Sayounara to Okaeri

When driving vampire souls out of or into something or someone there was always a special ritual needed. So they were now on their way to the gravesite of the ancestor Kuran to carry said ritual out.

Yuuki was really grateful that her grandfather was voluntarily willing to leave Kaname's body. That had not been to be expected. However he understood Yuuki well that she wished her brother back the way she had know him ten years ago as a small child.

The gravesite was not in the same area as the academy was. However being the president of the council it was a piece of cake for Kaname to order a car and a driver making the journey much more comfortable.

Yuuki didn't know anything about the ritual. She was all excited that she would soon be reunited with her true brother and kept asking about how everything would work out. Kaname didn't intend to tell her as he knew he would only make her worry by doing it. He just said "You'll see."

Their destination was hidden in a dark cave. Kaname used his powers to create some light. A small flame appeared on his palm. They started walking through the cave. Kaname lead them to wherever it was they were heading for.

"Um, why is Ojii-sama's grave so carefully hidden away?" Yuuki asked. Somehow the location and the dark atmosphere around them made her shiver.

"Because Ojii-sama is on top of all Kuran vampires and other vampires. He has many enemies who would like to take his place. He chose this cave to hide his body so no one could harm it," Kaname explained. "Mind the steps."

Yuuki and Zero exchanged looks while they were going downstairs. Where would this lead them to? They continued walking and ended up in a large vault. Yuuki felt Kaname leave her side and watched him through the darkness, which was possible thanks to her vampire eyes, picking some candles up from the ground, lighting them and placing them telekinetically all over the room. Now it would be even bright even enough for humans.

Yuuki and Zero looked around. There wasn't many things in here. Apart from the candles there was only a long coffin in the middle of the room. It was closed. Kaname had strolled towards it.

"Come closer," he instructed them. Slowly they did, eying the coffin suspiciously. Yuuki's face made Kaname laugh. "Don't tell me you're scared."

"It's spooky somehow," she defended herself quietly.

"What's gonna happen now?" Zero inquired.

"The ritual," answered Kaname and opened the coffin, revealing ancestor Kuran's body. "Voila, that's him." The ancestor of Kuran was really old. You could tell from his white hair and lots of wrinkles in his skin. Though he had been dead for many years there was no sign of decay. Actually there was almost nothing that indicated his death, aside from the missing breathing. Still he looked like he was just sleeping.

"Thanks to our vampire powers that do not fade with our death we still don't age faster even in death," Kaname let them know.

So this was him. The body belonging to the soul that had rested within Yuuki's brother's body for ten years. It suits his character, she thought to herself.

"Yuuki," Kaname now said. "I would like you to close your eyes. This is going to be nasty."

"Nasty? Why?" Yuuki asked and startled when Kaname drew a dragger. At once Zero's hand were covering her eyes. "Zero, let go!" she protested.

"Listen to your brother, Yuuki. You shouldn't watch this," he told her.

"But I want to," she insisted and pushed his hands away so she could see. One second later she wished she hadn't.

Kaname took the dagger and stabbed his hand, making Yuuki startle once more. Blood was flooding out of the back of his hand. Kaname put the dagger away again and held his injured hand over the ancestor's open mouth. The blood fell into his mouth. Yuuki watched all this in awe. This was clearly not what she had expected but neither had she had any expectations because of the lack of knowledge and experience. Then when she thought to be on the safe side the next thing happened, giving her the shock of her life. After feeding the ancestor with blood Kaname suddenly collapsed onto the ground. Yuuki shrieked.

"Onii-sama! Onii-sama!" She dropped down onto the ground beside him and started to shove him roughly, trying to wake him up. "Onii-sama, please say something! Wake up!"

"Don't worry," a for her well-known voice attempted to soothe her. "He'll be fine."

Attracted by the voice Yuuki stood up again and looked at the man staring at her from inside the coffin. The ancestor of Kuran had revived again.

"Ojii-sama?" Yuuki asked carefully.

"Nice to meet you, Yuuki, " he said. "And you too, Zero, of course."

Zero was still eying him suspiciously.

"What happened to Kaname-onii-sama?" Yuuki demanded frightened.

"He's just unconscious. This is what happens when you were possessed by another soul for quite a long time. He'll wake up soon," Kuran told them. "But while he's still somewhere very far away I would like you, Zero, to do me a favor."

"A favor?" Zero repeated not sure how to react. "What kind of favor?"

"I would like you to shoot me with your Bloody Rose."

"What?!"

That was Yuuki who was freaked out. "Are you out of your mind?!"

"No, I suppose, my mind has never been more aware of everything," replied Kuran.

"But why? You just got your body back. Why throw it all away?" Zero wanted to know.

"Because I'm in the interest of too many. Not only Rido but many else tried to reach their goals with me and my body without me being able to do something about it," Kuran stated. "I want it to end. I don't want to give anybody the chance to ever resurrect me again."

"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you but this is not gonna happen. Right, Zero?" Yuuki turned to her boyfriend. He was silent. "Zero! You're not gonna do this, are you?!"

"Yuuki–" he began but Yuuki cut him short.

"No. I'm not gonna let this happen. I won't help you to commit suicide and I won't let you help him, Zero!"

"Look, Yuuki, he has a reason for doing it that I for my share can comprehend very well. That's why I don't see any point in not fulfilling his last will," Zero said, drew the Blood Rose and released the safety catch.

He was not kidding. He was going to kill her grandfather. She couldn't let this happen. Just when he was pulling the trigger she tried to protect Kuran. Yet her plan failed. Suddenly something grabbed her leg and pulled it, jerking her to the ground. Zero who had seen who had done it pulled the trigger. Unable to prevent it Yuuki heard the loud noise of the shot. Depressed of he failure she started to wonder why she had fallen. She looked around to find Kaname lying beside her, smile at her, his hand still on her leg.

"Onii-sama," Yuuki breathed.

Zero hadn't missed her fall of course. He quickly locked his gun and put it away before helping Yuuki to get up.

"Yuuki, are you alright?"

"Yes, I am, I guess," she said and helped her brother up.

Once he stood she jumped at him, throwing her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. "Onii-sama, welcome back!"

Smiling Kaname embraced her and held her close. "I'm glad I am, nee-chan," he grinned down at her.

While he watched the siblings celebrating Kaname's return Zero felt the urge to say something.

"Nice to meet you, Kuran Kaname," he said.

Kaname looked at him for a moment before replying. "Same for you, Kiryuu Zero."

Happy that there was no tense between them anymore Yuuki turned to Zero to hug him to.

"That was the first and equally last time I let you kill a good vampire," she said, looking into the now empty coffin in front of them.

"Rest in peace, Ojii-sama," Kaname said.

"Yes, rest in peace," Yuuki agreed, closed her eyes and started to pray for their grandfather.

Well, this was the last chapter of Vampire Knight Stories II - The World has changed which will be followed by an epilogue soon. Hope you enjoyed.