{...I stood silently, absorbed in my thoughts, I was in one of the rooms in the old teacher's dorms, there was a grumble, a creek, the floor collapsed, I twisted my ankle, I shouted in pain and Zero appeared at the door above me, there was a rumble, the roof cracked, blocks of cement fell
"Tora!" my eyes were shut, I felt great pressure on my whole body, the sound of falling concrete everywhere, I opened my eyes, Zero was lying on me, a pained look on his face, his back was facing the ceiling, he had protected me from the falling roof, once the roof stabilized, he rolled away, I looked at his back, he had been hit with many heavy blocks of plaster and cement, he still got up and I looked at him, for some reason, I couldn't move, he picked me up
"it'll start again, that won't be it" he carried me out the window, just as the rest of the building began to collapse, we looked at it, he put me down, and I touched his cheek
"thank you, my love" I kissed him...}
I woke and stood 'again, dreaming about Zero again' I thought, I made sure the fire was dead and left, I walked through the forest for a while, I heard someone walking behind me, I turned, nobody was there 'there's something wrong with me' I thought, covering my face with one hand, I continued walking and found a town, the sun began to set, I walked until I found somewhere quiet, I wandered around there for a while and heard a voice behind me
"hey, beautiful!" I flicked my head around and saw a bunch of boys, the strong scent of alcohol drifted my way 'disgusting' I thought, I continued to walk
"where ya goin? Come back girl" I did my best not to show them my true form, not to bare my fangs, one of them grabbed my arm and spun me around
"hey, we don't like to be ignored" this one wasn't drunk, but he still irritated me
"why don't you go and get a life, before I end yours?" he sniggered
"what's a little girl gonna do?" I looked around, these boys were the only people in sight, the other boys were still a distance away, I hissed, baring my fangs, he laughed, opening his mouth wide and revealing his own fangs, the other boys caught up
"hey, Grinch, don't bite her yet, eh? We can have some fun with her" I cracked it, a building next to me cracked, one of the boys stepped back
"Grinch, cut it out, man" the vampire looked confused
"it wasn't me" my eyes turned red, I planted a kick in the middle of Grinch's stomach
"despicable level D!" I shouted, he flew back a ways, he stood up and licked some blood off a cut, one of the human boys started playing with my hair, I grabbed his hand and dug my fingernails into his wrist, I bared my fangs, considerably bigger than the level d's and almost bit him, I restrained myself, he was scared though, Grinch came back
"well, well, it looks like we have a noble here boys" they snickered and laughed "think you're better than me, just cos I'm ex-human?" I nodded, he laughed "well I got news for you, lineage won't help you now" I cocked my head
"oh, really?" I jumped, cut my finger and a whip of my blood circled around Grinch, I used fire to simply hurt him, then ice to freeze his body, I stood in front of him
"you have no idea who I am, do you?" he shook his head and I smirked "I am a pureblood" I looked around the group "and unless you humans want me to 'eat' you, I suggest you clear out now" I kicked over Grinch's frozen body and the ice shattered, he scurried off after his friends "well handled" said a voice behind me, I threw them over my shoulder and snarled "I will handle you too!" the dust cleared and I saw Zero, his eyes wide at the shock of being taken by surprise like that, he smiled a little "please, handle me" I blushed and he got up
"how long have you been following me for?"
"ever since you left" I looked down, he continued "I have been thinking about the message you left me, did you really mean it?"
"of course I did"
"then why did you go with...him so willingly?"
"didn't you see? He was going to attack you! Zero, I could never be more sorry about hurting you, but I did it all to stop you from getting killed" he lifted my chin
"I still love you Tora, I always will" I couldn't take it anymore, I threw my arms around Zeros neck and planted my lips on his, he pulled me against him, I kissed his neck, he gave a bit of a grunt, I sank my fangs into his neck and drank his blood, I brought my head back and looked at the moon, Zero did too, I smiled and howled, even in my human form I could howl like a wolf, he howled along, not sounding human at all, but sounding like a wolf, we howled together, and when our voices faded, we brushed our faces together "oh, Tora...shitau" (the simplest translation is: I love you dearly) I pressed my forehead against his and murmured back "shitau, Zero" a voice rang out
"what a disloyal fiancée" I turned to see Taiteki, he looked angry, I hugged Zero, his face became red with rage "get away from him, Keikan" I shook my head "no"
"and why not?"
"because that would give you a clear shot" he summoned a hoard of bats and I bared my fangs defiantly, Zero drew the bloody rose and pointed it at him, Taiteki continued "Come. Here. Now...or I will kill him" I hugged Zero, making sure that the only way to hit him was to hit me, he hugged me back and rested his face on my neck, murmuring into my ear, Taiteki grew less patient and the bats flew over, brushing my back, I turned my head "if you hurt him...I will kill myself" Taiteki stopped in his tracks, he looked down
"you really choose a level d over me?" I nodded
"that level d, has a kinder heart then you could ever imagine" Zero closed his eyes and smiled into my neck, Taiteki nodded "very well, I cannot change your mind, the wedding is off" he stalked off and Zero hugged me "my...Tora..." he murmured, I nuzzled his neck and he kissed my forehead "you really do have a kind heart, Zero" he smiled
"a heart that is yours, my love" I walked with him to a nice place where we could stay, I laid on the bed and watched Zero take his shirt off, he got into bed beside me and put a hand around my waist, he looked into my eyes and pulled me so my waist pressed against him, our eyes never parted and I put my lips on his cheek, he moved and our lips met, I soon fell asleep.
Zeros POV
I woke in the middle of the night, breathing hard, Keikan stirred in front of me, I kissed her forehead gently and she relaxed, I got up and looked out the window at the night sky, I heard a rustle behind me and someone took my hand "are you okay Zero?" came Keikan's musical voice, I hugged her, burying my face in her cheek "of course I'm okay, my love" she looked into my eyes, her beautiful eyes never miss anything "did you have a bad dream?" I lowered my eyes, I let her know the answer without saying it, she kissed me "what was it about?"
"you" she smiled and linked her arms around my neck, I put my hands on her waist "someone...took you...took you far away...where I could never reach you...to the other side of the world...I never saw you again...I had...no reason to live" I looked up "you, Tora...are my reason to live" she kissed me again
"and you are mine...shitau, Zero, forever and always...shitau" I hugged her protectively and thought about all that had happened, together, we watched the sun rise, we saw it cast its rays across the cold morning dew, filling the word with warmth, I finally broke the silence "we really have been through a lot, haven't we?" she smiled with her head down
"more than many can imagine" I took her hand
"come on, we need to tell your parents about Taiteki" she nodded and pulled her cloak on, I put on my shirt and we walked all day together, that night, we sat by a fire, we were a day away from the school, my arm was around Keikan's waist, her head was on my shoulder, I looked into the fire, wild and dancing, dangerous, and beautiful, like Keikan, I inhaled her scent, it was sweet and immensely powerful, she started humming, a quiet and calm song, I lifted my head and smiled at the moon, the next day I would have to face her parents, the pureblood 'king' and 'queen', if they rejected me, they would break us apart, I would never see Keikan again, if they accepted me, then we would only have to fear Kaname, who would still do everything in his power to end our relationship, Keikan's humming subsided, she had fallen asleep, I pressed my cheek against her forehead and closed my eyes, I opened them and saw something glint gold in her hands, the light from the fire shined off it, I moved my head and saw that Keikan was caressing the necklace I gave her, I stroked her cheek with one finger and she murmured in her sleep "Zero" I smiled and put my cheek against her forehead again, I soon fell asleep as well {...I raised my head wearily from the floor, blood stained my body, the floor, the walls, everything, covered in our blood, my neck burned, I blinked and saw that woman, her white kimono was also stained with blood, the blood of my family, Shizuka Hio looked back at me triumphantly, I small figure stepped out from behind her, a figure like looking in a mirror "Ichiru, don't go with her! Run! Get away!" I called to my brother, he smirked and followed the tainted pureblood out, blood was seeping out from the wounds on my neck, my vision faded, my head hit the floor...} I opened my eyes, Keikan caressed my cheek "good morning" I closed my eyes and smiled, I got up and we began the long walk that would be that day, my eyes was drawn to her neck, she wore the necklace, the blue gem dipped temptingly into her chest, I walked with her until the sun set, we ended up at the school, Keikan showed me a shortcut, she knocked on the door of a mansion and a servant answered "mistress" she bowed, eyeing me disdainfully, she held the door open and we walked in, she wandered into the sitting room, I was behind her, she opened the door, her mother and father were there with Yuki and Kaname, when we came in, Yuki attacked her with a hug, as did her mother, Yuki looked sheepishly at me "hi, Zero" I could tell by everyone's expressions that nobody wanted me there "what about Taiteki?" asked Kaname, I felt Keikan take my hand before answering "Taiteki understands, mother, father, tradition or not, I choose to spend forever with the one I love" I glanced around, her parents didn't look too happy about our decision, Yuki seemed delighted that we were finally brother and sister and Kaname looked murderous, Keikan continued "I have accepted him, as the one I want to spend the rest of my life with...mother, father, Yuki, Kaname...all I ask is that you accept him too" her mother nodded "I thought it was time we threw away those silly traditions...from now on, purebloods shall marry for love, no matter what" Keikan smiled, I hugged her.
Keikan's POV
There was a knock at the door, a servant answered it, Toma entered, my family looked welcoming, but I jerked and prepared to kill him, Zero reached inside his jacket for his gun, my mother shouted "stop that! Is that any way to welcome a guest?" Zero let it go, I still kept my eyes on Toma, ready to kill him at any notice, he spoke "I came to apologize, Keikantora...I shouldn't have hurt you" my father jumped
"what's this? What did you do?"
"I share the blame, father, I shouldn't have insulted him" my father accepted my explanation and Zero and I left.
Many years later
"Aunty Keikan!" I looked over at my niece, Hyourin, and nephew Mangetsu, Kaname and Yuki's children, I turned my head to Zero who was sitting next to me on the sofa, he smiled and nuzzled my neck, my niece and nephew climbed onto my lap "can you tell us a story?" I laughed
"shouldn't you two be in bed?" Yuki's childish face appeared at the door "they just won't go to sleep!" I smiled "okay you can have a story" they cheered
"yay!"
"now, which story would you like to hear?"
"we wanna hear a vampire hunter story!"
"maybe you should ask Zero, you know he tells hunter stories better than me" Zero gave me a joke pleading look "please no" he said with a smile as the young purebloods jumped onto his lap, knocking him over, I laughed again at the look on his face and helped him up "can we see your gun, Zero?" asked Mangetsu (Zero insists they don't call him "uncle!"), Zero smiled "fine" he pulled the bloody rose out of his jacket and showed it to the children, not letting them touch it "is it really enchanted to hurt vampires?" he nodded
"but I would never use it on you"
"Zero? What does your tattoo mean?"
"it helped me stay human"
"why would you want to stay human?" asked Hyourin quietly, Zero looked at me "that's a good question, I don't even remember anymore" I smiled and closed my eyes, Zero told a story about the vampire hunter who fell in love with his prey: "once, many years ago, there was a vampire hunter, he was strong willed, well known amongst the hunters, and was trained by one of the best, but his heart knew no love, only sadness, and hatred...he had a deep burning hatred for vampires, they controlled his life, and killed his family, he told himself that all vampires were evil..."
"but that was before her, right?" interrupted Mangetsu
"hush, Mangetsu" I whispered, Zero continued
"he told himself that all vampires were evil, the hunters association gave him many jobs, he finished them quickly and effectively, one day, he was given the ultimate job: a pureblood." the children whimpered a little, Zero kept going "this pureblood had broken vampire laws, the hunters had her assigned to him, he worked undercover in a school, Cross academy"
"you went there!" giggled Hyourin
"so did Keikan" he smiled, I smiled back
"and your mum and dad" Zero continued with his story "while undercover at cross academy, the hunter made a reputation for himself as cruel, scary, and very unfriendly, it was one day when the hunter was wandering the grounds, that he saw his target, she was beautiful, she had long hair that danced in the wind, and amazing eyes that lured him in, he had heard descriptions of her, but nobody told him just how beautiful she was, she looked like an angel, he did as he was told, he watched her for many days, he told himself to think of only the job, but he couldn't help but wonder if he could hurt someone so delicate. The day finally came when the hunters told him to kill her, he confronted her and held a gun to her heart, their eyes met, he told himself to finish the job, to kill her, but he couldn't pull the trigger, he couldn't bring himself to take such an amazing creature from the world, couldn't ruin her life, he dropped the gun and bullied himself, he saw her smile, the smile melted his heart, his concrete heart that had for so long known only sadness and hate, opened up and he could feel love blossoming, she thanked him for sparing her life and he blurted out his feelings for her, she smiled at him and returned his feelings, but the two had to keep their love secret"
"why?" asked Mangetsu, I answered
"relationships between vampires and vampire hunters aren't very well accepted, especially if the vampire is a pureblood"
"but Zero is a hunter"
"yes, few people accept this kind of relationship" Zero went on with the story "they met every day, secretly, one day, all was well, the forbidden couple were spending a hard-won moment together, a pureblood came to their spot, the pureblood was angry and protective of her, so they attacked him, and left him for dead, she cried, he was carried away by another hunter, but she, used her wolf transformation, she howled that night, howled loudly and sorrowfully"
"but Zero, he can't be dead! What will she do if he's dead?" Zero smiled warmly
"why don't we let Keikan tell the rest of the story?" I smiled back and began "the poor girl howled her grief every night, hoping that her loved one, wherever he may be, would hear. One day, a long time after the incident, she entered a strange building that caught her eye, a voice sounded out, threatening her, she was hugged by a stranger, who she jumped away from, crying: my heart belongs to another! He stepped out of the shadows where he was standing, and said: You told me your heart belongs to me. She was so surprised! Her one and only beloved, was alive, he was recovering from his wounds in that house, the two rejoiced, they ended up living together, the world was forced to accept them, just the way they were" the little vampires' eyes drooped, they yawned and fell asleep, Kaname came in with Yuki "jeez, how can you manage to get them asleep?" they picked up the sleeping vampires and carried them away, I looked at Zero, he hugged me "that's a new story" I murmured
"it's our story" he murmured back "having to hide their love...because of the families they were born to..." I kissed him "shitau...my hunter"
"shitau" he murmured back.
Note from the author: WAAAAA! this is the last chapteeerr! but LOL (lots of LOLs) hey? btw, when Grinch (lol when i read this to my sister, she pissed herself laughing at his name) and his gang are annoying Keikan, and she threatens to "eat" them, that means devour, like Zero does to Ichiru and Kaname does to Shizuka: Drink from them until they have no blood left and die. LOL! ZERO HINTS AT A LEMON JOKE! if you have no ides about what im talking about, when he says "please handle me" its supposed to be hinting at a lemon joke. NOW! I WANT A HUG! *chases Keikan around*
Keikan- not going to happen!
Me- *chases Altair around*
Altair- FOR THE LAST TIME NO! *jumps off the building into a barrel of hay*
Me- *tries to hug Al Mualim*
Altair- *grabs me by the hood and pulls me away*
Me- *chases Zero around*
Zero- *pulls a gun while Keikan is pissing herself laughing*
Me- *runs away* WHY DOES NOBODY GIVE ME HUGS!