She knocked his arm away and moved to sit by the window.
"Why are you mad?" Kaname asked, confused at her mood swing.
"Wouldn't you be?" she shot back.
"If you told me that less than a month into a relationship that nothing I did pissed you off? No," he replied exasperatedly.
"That's not what you just did," she spat, frustration creeping into her voice.
"Then what did I do?" he growled, frustration getting the better of him too.
"You aren't' really seeing me," she replied. "All you see is the perfect little girl you want to see."
"What are you talking about?" he asked. "Of course I see you. What makes you think otherwise?"
"You have never been mad at me," she said simply. "Not once in all the time that we have known one another. Not really. Yes, I've hurt your feelings, but you have never actually been mad, even when you had reason to be. I have attacked you, and you just acted like nothing happened."
"Wait," he said slowly. "Let me see if I understand. You're mad at me because I'm not mad at you?"
"Don't say that like I'm insane!" she snapped. "If anyone here is insane it would be you. Any sane person would be pissed off at someone who attacked them for no good reason, let alone someone who did it twice!"
"So you're mad at me because I wasn't upset when you unconsciously attacked me while trying to protect yourself during a fight and because I wasn't angry when you attacked me a little bit ago. That makes perfect sense," he said. She almost smiled as he admitted that her argument had logic. "Why wasn't I angry that the girl who was in fear of her life and had no control of her powers drew blood? Or that the woman who had been raped recently reacted badly when sex got rough and lashed out?"
T hey both flinched as he said that. Even though they both knew what had happened, it was just one of those things that they didn't discuss. And to have him say it so bluntly in the middle of an argument was difficult for both of them, but he continued on, at this point he had a point to prove and delicacy was not going to get it accomplished.
"You're right," he told her, sarcasm dripping from every word, "I should have been livid! I should have yelled at you and told you that you needed to get yourself under control and learn to handle your issues. Is that what you would have wanted?"
"No," she said in a quiet voice.
"I didn't think so," he said a bit more gently. "What would me being angry with you have accomplished? You didn't mean to do it, and you were so upset that you had . . . there was no way I could be angry with you when you were already so angry with yourself."
"I suppose that is one thing about you that does annoy me a little," he continued. "You think you need to be strong and perfect and prove to everyone—including yourself—that you deserve to be with me. You seem to think that being bothered by the traumatic things you have gone through makes you weak, it doesn't. It makes you alive. You don't need to be perfect. You just need to be you."
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "It was stupid of me to pick a fight with you about the fact that we are not fighting."
"It's ok," he said with a laugh, hoping that he wasn't about to get yelled at again. "I understand why you did." He saw her glare and started talking again before she could open her mouth, "But you are right, it was not the most intelligent thing you have ever done. If you are done fighting with me, may I finish dressing so that you can change as well?"
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Seiren watched the expressions on the other nobles' faces as they waited for Kaname and Yuuki to arrive. There was a fairly even mix of worry and curiosity. It had been ages since purebloods had called a convention of nobles. They knew that something big must have happened. She sensed it when another vampire moved into the space next to her, but didn't turn to acknowledge their presence
"Why did they call us here?" she heard the other vampire ask.
"You'll just have to wait to find out with everyone else," she replied, her voice cool and reserved.
"But you know, don't you?" her mother asked. "You know what they want to tell us, right?"
Seiren sighed. "Yes, mother, I do know," she finally said. "But I won't tell you. They will be here soon and tell everyone."
"Just tell me one thing," her mother begged, moving in front of Seiren so she was looking into her eyes. "Is what they want to tell us bad news?" When Seiren looked away, her mother knew the answer before her daughter said anything. The pain of the truth had been there in her eyes.
"How bad is bad?" Her mother breathed.
"Apocalyptic," Seiren replied in a voice that was barely above a whisper.
Neither woman had a chance to comment further since right at that moment Kaname and Yuuki made their grand appearance. Seiren expected her mother to return to her seat in the audience, but instead she remained where she was.
Once the purebloods had entered the auditorium, all the quiet murmuring that had permeated the crowd came to an abrupt halt. The nobles that had witnessed the battle between Sara and the Kurans were relieved to see Yuuki alive and well. The ones that hadn't were looking around curiously to see if anyone else knew who the young woman was.
Kaname surveyed the assembled crowd taking in the varying expressions, then began speaking in a voice that was slightly louder than the one he regularly used, but still even and controlled. "I know you are all wondering why we have called you here," he began. "There are two main reasons for your assembly here. For the first, I will have to beg the indulgence of some here and reiterate a few things so we are all on the same page."
"The first thing I would like to do is present to you my sister, and fiancée, Yuuki Kuran." At his words, Yuuki stepped forward and gave a small nod to the audience with what she hoped was a reassuring smile. She was pleased to see that most of the nobles she had already seen returned her smile. However, she was disappointed that—much like the first time—Kaname's announcement was met with murmuring. The snatches of conversation she caught were things like "…didn't have a daughter" and "…would've known about another pureblood." Knowing that there would be no end anytime soon if no one did anything Yuuki reacted.
"If any of you wish to debate my claim," she said, her voice cutting through the murmurs easily, "I welcome you inquiries. After we have finished the meeting. If you still feel it is a valid use of both your and my time, that is."
Her quiet but firm voice unnerved the nobles and while many of them would have liked to see her proof, her manner as she promised it scared them and none planned to ask for it. They didn't really need it anyway. They could sense that she was a pureblood, and she bore many of the Kuran family traits, including those strange wine-colored eyes. Besides, curiosity wasn't worth dying for, which was a real possibility when dealing with a slighted pureblood.
Kaname smiled at Yuuki's words. He hadn't told her to say that, but he was glad that she had. It was a way for her to earn the fear of the nobles who she didn't already have the respect of. He approved, though he suspected that she wasn't extremely concerned of what he approved of at the moment.
He gave her words a moment to sink in, then he continued. "The second thing we need to disclose is of a less pleasant nature than the discovery of another pureblood." He paused again because even though he had planned out his speech, he wasn't sure of the best way to say this and had a couple of versions. Finally, with a sigh he began speaking again.
"I wish there was an easier way to say this," he said slowly. "Or even that there was no need to say this. As of this morning, the hunters have dissolved the truce between us. We are at war with them. They seek to destroy all vampires, not just level E or problem vampires. Peace negotiations will not be successful. We must prepare for battle."
Silence followed his words for a few short moments, then chaos broke loose. Everyone was attempting to ask questions over one another and no one could be heard, so they then tried to talk louder than their neighbor. Soon the amount of sound bouncing around the room was deafening and Yuuki felt her hands instinctively rise to cover her ears against the onslaught.
Kaname, however, simply raised his hands for quiet and waited as the nobles quit talking before he continued. "We will answer your questions now, as long as you continue to ask them in a civilized manner. This means one at a time," he said.
A blonde noble in the back of the room stood and waited for Kaname to nod to him before he asked, "How did you acquire this information and are you certain that it is accurate?"
Though everything in him rebelled against revealing his sources, he knew that this time he was going to have to. "The information came from three friends of mine and Yuuki's who are members of the hunter's association. I am certain that they were accurate and truthful." Again the room hummed with conversation at his words. The purebloods were friends with hunters? The idea was unthinkable, but that was what he had said. And why would he lie about something as strange as that?
"Friends?" Zero scoffed in Seiren's ear, causing her to jump. She hadn't heard him come up. "Since when are he and I friends? Unless that word means something different to vampires."
"Maybe he was referring to your relationship to Yuuki," she suggested a wry smile on her face. "Though how he can consider Yagari either of their friends is beyond me."
"Seiren!" her mother criticized. "You know better than to question purebloods!" Seiren had forgotten that her mother was still there and chose to ignore her outburst since it didn't require or deserve a response. Since she had been spending more time with Zero and Yuuki she had learned that purebloods were not that much different from the rest of them.
Another noble had stood and this time it was Yuuki that acknowledged him. "Why would they do this? The treaty is mutually beneficial and has stood for longer than I can remember. Why would they dissolve it?"
Yuuki bit her lip before she answered. "They feel that we are weak at the moment and now is the best time to destroy us forever. With us gone there is no need for a mutually beneficial treaty."
"Why do they think we're weak?" the same vampire demanded. "Nothing has changed."
"Yes, it has," Aidou senior replied exasperatedly. He had been afraid that something like this would happen and that's why they had attempted to establish new leadership. "The senate is no more."
"You mean it was dissolved?" a female noble asked. "On who's authority?"
"Well," Kaname said with a cruel smile on his face. "I suppose you could say they were dissolved." Yuuki felt her stomach tie itself into knots at his tone. It was so cold and callous. "After they made a move of aggression towards my sister and me, I destroyed them."
This time there was no pause before pandemonium swept the auditorium. This time, Kaname was unable to get the nobles to calm down. Their lack of fear in some of the things they said impressed Yuuki and gave her hope that someday they could have a class-free society. But for now there were more important things that still needed to be discussed. Since they showed no signs of stopping on their own, Yuuki closed her eyes and felt for her magic before she stepped forward and released it.
Suddenly the auditorium was silent. The nobles' mouths were still moving, but no sound was coming out. Seiren and Zero exchanged a look, neither of them had known that she had that kind of power. Neither did the nobles because they suddenly turned to look at her in fear. Even Kaname was a little surprised, while he knew that it was possible, he had not taught her how to do that yet.
"I'm sorry I had to do that," she said her regret present in her voice. "But there are still many things that we need to talk about. I know that you have learned many shocking things tonight, my existence being one of them. I understand that it is hard to take in, especially all at once and if there was any other way, we would not be doing it this way. While things have not worked out how any of us would have planned, we have to work with what we can. Though none of us, myself included, want to fight in this war, we must."
One of the men stood and raised his hand. Yuuki looked around and saw that the nobles had settled down so she released the spell as she nodded to the man. "Yuuki-sama," he began. "If you don't want to fight, surely you can resolve this conflict in a peaceful manner."
"well . . . I'm afraid I don't know your name," she said.
"Toya, Yuuki-sama, Ryo Toya," he replied, somewhat flattered that she would care to learn his name.
"Ah," she smiled. "Well, Toya-san, if that were a possibility, I would have already done it and not worried any of you with this. But I'm afraid that it is not. They refused to see reason from three of their own and declared them enemies of the association. There is no way that they will negotiate with a pureblood vampire, and to send anyone else would be suicide. I could not ask that of anyone."
"But, Yuuki-sama," a vampire woman with a toddler asleep in her lap asked suddenly, "surely fighting isn't the only way. Perhaps if we show no aggression they will leave us in peace."
Yuuki shook her head sadly. "They are ready to carry out genocide," Yuuki replied her eyes soft. "And they are used to killing and following orders. If they were ordered to, though they might hesitate, they would kill both you and the child in your arms."
Zero stiffened at the accusation that hunters could kill innocent women and children, but then he though back to how he had been before Yuuki and Seiren. If it had been ordered of him, he would have killed any vampires he thought he could get away with killing. He had been prepared to kill that Level E boy. Maybe Yuuki wasn't as wrong as he thought she was.
"If they are so efficient we stand no chance," Ruka's father said suddenly.
"I'm afraid you are mistaken," Kaname said, breaking into the conversation. "We have set up a couple of training sites here on the academy. Yuuki and I will work with any of you that are more comfortable wielding magic. Seiren and Zero Kiryu will train any who wish to learn more physical means of combat. And though I haven't spoken to them about it, I believe that Kaien Cross and Takuma will be willing to teach anyone who would like to learn and can procure a weapon how to use a sword."
"Of course," Takuma replied with his warm smile. Kaien only nodded. He had no desire to use a sword, but teaching others how to protect themselves seemed like a good use for his talents.
Kaname nodded and then turned back to the nobles. "None of you are obligated to fight, but bear in mind that even if you are not fighting, it doesn't mean that they will not kill you. You are welcome to return to your homes and hope they do not find you, or you are welcome to fight with us."
"We will understand if you need time to think it over," Yuuki added, her smile gentle and her eyes kind. The nobles felt drawn to her in the same sort of way that most purebloods pushed them away. There was just something about her. "You are also free to leave the academy to contact your friends and loved ones to inform them. In fact, I would ask that if you feel comfortable leaving you do so and spread the word to as many as possible and send them here as well. In an hour any of you that either don't need to or don't want to leave can begin training. This will give you time to decide if you want to fight, and if so how you want to fight. "
"For now, unless you have any other questions, we will leave and allow you to begin making decisions," Yuuki finished. She and Kaname waited a minute and then headed towards the door.
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See, I warned you it was massive. But there just didn't seem to be a good place to cut it, and I really wanted to get the conversation with the nobles out of the way. So what did you think? Was it too much, too little? Let me know if you have time.
I want to say thank you to everyone who favorited or put this story on alert.
Maeko11: Thank you so much! That is what I was aiming for but sometimes I worry that I have too much emotion shown by characters and it gets boring.
ChocoVanille: Thank you! I agree with you, I don't think I would handle any of the things she has been through well by themselves, but all at once. . . she's dealing better than I think I would.
Sofia Dragansti: I'm glad you found it interesting :)
Avenging Neko: Yep . . . poor Zero. I think we've all had those moments though. And even though he's not forgiven, per se, he is on the road to forgiveness. I still haven't decided if Yuuki will ever find out that he was the one that narked her out to Kaien. . . could be interesting. . . And I agree, poor Yuuki. I really feel a little sorry for some of the things that I do to her, and that was one of them. But the kind of things that she has been through don't just disappear and Kaname's hair really didn't help matters :/ . And I'm glad it makes you happy to see updates. It makes me happy to see reviews so I guess we make each other happy.
As always, thank you for reading,
Stickdonkeys