Purity

His Clover

"Rido, Haruka and I…"

In retrospect, Rido supposed it was those four words that'd started everything. Everything that'd happened, happened after those words. He did feel quite ridiculous now, for overreacting during that time, but Haruka and Juri were all he had, all he tried to have, and for them to finally pin the nail, to leave him behind, had been unbearable.

But what could he have done? He couldn't throw a tantrum and expect them to heed to his needs and wants at the drop of a hat. And he'd already known his two younger siblings shared something he'd never have or will have with anyone, much less them. It'd always been Rido, then Haruka and Juri. He'd always been apart from them, whether that was physically or emotionally didn't matter; it was all the same. He hadn't felt the connection his siblings felt and had.

He'd never be included in the world that was Haruka and Juri.

And not so soon after they'd decided to further explore that connection, they came to him again with four more words that changed their lives,

"We're having a child."

A boy, apparently. Juri was convinced while Haruka wanted to wait and be surprised. He wouldn't have minded whether it was a boy or girl. Rido knew Haruka would make a good father. Juri too, would make a wonderful mother.

So he'd pasted on his crooked cynical smirk and responded as he always did, "Well, it's about damn time, I'm surprised it took so long with you two mooning at each other as you did."

As expected, they'd immediately gotten flustered, turning all sorts of red, pouting and stammering at their older brother's teasing remark.

They were adorable, he could now admit.

"We're naming him after grandfather," Juri had told him, her eyes glowing.

"If it's a boy," Haruka added on, his smile never leaving his lips. "I prefer Yuuki if it's a girl."

"That old geezer? You sure you want that hanging over your kid?"

Again, they made their adorable protestations, trying to protect their deceased grandfather's honor as it once again got shredded to minuscule pieces by his ever-growing verbal abuse.

"Yeah, yeah…" He'd stuck his pinky into his ear, easily tuning out their words.

"Rido, no, Nii-sama, thank you." Juri's smile had been beautiful then.

"You have my thanks as well, Nii-san." As was Haruka's.

The two had been so happy, even as they grew further away from him and started their own family. It was the only reason he'd supported them as he did.

The emptiness in his heart growing ever wider, he'd pasted on that trademark smirk of his and left with a lazy wave of his hand over his shoulder.

He'd traveled down into town afterwards, for once not minding all the surrounding humans, wandering at a leisurely pace, not looking for anything in particular. He supposed he'd been deeply lost in thought, not sensing the nearing presence behind him until it'd let itself known by a delicate hand grasping gently at his elbow.

"Would you like a cup of warm tea?"

The warmth in that smile was none he'd ever had the experience of witnessing, much less having aimed in his direction. For that moment, it was as though he was the only person this man had in his sights, the only person…

That smile was all he needed to know this was one human different from the rest.

"Please, will you?"

It was the first time he'd met Kiryuu Riku.

"I'm not paying," he'd replied suspiciously.

There was warmth in his smile and his laugh had been just as warm, like soothing wind chimes. "Oh, this one's on me. Come inside, hm?"

And so he did.

He'd been of the assumption Riku would be buying a cup for him and was surprised to see him settle behind the counter to make the offered tea himself. This was his store?

Red Clover.

There had been a fair amount of customers hanging around and Rido soon tasted the reason why. Riku's tea was delicious. The best he'd ever had, and he'd had many. When he'd asked what he put in it, Riku only laughed that wonderful laugh again and answered,

"It's just tea."

"My name is Riku. Feel free to come by whenever you like. Just ask for me when you do and you'll never have to pay for your tea."

Finishing the rest of the tea in silence, Rido left the shop with Riku's warm smile at his back. And as he left that day, the hollow emptiness that'd haunted his mind no longer felt so hollow or empty.

It hadn't even been three days since their initial meeting before Rido found himself wandering back into Red Clover.

"Is Riku here?"

A young woman was behind the counter. She looked up at him blankly before sending him a soft smile. "Ah, tall brunet, red eyes, pale skin…you must be him, Riku's wandering visitor?"

Rido hadn't realized he'd failed to give Riku his name until then.

"It's good you're here. He's been waiting for you – quite worried, might I add."

"…Worried?"

"Mm, just give me a second, I'll get him."

Rido smelled him before he saw him, the familiar scent of herbal leaves, flowers, and sugar permeating his senses as the man neared, coming down the stairs. The same smile lit his full lips, his soft lilac eyes gentle.

"You're here."

"Is Riku here?"

"Uh, well…"

"What? Is he—" Rido's nostrils flared when he caught the scent of blood. Riku's blood. Pushing the woman aside, he rushed upstairs, leaving her to blink after him as he blurred in front of her eyes.

Following the trail with his nose to the third door on the right, Rido forced it open and stepped inside. "Riku?" His blood smelled so rich and thick…

"Rido."

"What happened?" His, Riku's, arm was sliced, no, clawed. There were three horizontal lines stretching across and down his forearm. A wet blood soaked hand towel was left discarded beside him.

"Ah, just a bit of trouble and carelessness," the young man smiled.

Rido's eyes narrowed as he saw a sheathed sword by the closet. "That, that's a…"

"It's a hunter weapon, yes," Riku finished, his voice soft.

Riku…Riku was a hunter.

"You, no, Riku, you… Did you…were you planning to…to me?" Had Riku befriended him with only murder on his mind? Those warm smiles, the gentleness of his eyes, his laughter…were they all just a way for him, for Rido, to wear his guard down so Riku could administer the finishing blow without fuss?

Had Riku approached him knowing he was a pureblood?

"What?" Riku shook his head, his lilac eyes wide. "No! No, Rido, never! Not you, never you."

"Then, then why?"

"Why what? Rido, please sit."

"I'd rather stand for now."

Riku lowered his eyes. "I see."

"I don't see anything. Why did you offer me tea that day? Why do you still let me come here knowing what I am?" He demanded. Riku's actions were contradictory, confusing at the least. What other reason could a hunter have in getting close to a vampire other than to kill them?

"Why? Because I felt you needed it, Rido. I'm not a hunter because I hate vampires. It'd be hypocritical of me, being what I am."

"You're not a vampire."

"No, I'm not."

"Then—"

"Please, Rido, sit?" He patted the space beside him. "Sit by me?"

Sit by him? In the six weeks that he'd known him, Rido had never sat directly next to Riku, the young man always standing behind a counter during his visits.

"Why?" He asked before he could get control of his mouth.

Riku sent him an irresistibly vulnerable smile, "Would it be too much to ask if I could borrow your shoulder for a while?" He raised his injured arm, "I promise to explain everything."

Well, he had wanted to know. But first,

"Wrap up your arm, Riku. Tight." Rido was still a vampire.

"Your nephew?"

"Yeah, the kid is all they talk about. Gives me a damn headache." He clasped his hands and tilted his head, blinking rapidly, turning up his voice to a ridiculous falsetto, "Oh, Nii-sama, did you know today, Kaname just blah, blah, blabbity-blah!"

Riku laughed softly as he placed the cup of tea in front of the pureblood. "It's their first child right? They're bound to be excited."

"It's been – well I don't know how long it's been since he came out, but it's been a damn while. They can pipe down already," Rido groused. They reminded him of when they were still brats, jumping around on a blood-high. Thank god their kid was pretty quiet, mostly keeping to himself. Well, except for one thing,

"I think he's in love with my pants."

Riku gave him a long stare. "…Your pants."

"Mm," Rido nodded, "my pants. He sticks himself to it whenever I come by, I shit you not. Trying to get him off is a pain in the ass since he starts tearing up as if the world just ended and those two think it's the most hilarious thing…"

"Can't it just mean Kaname-kun likes his uncle?"

"What?" Rido looked so horrified, Riku couldn't help the laughter that'd spilled out of his mouth.

That kid…liking him? Oh hell no. Not happening. He hated brats.

Basking in Riku's warm laughter, Rido took a small sip of his tea.

"Is the idea of a child taking a liking to you so terrifying?"

"I hate them, so annoying. And if he does, if, mind you, then Haru and Juri will make me spend more time with him." Of course, he could just refuse and not go, but…

A delicate hand came to rest on his wrist. "It can't be too bad to spend more time with your family, Rido. I know, with your kind able to live for so long, it may be the least of your concerns, but you never know what may happen tomorrow or the day after. Some people I know would give up everything to spend even a moment with their loved ones, another glimpse of their face, a smile…"

Rido frowned, "Riku?"

"Hm? I'm sorry, just lost in thought."

"About your brother."

"Yes, about Ren."

"You…shouldn't think about things like that." It was the closest he could come to comfort. Soft mushy things – those were his siblings' forte.

Riku seemed to understand, if his smile was anything to go by. "Thank you Rido."

"Right. Now, about the brat and my pants…"

Riku laughed softly. For someone who proclaimed to hate brats, Rido sure talked much about his nephew.

"Rido, really, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing." But of course, it was something.

The council had been getting a bit too comfortable with ordering them around for Rido's liking. Yes, they all revered them as purebloods, but they also hated them for it, for being on a higher level than them on the food chain. The fact that Haruka and Juri were so 'passive' and 'peaceful' just got them further pissed. All of that power…and they did nothing with it but push for coexistence between their race and humans, who the council all considered below them as nothing but their food source.

Rido supposed he would have agreed with them if not for Riku. Riku had changed everything. Rido only fed on noble blood for obvious reasons. But Riku…ever since he'd first scented it in the air, at times, it was all he could think about. And it'd be so easy to just take what he wanted. Riku was so open it wouldn't be hard to take advantage of it and have a taste of that wonderfully rich blood on his tongue.

Mentally frowning, he shook himself from those thoughts. Not good. But blood aside, Riku…was a good human. There. He could admit it. Riku was warm, caring, affectionate, loving, beautiful… Hokay, not good to go there either. Back to the shitty council and their whiney complaints about rules and regulations.

Yeah, rules and regulations his immortal, godly ass. They just wanted the purebloods under their thumbs to do whatever they wanted with them. Since they couldn't physically or mentally overpower them, they just created a system with a cage, all lovely and made of gold. Their blood was 'protected' by the 'law' for fuck's sake. What the hell was up with that? Rido belonged to no one or thing, and if he were to guess, the rest of the purebloods felt the same.

The council might have once been built with a purpose, but obviously, that purpose had long since faded to dust and had been replaced by something else. The old geezers were getting a bit delusional in their greed, thinking they could have one over them. Hah, not likely, Rido snorted to himself. Not if he had anything to say about it.

He hated to come to Red Clover, to Riku feeling like crap, but this was where he came for emotional stability and tranquility, and Riku would never turn him away no matter what mood he came in.

"You don't need to tell me anything specific. Speak in code, I don't care, just speak to me. I don't need to understand it, but you need to get it out."

See?

"Don't need to understand? You asked for it." He smirked. He raised one slender hand flat up, "this is the Rabbits." He raised his other hand in the same way, "this is the Tigers." He lowered and raised them as though mimicking a balance, "the Rabbits hate the Tigers, but they can't kill them so they want to make sure they could at least keep them in line. They make sure the Tigers can only hunt in a certain range and area, keeping track of their food supply. They pretend to like the Tigers, wishing them well, and since there aren't many of them, pushed them to procreate – by suggesting and choosing their mates."

"Wait," Riku interrupted, "I'm sorry for cutting in, but how is it that Rabbits have so much influence over the Tigers? Could the Tigers not just overpower them and live how they like?"

Rido blinked. "You were following?"

Riku sniffed, "Of course, you're trying to tell me what's troubling you. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't listen?"

Friend…? He'd never had something like that. Was that what Riku was? A friend?

"So, Rido, the Rabbits?"

"Ah, right. The Rabbits. They have power in numbers. They're also what the Tigers mainly feed on. No Rabbits equals to no food."

Riku slowly nodded, the smile on his lips sad. "Mm, such a distrustful cycle, these Rabbits and Tigers are living in. Calculative in everything they choose to do… with so much tension and hate tying them together." He leaned over the counter, and brushing a few dark wavy locks out the way, pressed his soft lips against his forehead.

"Purebloods must be sad, angry Tigers," he murmured softly before pulling back.

"Riku, you…"

"It's not terribly hard to figure out, Rido." His smile was brighter this time, more teasing. "But those were some horrible analogies."

"Hey, you asked for code, damn it," Rido playfully scowled. As expected, Riku laughed, the sound working to soothe and calm him, as it always did.

"Riku-san, I think you should come downstairs. Now." Narumi, a recent part-timer at his shop, informed him with a hesitant smile.

"Why? What's – oh my god."

Rido smirked. "So, what do you think?"

What did he think? "Rido, it's, well, it's nice, gorgeous really, I love it, but why?" Not to mention, it was huge. It was a wonder how it fit in his shop, granted, Red Clover did have a fairly high ceiling, but still…

Rido shrugged. "You humans like this stuff right?" When all he got was silence, the pureblood turned a bit uncomfortable. Had he done something completely unwanted and unnecessary? But Riku had just said he liked it right?

A pair of slim arms pushed him to set his heavy load aside so that he was now in clear view of Riku's face. Rido felt his heart grow warm when he saw it was glowing. At him. But that wasn't all, the young man had the most beautiful smile set on his lovely lips and it was all aimed at him.

"Yes, Rido we do. Thank you." It was rare when the pureblood just did something for someone other than himself because he felt like it (other than family, he supposed) and Riku understood and appreciated his efforts.

"Where should I put it?"

"Oh, towards the end, where everyone can enjoy it when they come in. It'll take some time decorating it, it's so tall."

Just then the two males heard a squeal and turned to see Narumi with an excited flush adorably tinting her cheeks. "Riku-san we're keeping it? Can we decorate it? We still have some time before we open right?"

Riku's only answer was to toss her the keys to the storage closet. Bouncing on her toes, Narumi immediately set off, her brown curls dancing behind her.

"If you let me work on it, it won't take long," Rido suggested.

Riku smiled, "taking the time to decorate is what's part of the fun, Rido. Come on." He lightly pulled him closer as Narumi returned with the lights and ornaments, all stuffed neatly in a box.

And fun it was, Rido remembered. Especially when he had to help Riku hang the ornaments on higher parts of the tree. The young shop owner claimed to have more than a few bad experiences with chairs and had tried to reach as far as he could manage on the tips of his toes.

He made a rather adorable picture (he'd nearly tripped over the cords once) until Rido shook his head and went over to lift him by his waist, going as far as to settle him on his shoulder. He caught the blush on the girl, Narumi's cheeks when she saw them, but Riku only smiled softly and thanked him for his help, offering Rido to put up more glittery baubles as he did.

"Maybe I should have gotten a shorter tree," Rido had said teasingly as he made sure the lights weren't tangled. He received a sharp jab in the ribs for the comment and a disgruntled glare.

"You're just very tall, Rido. I'm taller than average and you're still taller." Riku only made it to his nose.

"Mm, details, details. You're still shorter than me, Riku."

"You're a giant Rido, and you know it."

"Haruka isn't much shorter than me you know. Is he a giant too?"

Riku crossed his arms petulantly, "If he's almost as big as you are, then yes. I don't understand how you grow so tall with your diet."

"We're made to be perfect, how am I at fault?"

"Perfection is overrated."

"Then am I?"

"That would be assuming you are perfect, which you aren't, Rido, so you've got nothing to worry about."

"Not…perfect?" Rido put on an exaggeratedly confused expression, as though the concept of imperfection was exceptionally hard for him to grasp.

Riku sent him a wary look. "Don't tell me they all believe that."

"They certainly haven't said otherwise." He shrugged.

"Well that's ridiculously stupid. I don't think you're perfect and from what I've heard of your family, they aren't either."

Rido let out a snort. They definitely weren't.

Still… "This still doesn't make you any taller," he smirked.

Riku refused to make anything other than his least favorite tea after that for the rest of the day.

That was also the last time he'd ever see him. Riku had disappeared without a trace afterwards, leaving the shop in the care of a close friend.

Rido had, of course, searched everywhere for him, but even with his extensive influence, Riku was nowhere to be found and Rido refused to believe he was dead. Something like that just didn't happen to people like Riku. Rido swore he could still feel his presence just thinking about him. Riku was still alive, just not here.

In his occupied mind, he failed to realize what a little distraction could mean for him, especially from the council, and it was only after an attempt on his life came a little too close for comfort that he started to use more caution. He sent out a warning to his brother just in case he needed a heads up. The council was really starting to get the ball rolling.

He'd also hinted getting another kid at a time like this really wasn't the best idea, but it looked like his efforts had gone to waste. Now five years after Riku's disappearance, they were expecting. This time, Haruka was convinced it was a girl.

"Well, girl, boy, whatever it'll be, keep it away from them, will you? I don't need you and Juri to come crying about not being able to protect it." The fruit of their loving union, Kaname and the oncoming baby were also holders of the purest vampire blood to date. There was no way the council wouldn't take measures to do something about it, either to have it for themselves to exploit or to make sure none would get the chance by getting rid of the temptation or possibility.

Rido hated brats, but Kaname was a Kuran as was the still genderless baby, and he'd bring hell on earth before those greedy geezers got their grubby perverted hands on their pure blood or life.

Again, in retrospect, he should've applied the same warnings to himself. He had been more cautious after that assassination attempt, yes, but not quite enough, if what'd happened to him not long after he'd sent that warning to his brother was any indication.

Aww, and he never even got to see the face of whom he now knew was his niece, either. Tragic eh? Well, he'd heard life as a human wasn't all that fair and life as a pureblood vampire certainly didn't come close when it came to those odds.

But even after all that, the only thing he truly regretted was not seeing Riku's face one last time before he ended up this way.

The day he heard of his supposed death…He hadn't known what true despair was until that day. But all was not lost, no.

Riku had left a son.

A young boy of three.

And then it didn't matter what state he himself was in. He had to have that boy. Riku would've wanted Rido to know him, wouldn't he? Rido would get himself back to what he was by any means necessary and he'd take the boy with him, for Riku. Yes, it was all for Riku.

Riku…Riku…I know those bastards killed you and they'll be the first ones I'll be after once I'm well enough to be out of here as myself, no one else. With my own face and body, I'll take the vengeance denied to you and I all these years.

Then and only then would he search for Riku's boy. Then and only then.

Rido had never been very patient, but for Riku, he could endure anything.

"Chihiro, I'm ready."

"Rido-sama, are you truly? It has only been fourteen years…"

"I am well enough to leave this room."

"As you wish." She bowed. Placing a vial by the night table, she softly murmured, "This is the blood required for today."

A slender, scarred hand reached for it, taking off the top and bring it up to chapped lips. "…They don't need to be so young, Chihiro." He commented, referring to the source of the blood.

"I only want the best for you, Rido-sama, and I know you wish to recover as fast as possible."

"Riku…would not have approved."

Smiling softly, Chihiro nodded, "I will then make sure to reconsider." The love her master held for that human man was one of the many facets that endeared him to her. She thought it sweet, that he still thought of him so strongly even after so long.

The news of Ichijou having made his first successful direct offense against Kiryuu Zero hadn't bypassed their ears. Rido had been furious. He knew they wanted Zero for more than just the obvious, but nothing more than that. There was someone giving them orders, someone that'd garnered enough respect for them to follow unquestionably.

Rido suspected it was another pureblood. With Zero being what he was, what other type of vampire could ever hope to gain the maximum amount of power and prestige that came with having the boy at their side?

Zero had unwittingly become the priceless prize for the winner of the vicious chess game ensuing amongst noble class vampires and purebloods. They all wanted him, the former to please whatever pureblood they were working under, and the latter for the sheer purely untainted power they'd receive upon claiming him.

Pureblood vampires were rare, yes, but Rido feared Zero was the only one left of his kind in Japan. The last pureblood Coeur de Sang…that only made him more desirable.

"Kaname, Yuuki, protect him while I cannot," the eldest Kuran vampire to date whispered lowly. They must.

Disclaimer: No own Vampire Knights.

Wow, it's been a while huh? XD This was a bit on Riku's further connection with the Kuran family. Geez, they go a ways back don't they? *counts on fingers*