AN: I don't own anything except Nicodemus and Kotori

Thank you to everyone who reviewed, any opinions or suggestions are gladly welcomed!

0000

Yuki landed on the rich thick carpet with a dull thud, her head felt like it was full of cotton her fierce hope that had gathered up around her like a cloak was ebbing away with the last of her strength.

Looking up she beheld an ordinary room, a room that didn't seem to have been lived in for quite sometime. But the bed like everything else in the Moon Dorm was a massive antique four-poster, shrouded in translucent gold curtains…. Something had been laid out on the bed something that was winking dully at her in the moonlight from the large French window.

Straightening she walked over tripping on the small stairs leading up to the majestic bed. The bed even seemed out of place in this Spartan room. It was almost as if the bed was planted there for her amusement….

But the desire to discover the source of the twinkling was overwhelming, carefully and with something like reverence she parted the golden curtains and stared down at the corseted dress. It was a pale snowy white, shrouded in layers of tulle and organza embroidered with small sequins and pearls. Fine antique lace drowned the arms, hem and neck, an elaborate train was stretched out across the bed with satin ribbons and a translucent silk veil. Dainty embroidered slippers fit for a princess sat on a silk pillow along with a small jewelry chest….

All this was for a bride… And the pieces fell terribly into place….

"Do you like them?"

Yuki turned slowly as if she were trapped in some ghastly nightmare, one that she would never, ever wake from…

Tsuki stood there with a smile that bordered smug on his face, he was not in his human form and as usual dressed opulently. He was all in blue today with silver threadwork, his robes were the finest Japanese silk she had ever seen…. Only magic could make his robes so stunning in their beauty….

In his left hand he held a small box, Yuki felt all the color leaving her face.

"You said that you would take my hand…" she trailed off lamely her throat dry.

"Yes your hand my dear… You should read the contract carefully before signing. Unless you really want me to sever your hand from your body… I really don't know what to do with it, other then eat it… I was thinking that this option would be much better."

Yuki flinched visibly, Tsuki tilted his head to one side as if waiting for her answer.

"Well?" he gently prodded when she was silent

"I couldn't marry you I am barely sixteen!" she cried suddenly aghast at the look of seriousness that crossed his hauntingly handsome face. Though his godlike beauty did not seem to affect her here, now she could look him in both of his eyes.

"That is what you agreed too" Tsuki stated softly taking a step towards her.

"I DID NOT!" she cried

Tsuki smiled…

Yuki wanted to kick herself, how could she be so blind, so trustworthy of him… Tsuki was a pompous, self-centered, devious being if there ever was one. This is what Kaname warned her about…

This is why no one wanted to meddle with the gods… Tears of frustration and helplessness bloomed in her eyes.

"Why Tsuki?"

Tsuki closed the distance between them, pinning Yuki near the locked French window. There was nowhere for her to go, his power held her where she was his eyes…. They left her spellbound.

"Because I am quite fond of you, or rather I am quite fond of breaking up the sweetest of relationships. Who do you think placed the spell on Kaname that night at the New Years Ball, that made him think of you as meat?"

Rage and pain flared in her chest, bright and white hot. "I knew IT!" she exclaimed beating at his chest with her fists.

"I hate you…." She muttered now utterly tired, the tears were hot on her face she was still feeling ill…. Not even the power in the room could take that away.

Tsuki spoke only after Yuki had given up her pathetic attempt to make him move.

"You are ill because you are heartbroken, it is killing you very, very slowly. Now that you know that Kaname belongs to someone else you want nothing more in this world. I have observed you these last months…"

His webbed hand ran delicately through her hair, Yuki was too exhausted to protest. It settled like a butterfly wing on her cheek , where fingertips traced the shape of her face.

"You could never love me could you?"

Yuki shook her head as fingertips wiped away fresh tears.

"Tsuki please I thought you and I were friends… I'll give you anything else in the world except… My hand, my love."

"But that is all I want…." He muttered, Yuki didn't want to look up at him. But she could feel the power in the room growing, the smell of roses rose up around her like a toxic fume. Tsuki was playing with the tips of her hair, he had drawn so close into a near embrace.

"All I want is your happiness…." He paused Yuki could hear the hesitation in his voice. The next words seemed to come out very slowly as if he were thinking very hard about them.

"Close your eyes"

A cool hand touched her own, taking up her left hand she felt something cold and heavy slide onto her finger…

And at the same time warm lips pressed into her own, it was only brief a bare brush of lips. When she heard a voice so close to her ear

"Take this to remember me by."

Something burned white hot into her wrist then, a thread of power slipped through her and then….

Darkness….

0000

"Yuki" a serene voice laced with concern filled her dulled hearing. She was lying on something warm. Her cheek against something that rose and feel in a soft cadence,

"Kaname?" she muttered her eyes opening slowly. Kaname tilted her head back and kissed her. He pulled away after a time, his cheeks lightly flushed.

"I am glad you are alright, you slept so soundly I was afraid that Tsuki had done something to you."

Yuki flushed and looked down, to her horror she saw something like a dewy rose branded on her left wrist and turning over saw the elaborate ring on her wedding finger. She tried to pull it off and found it would not move.

Kaname gazed down at the square cut ruby the size of a pigeons egg, surrounded by clear pale yellow diamonds.

"He still intends to marry you Yuki." Kaname said without emotion in his dulcet tones.

"Nani?" she looked at him once more and he smiled "You are now his, forever. Your soul belongs to him now."

Yuki felt her momentary relief and happiness draining away.

Kaname held her closer "You have missed the Senate meeting, it is nearly two in the morning."

Yuki realized that Kaname cradled her on his luxurious bed, there was no sign of Kotori or anyone else the darkened room lit only by a single candle.

"What do I do?" she gasped as Kaname nuzzled her neck, tongue flicking over her pulse.

"Stay with me, forgive me for what happened on the balcony." He whispered, his soft breath whispering over her neck.

"What of Kotori?"

"She is gone, she saw… What happened…. Nicodemus took mercy on you for a time. But a pact cannot be broken no matter how badly either party wants it to. You did not give him your love or your hand so instead he took your soul. He has truly marked you as his equal… He will be able to see and hear all that you experience. Nothing not even your thoughts will be safe from him now…"

There was a long pause the two of them happy to be together,

"What did the Senate decide?" Yuki asked finding that her momentary flood of energy was floating away.

"That I will still have to marry Kotori, unless you become a Vampire and I know that will never happen…."

Yuki wanted to protest but could feel the deep tiredness creeping up, willing her to sleep.

"You need rest now Yuki tomorrow you promise me you will eat something."

She nodded and her eyes closed, her small form going limp in Kaname's arms. For a brief time he watched her sleep before kissing her lips and laying her to rest in his exquisite bed.

All the while gazing at that horrible ring upon her finger…

He was not rid of that god yet…