Chapter Two

Family Ties

He was a pureblood vampire-a Kuran no less, claiming that Yuki was his long lost sister. It was bullshit and he deserved to be shot for that reason alone yet for some reason Zero lowered his gun.

He wouldn't tell them much-except for the fact that their parents were murdered the snowy night that Zero's parents had found Yuki, that their mother had sealed Yuki's vampire genes to keep her safe from those that would murder her, and that the Kiriyu family had reached her before he could come and spirit her away.

"What do you want from me?" Yuki asked unconsciously moving closer to Ichiru.

"I want you to come with me and live the life you were meant to."

Yuki shook her head. "I don't even know you. I'm not what you say. I'm human."

"This is low even for a vampire." Haro Kiriyu stated. "I'm going to have to ask you both to leave."

Kaname stood up in a manner that was graceful and self assured. He probably knew that it was going to be a nearly impossible feat taking Yuki with him and decided to concede defeat gracefully…or maybe Zero was giving him too much credit for intelligence. "Yuki, may I come see you? Perhaps tomorrow?" Yuki didn't answer. She only stared at him with wide, frightened eyes.

"I-"

"No." Ichiru said quietly. "You may not. If and when Yuki desires to see you she will contact you. Until then I think you should do as my father said and leave."

Kaname and Ichiru locked eyes in a battle of wills of which the final winner was uncertain.

"If that is what you wish, Yuki, then you can always reach me through Kaien. You have a good evening."

And then he was gone with Kaien following soon after him.

Zero put his gun away and chose to sit on Yuki's other side sensing that she needed them both near.

"Is what they were saying even possible?" Yuki asked.

"Yes." Akari answered. "I have heard of this being done once or twice. As I know it there are two types of seals that are used. One is temporary the other is permanent."

"What type of seal was used on Yuki?" Zero asked quickly although somehow he already knew the answer. "And how do we know if he was telling the truth?"

"As of right now we don't know but if he is then we will. We definitely will." Akari said softly, ominously.

It wasn't long after when Yuki's nightmares began. Blood stained dreams filled with death , fear, and pain. It was normal that Ichiru was the first to discover that she was having them because otherwise Yuki would not have mentioned them. They all knew something was wrong. Her face began to show the strain of sleepless nights. Yet she never said a word to any of them.

It annoyed the hell out of Zero. He questioned her but she always brushed him off saying it was no big deal but Zero knew a lie when he heard one-especially if Yuki was the one telling it. The young hunter said nothing about it to his parents but he decided that a conversation was needed with the pureblood known as Kaname Kuran and he would be the one to have the conversation with him.

He contacted Yagari, the man who he trusted more than anyone in Hunter Society, and asked him how to get in contact with Cross. Yagari asked no questions. The man simply acquired the information for him. He knew eventually Yagari would tell his parents about his inquiry but he would give him time to do what he needed to do before he disclosed the information-even though he didn't know what was going on. Once he found out that he was going to confront a pureblood then Zero was certain his head would be served up on a silver platter.

Zero rubbed his neck warily as he dialed Cross' number. "Cross Academy this is Kaien Cross speaking how may I help you?" Zero paused momentarily disgusted by the blatant happiness evident in the older man's voice. No one should be that happy-especially not early in the morning.

"Hello?" Kaien asked when Zero didn't immediately respond. Zero sensed Ichiru approaching and ducked into his room shutting the door behind him and locking it.

"Yes, this is Zero Kiriyu."

"Ah, Zero-kun! How nice it is to hear from you! How may I help you?"

Zero scowled before saying, "I need to speak to that pureblood."

"…Zero you wouldn't be thinking of killing him would you? You know he hasn't harmed anyone so technically-"

"I know the technicalities." Zero growled. "I need to speak to him about Yuki."

"I see…" Kaien said and grew quiet. Zero ground his teeth at the silence wanted to demand answers but knowing that wasn't the way to go about things. Diplomacy wasn't his strong point-it was Ichiru's. He should have told Ichiru what he planned to do but Ichiru needed to stay with Yuki and if he knew he was going to confront a pureblood he'd insist upon coming along and if he didn't let him he'd tell mother and father. His younger brother was by no means ashamed of using blackmail to get what he wanted, but they couldn't leave Yuki alone. It was simply out of the question.

"Come see me at Cross Academy and I'll help you."

"Is he there?" Zero demanded. He didn't have time to be given the run around. He needed answers and he needed them yesterday.

"Just come Zero-kun and I'll help you."

Zero tossed the phone across the room angrily when he was greeted with a dial tone.

Ichiru entered Yuki's room without knocking earning a squeal from Yuki and having a bear tossed at his head.

"Ichiru!" Yuki yelled when Ichiru continued coming into her room while she was half dressed. Really, she wasn't even topless. She had on a bra that covered her meager bosom and a pair of jeans.

"Just put on a shirt. Your itty bitty titties are of no use to me." Yuki threw a book at him that barely missed and then pulled a shirt down over her head.

"I really hate you sometimes Ichiru."

"Yes, but more often than not you love me. Now do you want to know what's going on or not?"

Yuki paused and looked at Ichiru with her brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"My wayward brother plans to go meet the pureblood that claims to be your brother-and he plans on doing it alone."

"What?" Yuki shrieked shattering Ichiru's eardrums. Ichiru was thankful that their household was use to Yuki and her random, loud outbursts and wouldn't bother to come checking on her-especially if they knew he was in there with her.

"You heard me."

"And how do you know that Ichiru?" Yuki said narrowing her eyes on him. Ichiru just shrugged and replied, "I eavesdropped on the phone conversation he was having."

Yuki stared at Ichiru on the one hand exasperated that he eavesdropped on everyone but on the other hand glad because Zero was going to get himself killed if they didn't interfere.

"So we're following him, right?"

Ichiru smiled. There were reasons that he adored Yuki.