Chapter 8: Coming Clean

I awoke at four a.m. that day, or so my alarm clock told me. The red numbers projected at me, reminding me of two things.

The numbers told me I sucked at sleeping, which I already knew. I had already sucked at sleeping before all of this mess. But ever since I met Shizuka it progressively got worse and worse. Even before she returned for me I would see Ichiru in my dreams, which was probably the most heartbreaking thing I've experienced, aside from losing my parents of course.

And the red, well the color red hadn't just been a color in what felt like forever. It was a symbol of my life now, stained with red. It was the color of everything I hated. From blood to Shizuka's livingroom walls to a monsters eyes. It was sickening, and in all honestly, I could never see the color as simply that ever again. It was ruined.

I stayed like that till about six a.m., thats when the man with straw hair entered my room. He knocked softly to be polite, but in all honestly I knew he wasn't expecting an answer. I wasn't in the mood to give him one anyways. He opened the door and stayed in the doorway.

"Akane?" He asked, tilting his head a bit. The Headmaster had a small smile on his face, which was something I needed right now. "Why are you up so early? Excited to start school?" He asked cheerfully. Thats when I realized that Zero hadn't told him about my break down last night. That meant he had no idea that there was more to it than just Shizkua Hio. That could be the only reason he was so innocently happy. To bad I had to ruin it.

I pondered why Zero hadn't told him yet. Even if he was asleep or it was early in the morning, it seemed like it was sort of his job to tell the Headmaster when there was something wrong. Even if he didn't support what the Headmaster was doing all the time, it would always be in his best interest to help him with whatever came up. Upon thinking about this, Zero's intentions became obvious. He didn't tell him because he wanted me to. I mean, it made sense I guess. Zero didn't know exactly what was going on, and this way I would have to explain everything to Cross. Everything leading back to meeting Ichiru. The story that I longed to keep mine for months now. It was the corner they had been waiting to back me into.

I felt a bit betrayed by this, like their intention this whole time was to use me for what I had been through and what I knew about this Pureblood. But when I looked up at the Headmaster standing at the door, whispering softly checking if I was okay, I knew this wasn't true. I knew Yuki and I were truly friends. I knew that Zero really did care about me, even if he wouldn't say so. At that I began to cry again. This made the Headmaster run over to the edge of the bed, sitting on the stool Zero had just occupied hours before.

"Akane, please talk to me." He begged. I shook my head and covered my face. My body shook again. My heart ached uncontrollably. It was time to explain. Time to explain everything. Time to lose the one image of Ichiru that was truly mine. I just had to find the words.

Hours later I found myself in the Headmasters office in the school building. It was still morning, the sun now at full rise. I was properly dressed now in a navy blue sundress. I had stopped crying a few hours earlier, the Headmaster had hugged me like my father would till I stopped. I told him I would tell him everything. He only nodded, unable to find the correct response.

The office wasn't empty like normal, Zero stood against the wall to the right of me, I thought it was appropriate that he be here to hear exactly what happened to his brother. The Headmaster sat in his usual chair, papers stacked in front of him. My name was on all of them.

We sat there waiting, for who I had no idea. Headmaster Cross had only said that we needed to wait for an additional person to evaluate for the other side of the political process. I didn't understand what he meant by that, but I just let him do what he wanted. He knew what was best. Plus, I didn't want to have to do this twice.

My knee bounced up and down nervously. I had to find a way to calm down. I was just a child, I'm still a child. I didn't do anything wrong.

The familiar feeling of a Pureblood broke my eager thoughts making me grip the chair I was sitting on and hold my breath. What was Kaname doing here? It was completely insensitive for a Pureblood to be here during this process.

I turned towards the opening office door and frowned as I stood. "Whats going on here?" I demanded the Pureblood. Kaname's eyes widened in surprise. I guess he assumed I knew he was coming, when in reality I had no idea. I turned to the Headmaster sitting behind his desk and raised an eyebrow. "This is the other side of the political process?" I let out, almost to upset to speak.

Cross gave me apologetic eyes as he spoke. "Yes, Akane, it is. The hunters aren't the only side that matter. Vampires have a say in these processes too. Kaname is a respected vampire. He needs to be here to evaluate for the vampire societies records as well."

I let out a scoff. "Is that another way of saying that not only does the Hunters Association run your school, but him too?" I threw an accusing thumb behind me towards Kaname, pointing. Headmaster Cross shook his head to disagree. "Akane, you know very well thats not the case. But there are rules with things like this-" "Rules? How about we follow the rules when his kind does too?!" I yelled at him.

The room went silent at my remark, Zero shifted in his spot. I know he agreed with me, but he remained silent anyways. He knew it wasn't his place to speak.

Kuran's kind got away with whatever they wanted. They could kill innocent people without any penalties. They had too much power for their own good. Kaname broke the silence from behind me, I turned to face him as he spoke. "Akane, I assure you this information will remain classified. I'm here as an unbiased individual, regardless of who I'm representing."

Kaname's brownish red eyes swallowed my attention, making me focus and hang on every little word he had said. This frustrated me further. It was an unintentional thing his presence could do, and it never ceased to piss me off. I turned away, shaking my head no simultaneously. "No." I stated simply, my orbs burning into the Headmasters. He looked down at his desk sorrowfully, then back up at me. "Akane, please, I am personally asking you to let Kaname hear your story."

I was so done with this. So done with all the problems and policies and the bloodshed. So done with being undermined by these authoritative figures that have never been in the position I'm in now. It was almost laughable how done I was. I even let out a small chuckle. "You know what, what the fuck." I whispered. "It doesn't matter anymore. I have no chance with those two Purebloods out there." Kaien's eyes widened at my words. "What are you talking about?" He asked, staring me down with curiosity.

I had forgotten till now that I needed to tell him that too. I let out a tired sigh and slid back down into the chair. I looked at Zero, who gave me a nod of support, and then back at the Headmaster. "Last night I had this dream. I was chasing Ichiru through the woods when we found ourselves in a clearing. There was a bunch of level-E's coming out of the forest surrounding us, coming out to attack us. I backed into this Pureblood when I tried to run. He was really tall and…" I stopped. And he had dark hair. I froze in my seat. Could that Pureblood from my dream have been Kaname? I looked up at Zero with my mouth dropped open. His expression now did the same. With a swift motion he pulled out the Bloody Rose gun. The gun was aimed hatefully at Kaname Kuran, who was holding his hands up in response.

"Zero!" The Headmaster exclaimed as he jumped out of his seat. "What are you doing?" I stood and turned to the brown haired teen.

Zero shook his head at the Pureblood raising his hands in innocence before him. He then nodded at me, telling me to continue speaking.

"H-he was really tall…" I continued. "And he had dark hair. Like yours." I found myself shaking now, seriously concerned for my safety. If Kaname was working with Shizuka Hio then me staying here was apart of the plan the whole time. I was set to die at Cross Academy from the very beginning.

Kaname sighed and started. "You truly think I am working with Shizuka? Thats absurd, Akane. I would never support a Pureblood like herself, she's reckless."

In response I slowly pulled a knife out of under my dress and spun it in my hand. "Prove it." I ordered him. Headmaster Cross was next to me now, not stopping me or encouraging me. Maybe he questioned Kaname's intentions now as well.

"I could never have worked with her and you know that." He slowly lowered his hands. "I believe the fact that I've been present at the academy this whole time is enough proof. I don't need to prove anything else." He shot Zero a glare that scared me a bit. It was full of annoyance, which to me was to unpredictable.

"Akane," Kaien cut in. "He isn't working with Shizuka Hio. If there were ever any ties between the two the Association would have noted it, which they haven't. Plus, he in fact has been here the whole time, he didn't even leave for vacation last year, he decided to stay." I looked at the man with glasses and lowered my knife at his words, completely trusting his information. He would never lie to me, I knew that.

"Zero, put your gun down." Cross tried. Zero looked at him with eyes full of utter hatred. He lowered the gun bitterly.

Kaname now entered the room completely and took the seat next to me, I shrugged away as I had before. The Headmaster returned to his seat and let out a tired sigh. I felt for the man, he lives in an ocean of tension. It's deep and endless.

He lifted a pen off the desk and then looked up at me. "Akane. Lets begin. Tell me, in detail, where did you first meet Ichiru, and how did that encounter involve you with Shizuka Hio?"

The way this was worded bothered me. It made it sound like Ichiru, Shizuka, and I were business partners with no emotions towards each other at all. It was such an impersonal way to conduct this, but I guess that's whats this has come to.

I took one last look around the room and then let my eyes fall to my lap. I slid the knife I had just had out seconds ago from the holster once more, holding it for comfort now. It was the last thing my father ever gave to me. It gave me strength and security.

"Uhm. I first met Ichiru at a hospital as kids. As you know, he was very ill, as was I. We were both in the waiting room day after day, week after week, so I introduced myself. We would play together when we could and hold each other's hand when we couldn't. After we were friends for a while, we started hanging out outside of the waiting room. While Zero was at school we would have playdates sometimes. They were pretty broken up though because of the family being busy vampire hunters, but I didn't know that at the time, or even care for that matter. He was my first friend. That's all that mattered to me."

"Probably a year passed before I met Shizuka. My parents had taken me to the park one afternoon and I ventured out into the forest surrounding it. I found myself at a cherry blossom tree surrounded by normal forest trees. She was sitting on the ground under it, crying. I asked her why she was crying and she told me it was because the person she loved was taken away from her. I would come to find that was her motive for hurting the Kiryu family."

"I went back to that park every Friday I was healthy enough to with my parents, and each time I would go see Shizuka. I didn't know what she was or what she was planning, but I remember how her eyes lit up when I would tell her about Ichiru. After a while she proposed an idea, invite Ichiru to come play with us too. I took the bait without thinking twice. My only two friends befriending each other? That was all I ever wanted."

I let out a sigh and looked up at Zero. His hair was covering his eyes as he leaned up against the wall. I couldn't see the expression on his face and I didn't want to. Though I was curious I probably couldn't handle a hurt expression from the silver haired teen. Kaname sat next to me silent, eyeing me as I spoke, I dealt with the discomfort. I had to. Headmaster Cross sprawled down what I had said at lightning speeds, not even stopping while I was silent.

I let out one last deep breath and began once again. "So I did as I was instructed to do. I asked Ichiru if he wanted to come to the park with us. Next Friday he and I felt well enough to go to the park. So we did. I introduced my two friends under the cherry blossom tree and they instantly had a connection. I- I don't understand why Ichiru didn't know what she was, but he didn't for some reason and-."I stopped the thought and pushed on.

"After that things changed. We would go to the park and talk about our families and play games, but, it was different now. Ichiru stopped talking about his family in a bright light. He-" I cut off, unsure if I could continue. "I-Im sorry. But he said that they didn't care about him anymore, and that soon even his brother would leave too. I didn't know that you guys were twins or anything, and I didn't understand why he would say his family was leaving him. I tried to snap him out of it, but he never listened. He was convinced no one but Shizuka and I loved him anymore."

"That's when he started idolizing Shizuka Hio. He didn't know what he was doing, he was feeding her incentive. She would hug him when he was down and listen to his endless complaints. She made him feel important I guess. Meanwhile, I was just stuck watching it happen. There was no way to stop losing my friends. I didn't want to tell an adult because I knew somewhere deep down that if I did they wouldn't let us see Shizuka anymore, and I knew that would hurt Ichiru to much to bare."

I started breathing heavily now, unable to get the haunting memories out of my head.

"T-Thats when we got the call." I choked out. I looked up at Zero who wouldn't raise his gaze from the floor. I wish he would look at me now, so I could say I was sorry to him. Endless I'm sorries for endless pain.

"Someone called the house." I shut my eyes as I spoke and let the tears fall. My voice shook more and more with every word. "I remember my mother and father sitting me down on the couch. They were crying, and before long I was too. Someone had called them and explained the whole situation to them. Purebloods, hunters, and Ichiru's family. They told me everything, I was going to find out some how anyways. I didn't know what to believe anymore. I mean, you spend your whole life telling kids the monsters under their beds aren't real. Well, thats bullshit because they are, but they are disguised as humans."

"We moved towns after that. I wouldn't leave the house, I wouldn't eat, I couldn't sleep without being hidden. I couldn't really handle that town anymore. We left to a smaller town a while out."

"Years past after that. I became healthy fairly quickly and was told I could attend public school." I spun the knife in my hand slower now. "I was in highschool for a while before things started happening again. I would be walking down the hallways and see someone with silver hair like his. I would chase it all I could but he would always slip away somehow. Sometimes he would turn a corner and flash me a glance, just quick enough so I could see his unmistakable eyes. It started to drive me mad. So the next time I saw him I sprinted through the halls after him. He ran out of the building and chuckled, the same laugh he used to have. He lead me down an alley and then finally showed himself completely. It was Ichiru, we were both older, but it was definitely him."

I looked up at everyone again, meeting Kaname's eyes by mistake. They held no sympathy, like they were analyzing every word that spilled from my mouth. I despised it. I shuffled in my chair.

"He didn't let me speak or ask questions, no matter how hard I had tried to. He just told me that he was apart of something big and that I had to go with him, otherwise I would never see him again. He had this confident smile on his face, like he knew I was going to say yes, but I didn't. I shook my head no and told him I couldn't leave my parents. I begged him to stay but he started crying and whispering things. Like he couldn't even control himself because of my answer. He disappeared after that. He ran away and I tried to chase him but I couldn't."

"A couple days later I payed for my answer." My hands now shook wildly. I tried to stop it but they wouldn't obey. I continued with an equally shaky voice. I didn't care anymore. It was too late to be brave. "We were all home one afternoon. I was upstairs grabbing paint for my mother while she and my father were downstairs. I was calling out to them and they wouldn't answer. And th-" I bit my lip and closed my eyes again. One hand was holding my neck where Shizuka mercilessly ended my life, the other gripping the chair. "Y-you have that in another report, right? I don't need to-"

Headmaster Cross cut in for the first time, taking a break from writing. "That's alright Akane. Just skip it." He softly nodded at me, like I would break in half if he did anything else. It was true though, I probably would have. I could barely handle this as it was, but talking about my parents was to much.

I forced myself to stop crying as much as possible so I could continue my tale. "That's when it got really bad. Shizuka...attacked us… because I hurt Ichiru. He loved her and she wanted him happy, even if he was just her pet. I woke up in her mansion, and was forced to spend the next few months there. She was beyond cruel, I think it was mostly because of her injury. She had gotten hurt somehow and was still recovering. But that didn't seem to make her much weaker when it came to everyday things."

"I refused to obey her, and to her it was like some sort of game. Like she was just seeking entertainment. She would force Ichiru into town to get her friends, and just manipulate them constantly. She was abusive, forcing me to drink from them when she was bored. Punishing me for silly things. It was hell. I couldn't stay. I asked Ichiru for help, he was there witnessing it all. But he refused every time, like I had committed an unforgivable crime against him."

I pulled my dress down a bit more, wary of the scars that lined my torso and stomach. All from the Pureblood's rage.

"One night Shizuka was having a gigantic party, there were probably 300 people in her mansion, around every corner and in every room. I chose to make my escape that night. I walked out the front door and got to the last step before Shizuka and Ichiru emerged from the front door as well. That's all I remember before I came here. I know they attacked me but...I just can't find it in my head. I guess I escaped." I sighed, finally wrapping up my life story. I could feel my eyes were puffy and red and I still couldn't stop shaking. I just stared at my feet, done.

"Akane, thank you." Kaname stated. Cross followed with a thank you as well, still jotting things down on the multiple sheets of paper. Zero left the room without a word, he probably hated me for introducing his brother to her. I wouldn't blame him if he never spoke to me again.

The Headmaster finished up his writing and handed a few documents to Kaname. The vampire accepted them and excused himself from the office. I just sat there, unable to force myself up.

The images kept flashing through my mind one after another. All of them were horrific. Each time I thought I wouldn't have to witness these scenes again they flashed through my mind once more, making me lean forward in my chair and hold my head.

The Headmaster stood from his seat and made his way around his desk. "Akane." He sighed, placing a gentle hand on top of my bent over back and rubbing it comfortingly, "Akane, you are so brave. Thank you so much for doing this. Now we can use this information to capture Shizuka Hio. Now there is undeniable proof that she committed a crime and needs to be punished for it."

I forced myself to sit up and look at the kind man in the eyes, but could only shake my head no. "I- I can't stop seeing all of it. A-a-and getting her wont h-help. There's two of them, Headmaster."

He looked down and frowned. "You can't say that, Akane. You can't give up on yourself like that. There is still so much hope."

I couldn't believe that. My parents were dead, Zero's parents were dead, Ichiru was delusional, and Shizuka's game was just getting started. This was a situation that contained no hope, just bloodshed.

I don't know how long I sat there, but I sat staring out the window as the Headmaster walked in and out of the office dealing with business for the rest of that day. I saw the sun move from one end of the sky to the other, and I didn't even flinch.

Once it was completely dark out the Headmaster entered once again. "Akane. Lets get you back to the house." He told me softly. I didn't flinch until he touched my arm, thats when I actually realized he was there. I stood and unhurriedly followed. Soon we were back at the house, where I was offered dinner at least 30 times. I refused every offering, knowing if I ate right now I would probably throw it up.

Yuki was there, sitting on the couch watching TV. She hugged me tight, but I didn't hug her back. I was too drained to even totally acknowledge her presence.

I made my way through the hallway that wasn't my homes hallway and entered the room that wasn't my real bedroom. I stripped out of my navy sundress and left it on the floor, then made my way to the wardrobe. I chose some short pajama pants and a black hoodie. After dressing I rolled onto the plush bed and through the covers over my head, letting my face have a small hole that showed me the outside world I loathed.

Hello! I am excited to say that this chapter was on time! It was a push but I guess it payed off. This chapter was super easy for me to write because I had it planned out down to the very end. I hope you guys liked it. It was the big reveal I've been waiting for, and suspicions about the second pureblood are getting heated, so I'm super pumped.

Q: Did you guys like the way Akane told her story? Would you have preferred it as a flash back instead?

Honestly, I wanted her whole story to be a flash back from the beginning, but it didn't make any sense to me that way. This way it actually showed her mental break down, which accounts for why she talked about her past in the first place. In the end I think it worked out well.Tell me what you think!

Thank you immensely for looking at my words! Have a lovely day!