DFA: One last chapter!! WOOT! I can't believe it! It's almost done!

LB: Dawn, how many times must I remind you to stay away from the sugar bowl?

DFA: Err... -grins-

Kaname: She's like this even in her other stories.

Rido: Yeah. -has a dazed look in his eye-

LB: YOU haven't been at the sugar, have you, Rido?

Rido: -shakes head, wiping off sugar from mouth-

LB: What's wrong with you people? -storms away-

Please review!!Chapter Fourteen: The Final Battle

Ichijo Mansion

Yuuki writhed in Kaname's lap, her eyes flickering wildly beneath her closed lids. She was now so quiet that Kaname was getting worried about her. Kaname stroked her hair absently, his senses ranging the cellar in case her silence was a sign that his friends have lost, and they were coming for them. Worry blossomed in his heart, and entered every cell of his body. He felt twitchy and jumpy. If someone spoke, he wondered if he would attack them.

Ruka was no better. She had lost all her energy from her pacing and restlessness, and she now carried no sense of hope in her eyes. The cellar's walls and ceilings were thick; not even Kaname could tell what was going on overhead, even with his heightened senses. Maybe Yuuki would know what was going on, but she kept silent, her lips trembling, and tears – real tears – trickling down her face. Kaname counted them slowly.

So many deaths, he thought in horror, and closed his eyes. Of course, he knew naught if the deaths were of the Undead and Rido's vampires, or his friends. It was nerve-wracking, this wait.

All the vampire children were asleep, having finally drifted off. Kaname thought that this was an improvement, and wondered if Yuuki will want children soon. He hoped not.

He raised his eyes to the ceiling, and tried again to pierce through its thickness. No luck. Ichio must've placed ancient spells to prevent even Purebloods from hearing anything through it. How had he gotten the strength and power? It was a Pureblood spell, and he was sure that Rido had been too weak to cast one as strong as this.

Maybe he could break the bindings – after all, he was the Kuran Ancestor. But he dispelled the thought. His strength must be saved to help the ones here if his friends should fail.

He shifted uncomfortably, and sighed.

Yuuki went still. A small whimper escaped her mouth. Her mind was sealed with surprising strength for one so weak, so Kaname couldn't see what was going on in her head. He gazed down at her lovingly, and stroked her hair once.

Kaname closed his eyes, and concentrated on the outside. Three hours to sunrise.

Ichijo, stay strong and survive. For all our sakes.

Inside Yuuki's head, voices spoke to her, chasing out all the sorrow she'd seen through the minds of her seniors and friends. They forced back those thoughts, and stood in a circle around her consciousness, shining brightly to keep them away.

Do not give up. Do not leave your brother. Stay strong, Yuuki-hime. We will protect you. Gather your strength, we will not leave you.

Okaa-sama? Otou-sama? Yuuki thought, her voice small with fear from what she'd seen.

We are always with you, Yuuki, her mother whispered to her. Remember that. We love you.

Yuuki relaxed into their safety, and closed her eyes.

Yuuki.

It was a different voice this time, a voice of bells and wind-chimes: Ayumi.

Ayumi? She thought.

Yuuki, there're some important things I must give you. If... if I am not here after, give them to Takuma. Tell him to keep them safe until I return... and if I don't, tell him they're his. A picture of Ayumi floated into her consciousness; she was a mere child... It's my memory... tell him to keep it safe for me.

What is the other gift? Yuuki asked her.

The gift is not hers to give, another voice spoke out from the light, and Yuuki found the female Kuran Ancestor, Kaname's first mate. She smiled at her many times great-granddaughter. It is mine, given to me by your brother when we first met.

Yuuki was suddenly in a beautiful clearing, surrounded by the falling petals of the Sakura Tree. Yuuki laughed out loud, and whirled in a circle.

I have the Gift of Peace. Kuran Manami, the Ancestor, appeared before Yuuki's eyes, and smiled at her. She had beautiful, wavy blond hair, and wonderful green eyes, almost the colour of an emerald. Yet not one of my predecessors inherited my gift. Not even you, Yuuki. For centuries I have withheld this gift to myself, searching for a child of mine who is strong and worthy enough to receive it.

It is known to me that my many times great-grandson had been born without any special ability but his compassion and his cheerfulness. I've watched him all his life to see that he is, indeed, worthy of this gift I am to give him. Manami swept her hair back and pulled out a strange, golden Sakura flower from her long hair, and cupped it to her face. She breathed it in, and smiled.

Ichijo-san... he is your grandson? Yuuki gasped.

Manami smiled gently. It is strange, is it not, to know that he is related to you? He has my eyes, and my hair. Are you so surprised, Yuuki-hime? Before I mated your brother, I'd loved a young noble by the name of Ichijo, and we mated for a short time before Kaname caught my heart. By then, I had a child, but I left him for Kaname. It was the best thing that I'd ever done in my life, Yuuki-hime, because he loved me like no other woman could hope for. Every now and then, I would wonder how my son was, but somewhere inside my heart, I felt that I would know if he were alive or dead.

He was alive, of course, and mated another noble, and so the Ichijo line started. Didn't you ever wonder why the Ichijo family was more powerful than any other family? It was because I was once part of that family, Yuuki-hime.

I can't believe it, Yuuki said softly, shaking her head. Takuma is my step-brother? In a way, that is.

Manami's laugh was thrillingly beautiful. Believe it, my daughter. Now, here is the gift. You will find it in your hands when you wake. The golden Sakura drifted from Manami's hands and floated gently into the air towards Yuuki. She caught it, and felt wonderfully at peace. Now, you rest, my darling daughter. Gather your strength, because there are others who still love you out there, despite losing some of your friends. Gather your strength, and sleep...

Darkness overwhelmed her, but she was unafraid, because the Gift of Peace rested on her palms.

--

Cross Academy

"Get up and fight me like a man!"

Takuma lay in the dirt, his cheek cut, a deep, bleeding gash down his back, his ribs and left leg broken, his mouth tasting like blood. Bruises covered every inch of his broken, lifeless body. He was so weak, so tired... He hoped it would end now, end fast. He wanted to join his parents in death, because death was painless and welcoming. It was waiting, and she was waiting.

"Get up, Ichijo! Fight me like a man you're supposed to be. Show me that you deserve my sister!"

Kanaye yelled the final words before kneeling down and staring into his lifeless green eyes. Takuma stared back blankly, pain coursing through his body; despite the vampire's healing powers, he couldn't heal himself. He had lost too much blood to heal himself. Kanaye's lips turned upwards into a smirk.

"So, the mighty warrior has fallen," he spoke in a soft, threatening voice. "Your friends are dead, even your beloved Kaname Kuran," he spat out Kaname's name, "and your lover is dying. She lies deep in the forest, feasted upon by my Master's vampires, and my own soldiers. Wait for her in Death, will you now?"

"You're lying!" Takuma yelled, and struggled to get up, to fight until he really was dead. If he died, at least he died trying to defend his family's honour and died trying to defend his friends. Kanaye let out a chilling laugh, and sank into a hunting crouch again, teeth bared with triumph. "Come on, little weakling, let's dance!" He sprang forward, and Takuma, too weak to dodge, was knocked to the floor again.

"What's wrong, little boy?" Kanaye hissed tauntingly. "Are you too weak? Want to take a rest?"

Takuma didn't answer him. He instead got to his feet, his katana too heavy in his hand. He crouched into his fighting stance, ignoring the protest from his broken leg and ribs as he did.

Kanaye whipped around, and whacked Takuma's hand. He ignored the snap of his bone and thrust forward in a desperate attempt to kill him, or even slow him down. Kanaye hissed from pain as the katana cut deeply into his arm. Takuma yanked it out, gasping, as the wound closed faster than even Kaname's would have from a Hunter's blade.

"You see, not even your pathetic Hunter's blade would hurt me," Kanaye said quietly, his hand passing over the place where Takuma had struck, and launched himself forward again. His hand slammed into Takuma's chest, breaking more ribs and hurting the ones that were already broken. Takuma flew backwards, hit a fence, and groaned in pain.

Around them, the light was getting brighter, but the sun wasn't peeking out yet, not yet... soon... he had to hold on until then...

Kanaye laughed again, and picked up Takuma's sword from where it lay on the grass. "I would love to play with you longer, boy," he whispered, "but time runs short. Have a good afterlife." He raised the katana, poised to drive it past his broken ribs and through his heart.

Takuma knew then that it was over for him, that it was his time. He closed his eyes, ready to embrace death when it came.

"No!"

Two heads snapped around to stare at the blur as it hurtled out of the trees. Dim light reflected off silvery-gold hair, and caused everything to sparkle and look brighter. Red-gray eyes fixed on his form, and the katana poised to kill. His own weapon, turning against him.

Ayumi's eyes flicked to Kanaye, and he saw that they were filled with tears.

"Don't, Kanaye!" she cried, and hurtled forward to stop him.

There was a resounding crash, and the two half-breeds fought for possession of the katana. Takuma watched numbly as they blurred and fought, snarls filling the early morning air.

Half an hour to sunrise.

Ayumi finally won the katana, and blurred away, tossing it behind her.

"No weapons," she said, a little unsteadily. Her eyes found her brother's. "Just you and me." With a hand, she cast a rope, and it wrapped itself around Takuma and the fence, tying him there effectively. "No one else."

Kanaye grinned. "You're going to kill me? Your own flesh-and-blood? I'm surprised."

"Better than watching him die," she replied, and sank into a crouch. Her eyes flashed blood-red.

Kanaye chuckled, and sank with her. At once, they began to circle. "That's right, just you and me, Imouto-san. Although I have a good mind to disown you, little traitor."

"You have no right to disown anybody," she replied, and Takuma saw the venom glistening on her teeth as she pulled them in a snarl. Kanaye just smiled, and pounced forwards. Ayumi danced out of the way, and used his momentum and her leg to throw him farther forwards than he would like. He stumbled, but steadied himself.

"I have every right," he answered. "Even if you'd married me, I will be the head of the family."

"Then I shall never marry you; you can be the head of an imaginative family. I won't be part of your life anymore, Nii-san." Venom laced her words, and her eyes flashed dangerously.

"Tut, tut!" Kanaye said, straightening. "Using such tone with your fiancé. I think you need a little lesson, my dear. Don't you, boy?" Kanaye called over to Takuma, who glared back hatefully.

Twenty-five minutes...

Ayumi's eyes flickered to the east, and he knew that she knew what was coming.

Kanaye gathered himself, and sprang forwards. This time, she wasn't fast enough; he caught her arm and tossed her into the dirt. He sat on her, and stroked her cheek lovingly.

"I shall take your last kiss, Ayumi, while your lover watches me with his hate-filled eyes." And Kanaye drew her chin, and pressed his lips to hers. She tensed as Takuma struggled against the bonds she had given him.

"How do you feel now, Ichijo-san?" Kanaye called over to Takuma, who was panting and straining against the rope. "Does hate surge through your blood, and do you want to tear me apart with your bare hands? Do you?"

Takuma bared his teeth in answer, and struggled again. Kanaye laughed.

"Don't taunt him!" Ayumi snapped, and tossed her brother off her. He rolled in the dirt, but he was grinning.

She stood, and launched herself at her brother. He sidestepped, and caught her, and pressed his lips to hers. His eyes were open, and watching Takuma, who couldn't resist letting out a snarl of frustration and fury. He struggled harder.

"Ah," Kanaye released her with a sigh. She stumbled away from him. "Bless the boy – he has spirit. Watch him struggle, Ayumi. Do you seriously love a weakling such as him? How can you, Ayumi? You have dishonoured what we have always lived for. The serving of a master, the power for our descendents. Why? Why don't you love me?" He advanced upon her, eyes beseeching.

Fifteen minutes...

She gazed at him with sorrowful eyes for the longest while.

"I do not know," she said finally.

"Please, Ayumi," Kanaye whispered, and closed his eyes. "Tell me what he has that I don't." Ayumi trembled. "Tell me," he insisted.

"A heart," she answered finally, in a voice that matched the sound of a feather on the wind.

Kanaye opened his eyes, and gazed at her.

"I have no heart, because you have stolen it," he answered. "Since the first time I saw you. Is that what's different? Because although you've taken my heart, you haven't given me yours? And now it's his?" Kanaye gestured towards Takuma, who was watching with surprise.

Ayumi closed her eyes. "Yes," she breathed.

Kanaye shuddered. "How long have you known?" he whispered.

Her eyes snapped open. "Never! I'd love you... until we came here. But the honest answer is..." she took a deep breath, and gazed at Takuma. "I guess, in my heart, I'd always known that you weren't the person for me. And when I saw him... I guess he stole it."

Kanaye gazed at her with love, and closed his eyes.

Five minutes...

In a completely different voice, he said, "Then I guess I need to take it back, don't I?" His eyes snapped open, and he whirled on Takuma, and leaped.

"No!" Ayumi screamed for the second time that day, and lunged forward.

Four...

She didn't get him, but her hand went in contact with the katana, and she picked it up as he was still blurring towards a bound Takuma. Takuma felt his heart drop down his body like a stone as he caught sight of Kanaye's furious, determined face.

Three...

A flash of light caught his eye, and he saw Ayumi holding up a sword of light, her eyes blazing pure white.

Takuma gasped as she aimed for her brother, all emotion cleared from her face.

Two...

She jumped forward, katana held out, and raced after her brother. Agility versus determination... what would win?

One...

There was an explosion of light, and Takuma had to throw up an arm to cover his eyes. He squeezed his eyes shut in pain but he still felt lightheaded from the blinding light through the open slits. The light lasted for a long time, and faintly, through the ringing of his ears, he heard a terrible scream of pain, but be it his or hers Takuma didn't know.

Finally, the light faded, but Takuma kept his eyes closed until he felt that he could handle the pain, and cracked his eyes open.

The sun had risen, but its light was inferior to the blinding flash from Ayumi. The sky was streaked a beautiful reddish gold that caused Takuma's heart to ache with the wonder of it. It's so amazing, he thought hazily, and glanced down to see the outcome of the fight.

Ayumi was on her knees, staring down at the corpse of Kanaye. Her mouth formed a round 'O' as she gazed at her brother for any sign of life. Tears trickled down her face, and landed on his still body. Her hand was pressed to her middle.

Takuma followed her arm, and saw blood leaking from her wound. Thirst occurred to him, but only for a second as her eyes fluttered shut and she fell atop the corpse of her brother.

--

Aido sent a wave of ice at what he had dubbed, 'Crazy Corpse', and kicked it so it shattered. He found that this was an effective way to destroy them. Rido's vampires had already been reduced to dust, but these were harder to completely destroy.

On the other side of the room, Kain shot fire out from his hand, his leg wound already festering. A Crazy Corpse had sank its rotting teeth inside it, and now it was almost useless to Kain. He'd considered chopping it off with an axe, then decided that it could be saved.

Then, suddenly, as the sun rose, all the corpses went haywire. They leaped on each other and attacked, but they left the vampires alone. All of them stopped abruptly, and gazed, wide-eyed, as all of the Crazy Corpses were destroyed by their own hands.

Aido glanced around them, and a grin spread over his face. "We did it!" he yelled, and leaped into the air in triumph.

There were gasps of relief all around him that was cut off by a cry of pain.

Aido whirled around to see his cousin stumble, clutching at his leg. His face was twisted with agony as he fell to the floor.

"Akatsuki!" He rushed forward, and caught his cousin before his head hit the floor. "Akatsuki, no!" How the tides turn, Aido thought as he desperately tried to find something to heal his cousin. Usually I'm the one in a situation like this... now I know how Kain feels. He's never leaving my sight again, if he pulls through!

"Someone get Kaname-sama!" he yelled, and soon, Kaname was beside him, doing everything in his power to heal the injured boy. "Help him, Kaname-sama, please," Aido begged, clutching as his cousin. "Hang on, Akatsuki, hang on, we're going to help you," Aido told his cousin in desperate tones.

"Don't go, Suki," Ruka whispered to him on his other side. "Stay, please. Don't go."

Kaname raised his eyes upwards. Help us, he thought. Suddenly, there was a strange singing from outside, a quiet, melodic tone. Kaname looked up, and the window flew open. A bird of flames hurtled inside, and fluttered onto the floor next to them.

Kaname smiled. "Ohayo, Ojii-sama."

The half-solid Phoenix tilted his head as if to say, 'Now, what are you talking about?' before stepping closer to Kain and ran its beak lightly through his hair before fluttering over to his sickening-looking leg and closing its eyes, bending over the wound. A single, pearly tear fell from its eyes, and landed on Akatsuki's terrible wound. The wound shone with gentle light, and immediately, it began to glitter.

When the light was gone, the wound was closed, and his leg was whole once more.

To everyone else not beside Akatsuki, it seemed that the Prince was healing the boy, because none of them could see the Phoenix.

Kain groaned, and sat up as the Phoenix vanished into thin air.

"My leg," he said groggily as Ruka threw her arms around him the exact same time Aido did. He seemed surprised, but Kaname, who had his arms around the newly-awakened Yuuki, merely chuckled and kissed his sister.

"Never do that again!" they yelled at him, and hugged him tighter. Kain choked.

"Can't... breathe..."

Everyone laughed, purely out of relief and gladness to be alive, as the sun climbed higher into the sky and shot its blazing beams at the sensitive vampires.

But for once, no one cared.

Revieweth pleaseth.