~Sweet Deception~
By: Aerys Krystie.
A/N: This chapter focuses a lot on Tsuki and his background (feel free to skip most of this chapter). I'll be re-writing it and next chapter, I promise we'll get back to the actual plotline of the story! I really apologize for this chapter!
"You did that on purpose!"
"Prove it."
Yuuki sighed and continued walking. She had no idea that they were going to be so childish or she would've gone on her own. In the half an hour they had been in the town for, Tsuki and Zero had managed to push each other in front of on-coming traffic, into lamp posts and managed to have a food fight in a cake store. Tsuki had paid for everything they'd demolished and they left before they could be banned from the store.
It was worse than children. At least with children all Yuuki had to worry about was them running around but not destroying a store and making the workers clean up six or seventeen different cakes from the walls, floors, ceiling, windows and each other. It was amazing that Tsuki and Zero hadn't managed to get any on each other. The two of them had settled for arguing and Yuuki couldn't believe how ridiculous grown people could act.
She was younger than the other two and she felt like their mother. After the first fifteen minutes of them walking the streets, she gave up on trying to tell them to behave. Instead, she walked on, hoping no-one would associate her with them. Tsuki, she didn't have a problem with. He was keeping his voice down but Zero's glares and accusations were annoying her, just a little.
They passed a hairdressing salon and there was a chuckle. Yuuki stopped and looked over her shoulder. She raised an eyebrow as a woman with auburn curls and the pale green eyes smirked at Tsuki. "Well, well, well," she said, expelling smoke. "Kurenai Tsuki. You've got an eleven-fifteen, right?"
Tsuki smiled and nodded. "It's not like I would forget, Grace. I had to wait three months for this appointment."
Yuuki blinked. That was it? That's all that appointment was? He waited three months to have his hair cut? The woman, Grace, looked at her and leered. "It's unlike you to be with children. Much less a pouty Hunter and an underdeveloped girl."
"Easy, Grace. I can change the contract, you know. I wouldn't talk like that to little Yuuki. She's under the protection of Kuran Kaname and I don't think you want to deal with him when you've got five years left, do you?"
Grace dropped the last of her cigarette to the floor, gazing at Yuuki. "I guess not. I'll see you at eleven-fifteen, my little demon." She smirked, slapped Tsuki's ass and disappeared into the store.
Yuuki looked away. She didn't like that woman. She was crude and harsh towards people she had never met before. How could she be so judgmental? "Don't worry about her, Miss Prefect. She's always been like that."
"'Pouty'? I'm not 'pouty'!" Zero shook his head. He should've known that someone that knew the demon would be like that. It seemed they all were.
Tsuki raised an eyebrow. "Right. And I'm not the devil's nephew. Come on, we've got under an hour to kill. Who's hungry?"
Yuuki grinned. "I am! I've been so hungry all morning and I don't know why! Where should we go? Where did you want to go, Zero?" She looked at her brother, who rolled his eyes.
"We came do what we had to. We should head back. We're not here to hold the demon's hand. You really think I'm pouty?"
Tsuki glanced over his shoulder. "Well, not so much pouty as you are sulky. Come on, Miss Prefect. Is there a little café around here that you like?"
Yuuki looked thoughtful. It wasn't often that she got to spend a lot of time around town because Zero usually dragged her back to the academy before she could enjoy what the residents had to offer. "Um…I think there's one over there that's not too bad."
"Come on, Hunter. We don't have all day to wait for your pouting ass." Tsuki placed a hand on Yuuki's shoulder to stop her from crossing as a truck sped past. She stared after the giant, metal contraption and blushed. "Don't worry about it, Miss Prefect."
Zero dragged his feet a little but crossed the road and sat with the other two in the small bistro. It was bursting with life, of cooks and waiters shouting to each other and the usual chit-chat of the patrons. Zero got the feeling that most of the people there thought he and Yuuki were probably the demon's children. He didn't like that and buried his nose into the menu, looking over their selection for breakfast.
"Hi, there!" an overly happy voice greeted them. Zero looked up at the thin male that was going to be their waiter and forced a groan back. The smile on the man's face was too…happy. "Are you ready to order?"
Yuuki nodded. "Could I get the western breakfast of waffles, please?" She grinned when their waiter wrote it down.
"I'll take two eggs, scrambled with a side of bacon, sausage, mushrooms and onion. On a separate plate, I would like two short stacks and four waffles, all soaked in maple syrup. Four pieces of toast with some of your famous blackberry jam. A flat white, with an extra shot of coffee and double milk, please."
Yuuki and Zero stared at the demon. That was the largest order they had ever heard in their life for a single person but Zero shook his head. "I'll have what the girl is having but can I get a hot mocha with that?"
The waiter nodded, trying to get down everything their father had said first before worrying about a double order. "They're not my children, Kenji. And it's four pieces of toast, not three. You forgot the mushrooms and the two short stacks. The girl will also have a hot chocolate. Is that okay with you, Yuuki?" Tsuki gazed at the female prefect.
Yuuki blinked. "Yes! That's perfect. Thank you, Tsuki-senpai!"
The waiter, Kenji, inclined his head. There was a reason he rarely took the breakfast shift and it was because mind-reading weirdoes had a bad habit of showing up in the mornings. "Okay, so that's two lots of waffles for the boy and girl. Two scrambled eggs, with bacon, sausage, mushrooms and onion along with two short stacks, four waffles and double maple syrup and four pieces of toast with the house blackberry jam. A hot chocolate, a hot mocha and a flat white, with double coffee and milk and no sugar. Is that right?"
"Yes. Thank you, Kenji." Tsuki smirked as the waiter heaved a sigh of relief and delivered the order before getting to work on their drinks.
Without meaning to, Yuuki began speculating on how people could mistake them for a family. Tsuki did look a little strange with his white hair and brown eyes but he wasn't using the magic to keep up his younger appearance and he looked rather respectable in his coat, sweater and nice jeans. His contacts were the same color as her eyes and his hair was similar to Zero's. So it was possible that they could be mistaken as a father with his children.
"Please, don't ever think that again, Miss Prefect." Tsuki suppressed a shudder at the idea of being Zero's father and knew that Zero wouldn't ask any questions about it.
Yuuki blushed. "I'm sorry! I forgot you could do that!"
Tsuki smiled as their drinks were placed in front of them. Zero stared down into his mug and Yuuki squealed about the star pattern made in the frothed milk on top of hers. She almost didn't drink it because it was just too pretty. Zero told her to keep her voice down and Yuuki pouted, taking a sip. She stuck her tongue out at Zero and Tsuki chuckled at the milk moustache on her lip. He stopped suddenly and got to his feet, walking out of the café. Yuuki and Zero blinked, looking after him.
Zero's eyes widened and he also got to his feet, looking over his shoulder. His eyes narrowed when the demon walked in with the pureblood vampire. Was that why they were sitting at a table for four? Did that demon plan everything from the beginning? Zero wouldn't put it past him. Yuuki was on her feet and nearly knocked the table over. She managed to stop that but her hot chocolate splashed over her light blue top and she sighed sadly, excusing herself.
"Good morning, Kiryuu-kun," Kaname said with a slight smile. "I believe I gave Tsuki a message to give you."
"Here's my answer: fuck you and what you want."
"I don't think he believed me when I told him that was what you wanted to speak to him about," Tsuki replied with a shrug.
"What the hell are you doing off of school grounds anyway, Kuran?" Zero sat down and sighed, knowing that even if he told the vampire to return to the school, he wouldn't.
"I asked to come into town for some things. Being resident pureblood, the Chairman was not going to say no to me." Kaname blinked as their orders were placed on the table and he saw the amount that was put in front of Tsuki. "You ordered all of that?"
Tsuki glanced at Kaname. "Yes. It was also put on your tab and yes, I can eat all of this. I'm tired of being starved at that school."
"Sorry about that! Hi, Kaname-senpai!" Yuuki grinned as she took her seat and poured the syrup over her waffles. "How are you today, Kaname-senpai?"
"I'm fine, thank you, Yuuki. How are you?" Kaname glanced at the waiter and nodded before turning his attention back to Yuuki.
"I'm great, thanks, Kaname-senpai!" Yuuki glanced at the cleared plates on the table and then noticed how everyone else in the bistro was staring in their direction. "Tsuki-senpai…Did you even taste any of that?"
Tsuki looked at his cleared plates and shrugged. "I doubt it." He got to his feet and picked up the plates. "Would you like another hot chocolate, Miss Prefect?"
Yuuki nodded and grinned around a mouthful of waffle. She watched as Tsuki got up to the counter and stared at his legs. They were really nice jeans. Zero would love a pair of those! I wonder where he got them? I might have to order them in, though…Yuuki looked up when Kaname cleared his throat and she blushed when he raised an eyebrow at her. It must've looked suspicious for her to stare at the lower half of a man.
"N-no, no, no, no, no, Kaname-senpai! It isn't what you might be thinking of! I was just admiring his jeans!" Yuuki lowered her head as her blush darkened. The smile that was on Kaname's lips made her nervous, like he knew something she didn't.
"Why don't you ask him where he got them, then?" Zero demanded, finding the entire conversation a little annoying. He just wanted to return to the academy and forget that day had ever happened.
"If I know Tsuki, Yuuki, they'll be expensive and most likely designer label." Kaname lent over and ruffled her hair gently.
"Isn't that the way it always go with me, Kaname?" Tsuki smirked and placed the hot chocolate in front of Yuuki. "Here you are, Miss Prefect."
"A typical demon. You have to do everything over-the-top, don't you?" Zero narrowed his eyes to stop himself from flinching when Tsuki turned his amused eyes to him.
"Of course. We like to show our authority over those that wish to tear us down. And if our superior fashion sense is the way to do it, that's fine with me." Tsuki blinked and looked at Yuuki, who was looking under the table. "Is everything okay, Miss Prefect? Would you like me to stand?"
"Oh…Would you?" Yuuki smiled as the demon got to his feet and she took in the jeans, inspecting them closely. Zero would really look good in those. "What brand are they?" she asked as she took a mouthful of her hot chocolate.
"Gucci," Tsuki replied. His eyes widened and he grabbed Zero, holding the prefect in front of himself as Yuuki sprayed her drink everywhere.
"Really?" she whined and wiped her mouth with a paper napkin. "That's annoying."
Zero growled as he was thrown into his chair again and glared at the demon. "What the hell is wrong with you, Kurenai?" he demanded, using a napkin to wipe his face down. "That was fucking sick! I could've caught something from her!"
"Aren't you past the cooties stage?"
Kaname watched with mirth. It was bizarre to see Tsuki having that much fun while he was around humans and vampires. He sipped his tea as Yuuki and Zero yelled at each other and Tsuki sided with the female. Poor Zero never stood a chance. Once that demon had someone in his sights, he wasn't going to back down for anyone.
Tsuki dropped out of the argument and gazed at Kaname. "Is that how you really view me, Kaname?"
"Ah…I'm sorry, Kuran-san but if your friends continue to disrupt the peace, I'm afraid we'll have to ask you to leave," Kenji said nervously, glancing from the pureblood to the other customers, that were sending unimpressed looks towards the pair that were bickering.
"I understand. We apologize, Kenji-kun. Yuuki, Kiryuu, please stop."
Yuuki nodded and sat down. Zero shot his best death glare at the vampire. "Oh go to hell, vam –"
"Enough!"
Zero winced vaguely as he was forced to sit down. "What is your problem, de –"
"Zero, shut that forsaken hole under your nose before I personally beat the living shit out of you." Tsuki glanced at Zero calmly. "In case you have forgotten, we are in public. Try to conduct yourself with some form of dignity, you simpleton."
"Tch. What would you know about dignity?" Zero finished his mocha and stared into the empty cup.
Kaname sighed. What was Tsuki thinking bringing them out? "Yuuki, Kiryuu, I think it would be best if you two return to the academy. Tsuki and I have some business to attend to and Kiryuu could do with a shower."
Yuuki looked as though she was going to fight Kaname on that suggestion but something seemed to click inside her head that told her it wasn't a suggestion or a request. She nodded and got to her feet. "Enjoy the rest of your day, Kaname-senpai and you, too, Tsuki-senpai!" She drained the last of her chocolate and grinned, grabbing Zero's hand and dragging him from the café.
"It isn't very often that we see you that angry, Tsuki."
The demon shrugged and finished his coffee. "I'm trying to understand what it is you see in that arrogant, bipolar, childish, hormonal catastrophe. He despises you and everything you are, including what you stand for." Tsuki looked out the door where Yuuki and Zero had left. "Still, it amazes me how much of a glutton for punishment you are."
Kaname cocked an eyebrow. "Is that so? I guess it would be a little difficult for someone of your breeding to understand how a heart works."
Tsuki blinked and the small cup in front of Kaname shattered, spilling the last of the vampire's tea. "That was uncalled for, Kaname."
"We're so sorry, Kuran-san!" Kenji said, frantically wiping up the mess.
Kaname smiled and stood. "There is nothing to apologize for, Kenji-kun. Thank you for the tea. What I had of it was pleasurable. I believe you have an appointment, Tsuki. Are you ready to face the music?"
"If it blocks you out…" Tsuki followed Kaname out of the bistro and headed across the road to Grace's salon. He walked in and was greeted by the woman that had annoyed Yuuki.
"Welcome, Tsuki. If you take a seat, I'll be right with you. And what can I do for you, handsome?" Grace looked Kaname up and down, not hiding the fact that was without a doubt checking him out. "It doesn't look like you need a haircut, sweetie."
Kaname smiled at the woman. "Actually, I would like to make an appointment for a styling in three weeks, if that's possible."
Tsuki smirked. Kaname had Grace eating out of his hand. "Anything is possible for you, hon. Any time that suits you best?"
"After hours, if possible."
Grace bit the inside of her cheek. "Well, I did say anything is possible. Six-fifteen, okay?"
"Perfect. Thank you. The name is Kuran Kaname." Kaname took a seat beside Tsuki. "She hasn't got much longer in life, does she?"
"Five years," Tsuki replied, flipping the page of the magazine.
"I'm assuming this place was her deal?" Kaname looked around and his brow creased slightly as he looked at the customers. "Isn't that a famous singer?" It clicked.
Tsuki snorted. "Yup. Part of the deal was that I get my hair cut for free, as well. Something as selfish as this, of course I had to agree to take her soul. She wanted to be a famous hairdresser, which was one of the best in the world. She wanted to rival Dahvie Vanity."
"Isn't he that straight gay man of that duo from America?"
"Yep." Tsuki continued to flip through the magazine. "She got what she wanted and now I wait for what I want."
"When you were punishing your bro…Taiyou," Kaname corrected, already feeling the static in the air crackling. "You said that Yuuki only wanted to make her brother happy. Were you referring to Zero?"
"Yes." Tsuki returned the magazine to the glass coffee table in front of them. "There was something else, something more selfish, but I managed to talk her out of that."
"You're being complicated on purpose. Is showing your human side really that much of a bad thing that you would hide behind mind games and indifference?"
"Yes, it is." Tsuki lowered his eyes.
Kaname studied the demon. "May I ask something, Tsuki?"
"Why not? You've been interrogating me since I arrived."
"If you can't open up to me, who can you open to?"
"Kurenai Tsuki, you're up, sexy." Grace beckoned, with a sultry smile.
Tsuki got to his feet and removed his coat, placing it on the seat. He followed Grace into the back of the shop. "A wash, also."
"How much do you want taken off?" Grace asked as she undid the ribbon and ran a comb through the snowy strands.
"All thirteen inches of it."
Grace gasped softly but nodded. It was a demon and he probably didn't need a haircut but was just doing it to remind her of her deal. "Okay. Restyle as well?"
"Sure. Surprise me."
Kaname waited patiently, reading the magazines and doing the crossword puzzles in some of them. He was trying to understand how people could read them. Did it really matter what the 'hottest' celebrity was doing? According to the public, yes it did matter. The clientele that Grace pulled in were interesting, also. There was one woman that wanted to speak with Kaname and he allowed her to, moving Tsuki's coat so she could sit beside him.
"What is the famous Kuran Kaname doing in a dive like this?" she inquired.
"Waiting for a friend, who is a friend of the owner."
"The Devil's Nephew. Such a fitting name for him, I think. I think he's collected more souls than all of the demons combined. What is he doing in a place like this?"
"I do believe that isn't my place to say. He's marked you, too. Was your deal to become a model?"
The woman glared. "Does that matter? He can't take the soul of a vampire, anyway."
"As long as we have one, he's able to take it. Your time is almost up, though. Now that I think about it, there aren't many people here who haven't sold their soul. I think the only person who hasn't is the male hairdresser over there."
"The skills of a pureblood vampire will never cease to amaze me. From what I heard, the Devil's Nephew got cold feet when it came to him and couldn't bring himself to take that boy's soul." The woman scoffed and Kaname raised an eyebrow.
"You think that makes him weak, not being able to take a soul?"
"Of course it makes him weak!" she sniffed, turning her nose up. "That someone like him wouldn't be able to take a mortal's soul."
Kaname held his chin in thought. "You call him the devil's nephew like it's a title. Why is that?"
The woman blinked. "Aren't you meant to be his friend and you know nothing about him?" She shook her head and sighed. She looked up when a name was called. She slumped slightly. "That's the title he gave himself to hide his identity. What name does he go by these days?"
"Kurenai Tsuki."
The woman laughed raucously. "Of course it would be something immature like that! I'm quite surprised you haven't pieced together the pieces, yet, Kuran-san." The woman looked at her fake nails.
Kaname lowered his eyes. It seemed everyone knew more about the demon than Kaname did and that was something he wasn't pleased with. What could the demon be hiding from him that was so secret? It wasn't like Kaname had a problem with Tsuki being a demon and collecting souls; everyone had their jobs in the circle of life.
"Weilson, Amber?"
"That's me." The woman stood and looked down at the pureblood vampire. "You know, in America, we have another name for Kurenai Tsuki – Damien." She followed the hairdresser that called her name.
Kaname's eyes widened a fraction. He mentally shook his head. That was stupid. He would've heard it before now if Tsuki was the devil's actual son and not just the son of pureblood demons. Of course, there were no demons that were more pure than those from the First of the Fallen himself. Kaname glanced up when Tsuki stepped out and snatched his coat from the vampire. Kaname blinked and got to his feet. It seemed there was something that was annoying the demon.
"You lied to me?" Kaname asked as he walked beside Tsuki through the streets of the town, heading back to the school.
"How can I lie about something I was never asked? You never questioned my lineage and I didn't exactly want anyone to know about it, either."
"You're not proud of your heritage?"
"Why should I be? My father is an asshole and I just had to be younger of twins. I wasn't meant for this world and Derek was the most treasured until he decided to do something stupid." Tsuki paused and change his appearance to that of his younger face, looking as though he was about to cry. "Is this going to be a problem, Kaname-sama? I don't want you to think any differently of me because I am the direct descendant of Lucifer."
"Of course not, Tsuki. Why would…I dislike it greatly when you do that." Kaname narrowed his eyes and walked on. "I can't believe I didn't notice it before. It explains a lot about you."
Once inside the school grounds, Tsuki paused and glanced up at the sky. "Kaname…The Kuran line has been friends of the Kurenai family for eons. I've seen things happen within that family and I've been around since before the Kurans became who they are now in the vampire world. I do consider you a friend but when it comes to demons, we aren't allowed that luxury."
"You always told me you were a demon by birth but human by choice. Humans have friends. Even Zero has Yuuki as a friend, though he would never admit to it." Kaname observed Tsuki, refusing to use his real name. It was just a weird habit. He had always known the demon in front of him as Tsuki and that new information wasn't going to change anything.
"I always said that to spite my family. My father hated to think of me referring myself to the things that his father put before him and the other angels." Tsuki continued walking, Kaname beside him. They stopped outside of the Moon Dorm gates. "I guess that saying is right."
"Which one?"
"Life's a bitch and then you become one. I owe you a favor, just so you know. You did something for me, a long time ago. Before the bang."
Kaname raised an eyebrow. "'Bang'?"
Tsuki chuckled and the gates opened. "The big bang."
Kaname fell into step beside Tsuki. He knew more about the demon now but for some reason, the demon wasn't going to confide in him and while Kaname knew he had enough to worry about, it seemed that the demon carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. He loved to live up the fact that he was a demon and constantly did things that made people question if the hell spawn had a conscience but Kaname knew it was there. It was just obscured sometimes.
"Why didn't you take that boy's soul?"
"He wanted his mother to find eternal happiness when she passed away. She had done a lot of wrong in her life but he still had faith that she could transform if she knew what bliss was. He was willing to give up his soul for someone that nearly destroyed his life."
Kaname stared at Tsuki. Were those tears in his eyes? The demon blinked and they were gone. "You'll never confide in me fully, will you?"
"Not when you have so much to worry about. Maybe…one day." Tsuki smiled over his shoulder as he climbed the stairs to his room. "And what I said to Taiyou when I punished him will never be known, either. It's like a cheesy rip off of what happened with Shizuka."
"How…?"
Tsuki's smile turned into a smirk. "There's nothing I don't know, Kaname."
Kaname raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? What lays in your future, then?"
"Go to hell." Tsuki got to the top of the stairs and turned. "No-one, is my answer."
Kaname nodded and watched as the demon disappeared into his room. The son of the devil actually had a conscience and was able to fall in love. How strange. And stranger still, the demon was helping a vampire get the one he loved, for seemingly no reason. Was Tsuki doing it because of the deal he made with Yuuki? It was a possibility but Kaname wasn't going to question it. It wasn't his place and he was aware that the details of the deal couldn't be given out. How did things turn out this way? Kaname asked himself as he went to his bedroom.
~ * ~
End Chapter VI.
Okay, I've absolutely no idea how the hell this chapter happened! I promise, this is all of Tsuki's past that will be revealed! Please, please, PLEASE don't hate me for it! I never meant to write about Tsuki's background or family connections or even have him have feelings! My fingers got away from me. I'm really sorry!
Now, onto the best part of any chapter!
Mai Kurosaki: There wasn't anything in this chapter and I deeply apologize for that! I hope you'll continue to read and leave your awesome reviews!
Mank0: Hmm...I never planned on having Tsuki get with anyone, much less Zero. But chances are, I'll get bored and probably do a spin off to this story. At least now I have an excuse to do it and I'll dedicate it to you so I can't receive the full blame for it! Thanks for your awesome review and welcome to the story, too! I'm glad to know that you'll continue to read it!
ben4kevin: Actually, if the next chapter pans out the way I'm hoping it will, I'll probably have to up the rating to M. Ooh, was that a spoiler for my own story? There might be something a little more juicy than just a fantasy! :P Thanks for the review!
Sasu-Sama' Sarukiji-Sempai: Yes, Zero is getting fucked around with but that's why I love his character so much! He's just got that personality where he'll go off at the drop of a hat! I swear, he's got some Irish in his blood somewhere!...I'm sorry, but no threesome for this story. Maybe, in another one... And high-five for yaoi loving mums!
Alexia-09: Nawww, thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying it so much. I hope this chapter was to your liking because if anyone has a problem with it, they can blame it on YOU! I think I had you in mind when this chapter was being written and because I remembered you saying you wanted to know a little more about Tsuki's past...So, people, if you wanna complain about this chapter, please direct all hate towards Alexia-09! JUST KIDDING! I'll take all your hate and anger and eat it!
DeathTheKidCrazy: Welcome and thanks! Its not often I get a review like that. I'm glad you're enjoying it so much! I doubt this chapter was up to your liking but I hope you review again just for the hell of it!
To everyone who has alerted/favorited: Thank you all so much! I doubt this update was to your liking, but I can't be held responsible for it!
To everyone else: Please let me know what you think! (not of this chapter because I hate it more than anyone else could!)
Until the next one, have a good day!