AN: Folks this is the end of the line, the LAST CHAPTER. I thank everyone immensely for reading and giving me your honest opinions. This is the longest chapter yet I believe eleven pages... So enjoy. As usual any suggestions, ideas, comments is encouraged.

I own nothing except Kotori and Nicodemus

000

"A red thread connects you and I, forever entwined your soul and mine."

000

Takuma knocked softly on the door, he didn't want to disturb Kaname and Yuki but things were happening in the school…

Headmaster Cross was not pleased about anything actually the Senate seemed to have gone easy on both Kaname and Yuki. Which Takuma was very glad for most of the vampires in the Night Class where only here because of Kaname-sama after all.

And if Kaname were ever to be punished… he shivered.

He knew that some of the older vampires here would gladly raze the whole of the human population to the ground.

"Kaname-sama?" he queried softly

There was no sound of feet as Kaname came to the door and quietly opened it.

"Yes?"

Kaname looked drained, there was red around the rims of his eyes

"Your parents wish to see you, they also want to meet Yuki" Takuma said spying the frail form of Yuki Cross lying on President Kuran's bed, fast asleep.

Takuma looked around before speaking again "How is she?"

Kaname's long lashes fluttered for a moment before he spoke "She is doing much better now… But he has marked her, the smell of roses in the room is nauseating."

Takuma carefully sniffed the air, and there it was it hit him like a wave. The smell of roses infused with a base note of citrus. He gagged and stepped away from the door, a mirthless smile slipped over Kaname saint like features.

"So now you see, it is designed to keep everyone away" Kaname clarified, stealing a look back over to Yuki.

"What will you do?" Takuma asked the power that drove him up the stairs pressed against his neck.

Kaname inherited his parent's unique power of persuasion. If Kaname instructed Takuma to do anything he would have to do it, so was the nature of the Kuran's many powers.

"I will have to go see my parents, you will stay with Yuki. Only Kami knows what that wretch of a God will do to Yuki while I am away."

And with a huff of disgust Kaname glided silently down the stairs and left the Moon Dorm.

It was only a five minute walk to the private suites of the Headmaster and Kaname knew that his parents will be lingering in the sitting room, waiting patiently for him. He was ready to face whatever they were going to pile upon him. If there was one thing that they could not be vexed about, it was his coldness when dealing with Yuki's bargain with that god.

She was his now, Kaname unconsciously clenched his fist. Though Yuki did not love Tsuki…

Quietly he knocked the ornate wooden door, it opened by an unseen hand and Kaname took a graceful step in… His Mother and Father sat on a small ornate loveseat, their hands entwined. His Father whispered something into his wife's ear before raising his eyes to Kaname, Kaname bowed deeply.

"Mother, Father I am very pleased to see you again."

With a wave of her delicate hand Kaname's mother shut the door behind her son and Kaname stiffly took a seat. Warm tea, laced with blood tablets was laid out in fine China steaming in the still air. He saw that neither of his parents had drunk yet. A heavy silence pressed on them

"Kotori-chan is very upset Kaname-kun" his mother, Belladonna spoke very softly her fluent Japanese tinged with something like a British accent. Though his mother had beautiful black hair, which she now wore pinned in an elaborate bun, her skin was more European in coloring then Asian. Her eyes were a sparkling bright blue in contrast to his father's deep brown tinged with the slightest red. Both his Mother and Father were dressed in the Victorian style of fashion, the one that they have liked for the last two hundred years or so. Kaname felt awkward in his elitist uniform, wishing to be more comfortable in clothes from his own home. Maybe a change of clothing would have made his parents friendlier to his… grievous actions.

"That could not be helped she knew of my relationship with Yuki Cross long before I ever meet her." Kaname replied coolly.

Belladonna opened her mouth to speak and then turned to her husband. This conversation was spoken about many times before and there was no arguing the point. The Destiny that Kotori had seen was unchangeable.

His father Tsukasa finally spoke "I am giving you an ultimatum. If you claim to love this human girl so, and she loves you return. You will turn her by the end of today, once you have done so, there can always be other arrangements made for Kotori Higuri to marry one of the lesser Kuran's, like your cousin Tsugare."

A knot suddenly constricted in Kaname's stomach "But Father, she is tied to the god. What am I to do?"

There was a long pause from his father "Let her go."

Kaname suppressed the sudden desire to throw the tea at his parents.

"But Father!"

Tsukasa held up a long fingered elegant hand "Your are reaping what you have sown, becoming so close to that girl when she was at such a young age and leading her on all these years. Can you rightly tell me that you love her, or is she just some toy you like to tease and play with? I am still very angry for you for hastily going out and saving her, even though it was what Kotori saw we would have stopped you from going to her aid those 10 years ago."

"Give me three days, please" Kaname begged staring into his Father's impassable eyes. Belladonna looked at her son with something like pity, a mother always knows her son better.

"Tsukasa" Belladonna placed a hand on her husband's immaculate shoulder

Kaname stared into his father eyes for a long time before he heard "Three days, no more then that. The experiment with the blood tablets are nearly finished and we wish to take you back home."

Ice water filled his veins… Kaname couldn't bear to be parted from….

Kaname stood and bowed deeply "Thank you honorable parents."

And with that he left.

0000 Two days later 0000

Yuki felt her eyes open, but instead of seeing the sun she saw a mist covered space the one that Kaname and her used to meet in.

Another dreamscape…

"It is about twelve in the afternoon by now, Yuki my dearest. You have been sleeping for two days."

The mist parted like a curtain for the god known as Tsuki.

Terror, raw and hot filled her "Stay away from me Tsuki!"

"I've been wandering your mind for quite sometime, wondering when you would become aware of me. They're very naughty things locked in your mind."

Mortification welled up in her, humiliation burning her cheeks as Tsuki laughed "Don't be ashamed you are young still. They are so many carnal things you are yet to experience. I promise that when you are old enough you will taste those fruits."

"Shut up!" she kept backing up and he was slowly closing the distance between them.

"I spare you for only a moment and you run into his arms. That has angered me greatly."

He caught her wrists with a vice like strength and Yuki froze like a deer in headlights. There was nothing she could do, he was terribly stronger then her, stronger then even all the vampires in the Moon Dorm combined.

"Kaname is going to turn you. He has been given an ultimatum, and if he fails… He will never see you again. But if he does… You will leave here and your Stepfather's corruption, triumphantly returning to the Kuran Palace as Queen. But you will be dead, a true vampire."

"If you say you love me why are you doing this?!" long tears drifted down her cheeks

"Because I suppose I am jealous, jealous that I can never find someone like you." He answered with a grin.

Yuki stopped struggling and slumped only being held up by Tsuki's strength.

"Mortals are such fragile creatures" roughly he released her, and brought up her left hand to his lips. The ruby glittered greedily on her finger

"Kaname is wondering whether he should turn you in your sleep. But I have kept you here for the last two days to prolong his suffering."

Yuki wrenched her hand away and went running for dear life.

But soon the mist swirled again and she was lost the mist was thick like soup now.

"Yuki!"

Kaname was suddenly there and she ran towards him, throwing her arms around his graceful neck.

Kaname looked up to see the terror that was Tsuki, though he was god Kaname was probably almost as old as he was and wasn't effected as badly as Yuki's whose knees were knocking together.

"Let her go, Tsuki" Kaname calmly began keeping a tight grip on Yuki's small shoulder. She turned to stare the god in the face and couldn't do so instead she looked down at her feet the tears dripping onto the mist filled floor.

"She made a pact with me, Kuran I am here only to take her back. I thought by sparing her, giving her time to see you again she would come willingly like Persephone to her husband Hades…"

He shrugged

"That is why I dislike mortals they are fickle, you will live an infinitesimal span compared to mine. Yuki would be immortal forever but immortal not in the way you are. Having to take the life of another to live."

"I don't care about immortality! I care only for Kaname!" Yuki cried, Tsuki laughed

"And do you care for him too, that pathetic Kiryuu who only pines for your love now? He will not even meet his brother because of your choice to free him. He will never be whole again…"

Yuki felt a familiar terror lace through her, she looked up at Kaname searching his eyes for the answer. Kaname looked away, so many things had gone wrong Shizuka Hio in the form of Maria Kurenai did not appear; she did not force Zero to fight his demons to conquer them… Now Zero Kiryuu will live in eternal debt to Yuki, knowing that she will never see him any more then a friend.

"I'll give you my blood" Kaname blurted

Tsuki raised a brow in interest "Why? Yours is the most powerful blood of the vampire world. With your blood I could control anything involving the dead, including you."

Kaname pressed a nail into his flesh and a line of red appeared, Yuki watched with shock as the crimson dribbled down his arm staining the white of his uniform.

"I wonder if you still love Yuki if she were a vampire like you. Or is it the only reason that you love her is because she is alive. I will release my pact upon her, if she drinks your blood."

"Nani?" Yuki stammered watching the way Kaname's eyes widened, sweat began to appear on his brow.

Yuki knew if she even tasted his blood, she would become a vampire. A real and true vampire.

"Tsuki…" she begged

"I will have no mercy upon a lowly human girl who spurns my love." And there within his eyes was a supreme coldness that Yuki had never seen before. It made her body suddenly chillingly cold. So cold that her rapidly beating heart was beginning to slow, her pink lips turning a dull blue, she felt her legs giving out.

Kaname caught her as she began to fall

"She is dying Kuran, save her… You know there is nothing else you can do."

Yuki heard Tsuki dulcet voice as if from deep in a tunnel, the edges of her vision were blackening; her body felt cool and light like vapor… She would accept everything now, even her own fading of her mortal life that she cherished so.

Something hot and sticky was being pressed to her lips; greedily she drank it, the warm feeling of power, raw power that was so absolute filled her body. She could suddenly see Kaname's face clearly; his beautiful eyes were filled with tears that trickled down his alabaster cheeks. His sorrow quickly turned to shock as she sat up. Kaname then watched with something like both awe in horror as she stood. Something wooden and red appeared in her hand, her staff.

It glowed with a power that was of the dead, the power of the Kuran, but suddenly it was a staff no more it was sword. A beautiful crystal sword with a hilt wrought with gold and diamonds.

She held it before her, her hair flowing around her like water, her skirt ruffled by an unseen wind.

Tsuki stood there still, and then a smiled

"Come"

Yuki unleashed her power, the power that she had found inside herself, the power that Kaname had helped give her and drove the sword into the soft flesh of Tsuki.

In horror she realized what she had just done and went to pull the sword away, looking for the all the crimson red, but instead a hand stopped her. Reaching up like a brush of a butterflies wings to touch her face.

"Thank you for freeing me" Tsuki smiled before his body, a body that neither bled nor felt pain began to dissolve into many points of light.

The light whispered around her, speaking "I can now return to the sea, to my family, I thank you Yuki-san. I knew that you would free me." She felt a soft kiss upon her lips before the points of light dissolved. Leaving her hollow, the last of Kaname's vampire blood dissolving with her strength.

The beautiful sword faded leaving only her red staff, it clattered to the mist shrouded floor of the dreamscape. She felt dirty, stained

Absently she felt a burning at her wrist and watched Tsuki's Mark, brighten and then dissolve. But the ring, it did not it just slipped off her finger and onto the floor near her staff. For a long time she stood there still like stone, before arms wrapped around her embracing from behind.

"Yuki its alright now you can wake up now." Kaname whispered kissing her forehead. Yuki felt the tears rush down her face. Before she bent over in sobs, Kaname held her his warmth filling her and returning her to the waking world.

0000

Kaname eyes flicked open, he lay on the floor of his bedroom, his door was locked from the inside. Sitting up he found Yuki's warm hand and looked into her eyes, they flitted opened revealing beautiful brown eyes.

"Kaname?" she muttered, sitting up the ring on her wedding finger clattered to the wood floor with finality and she looked up at him.

"Does that mean…" she trailed off feeling the tears fill her eyes.

"Zero is still human, Yuki" Kaname knew this he was aware of every vampire on the campus and Zero was not one of them.

He heard her sigh with sudden relief and she slipped into his arms, pressing her face into his chest and weeping. He remained there with her for a long time before, the door to his room quietly opened. His Mother, Father and the Headmaster were standing in the doorway.

"Yuki" he whispered

Yuki looked up and then turned around, dread filled her. These were Kaname's parents, both of them were blinding in their physical beauty. Kaname looked just like his mother, but had the eyes of his father.

She stood and did a deep curtsey; Kaname did the same bowing to his parents.

"Mother, Father this is Yuki Cross"

"We know who she is Kaname-kun" Tsukasa began approaching the petite form of Yuki Cross.

"Young lady you honor the Kuran name with your presence" and Kaname watched his Father with sudden shock as Tsukasa bent and bowed deeply to Yuki.

"Father?!" Kaname sputtered

"This girl has summoned the Kuran Heirloom, the one and only sword gifted to us by the great Alucard himself at the very beginning of our family line. For a mortal girl to summon the sword with the aide of such a tiny amount of blood shows that she is one of the Chosen. One of the few young women who is Destined to marry into the Kuran family without being vampire, her immunity to your vampire blood shows this."

Kaname head was spinning round and round Father had never told him about this. None of his relatives ever spoke of this not even….Kotori….

That woman she knew all along!

Tsukasa's cool brown eyes suddenly softened when he gazed at Yuki "You are worried about your friend aren't you?"

Yuki nodded her mouth forming a tiny O of confusion and numbing shock.

"Don't worry he is fine. He has protected you all these years, everything will work out." And he winked at her, Yuki nodded stupidly.

"Now Kaname I suggest you help your new fiancée prepare for the long journey to the Kuran Palace."

Tsukasa turned and left the room but Belladonna stayed behind and taking her son to one side began to speak to him quietly.

Headmaster Cross remained leaning quietly against the doorframe his eyes unreadable.

"Father?" she asked

"Yes"

"Are you vexed?"

"No, I am sorry to see you go"

Yuki felt a stab of pain "Is that why you have been so angry with me these last months. Trying to make me suffer… To prepare for what will happen?"

The Headmaster smiled one of his carefree smiles "Once you and President Kuran leave I am going to dissolve the school. Tsukasa-san has found me a new place from which to teach humans and vampires. Together, united as one. I was angry at you, for loving Kaname so, I knew that one that happened I would lose you forever. And I suspect that your god had something to do with it as well."

Yuki suddenly felt another pang, this one was of guilt "Father, I killed Tsuki."

"I know, he wanted to die. His body was holding him on this plain; the only way for him to die was for the person he loved most to kill him."

Tears filled her eyes and Yuki ran to her stepfather, who swallowed her in a safe and warm hug.

"I will miss you dear Yuki." After kissing her forehead and two cheeks, he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and disappeared down the hall, Yuki watched him till he turned the corner, wishing that he could come with them.

Yuki silently walked back into Kaname's room, watching as Belladonna kissed her son's forehead and began to leave.

"Ma'am" Yuki called, Belladonna turned her crystal blue eyes settling on Yuki

"Is Tsuki really dead?"

A warm smile slipped over Belladonna's serene features "No he has returned to his family. Do not weep anymore Yuki-san, and do not worry about Zero we have arranged a meeting with Maria Kurenai. The Senate will punish Shizuka Hio with a force that you have never seen and finally he will be at peace. Both him and his brother."

With that she turned and left leaving Kaname and Yuki alone once again. Kaname walked over and picked up the ring that lay on his polished wood floor.

"Take it" he handed it to her, where she took it and placed it on her right hand. Watching the way the ruby glistened in the dull candlelight.

"You may always wear it there, but my ring belongs here." He touched her married finger before kissing her fingertips.

Yuki smiled, her sorrow melting away "Then don't get jealous if I like his ring better."

And Kaname laughed, his dulcet voice sending a shiver up her spine. Her face growing red knowing that she would spend the rest of her days with Kaname Kuran.

0000 Last Day of School 0000

Yuki handed the last of her trunks to the tall livery who stood near the huge Baroque carriage drawn my six black horse with spectral like wings.

In less then an hour she would be leaving the school and never returning, she felt almost happy to never see Cross Academy but also sad too that everything that her Father built will dissolve like a sugar candy. She wandered around the grounds, dressed in the outfit that Belladonna had picked out for her. Something right out a Gothic lolita magazine, she didn't mind it was a beautiful color.

Her feet took her to the gated Moon Garden whose door had been left open, idly she wandered down the path. The familiar taste of power, making the hairs on her arms stand. All the roses had to be dead now, Tsuki had said that it would take his death for them to ever die….

With her breath held she stepped into the garden and gasped, the roses were in full bloom. Their fragrance was hanging like a heavy curtain in the air, it was just like the smell that surrounded Tsuki. Yuki felt her throat suddenly tight, her eyes lingered on the roses her fingers brushing the soft petals. Everything was beautiful and yet still, like a graveyard. But she stopped there crouching near the pond was Zero, feeding the fish some stale breed. His eyes were distant and glassy though his cheeks glowed pink with life. He looked up slowly the sun nearly blinding him

"You look like a angel in the sunlight" he smiled wistfully, he reached out and she took his hand.

"Zero…I" he pressed a finger to her lips

"You don't have to say anything anymore Yuki. I know that you love me but differently then I love you. It is something that I must come to understand, you gave me back my life again. A life that I can live for me, not being tied down to the past. Belladonna-san has been very kind to me in these passing months. She has…." He flushed

"Nani? Nani!" Yuki cried when he didn't say anything. His grip around her hand tightened

"She introduced me to Kotori Higuri, we have been talking for many weeks now…"

Yuki's jaw dropped "Are you joking?!"

Zero shook his head "She seems to understand, I almost trust her. After all she is the one that knows almost all there is to know about my life and history because of her power…" his face was turning a bit red.

Yuki's mouth refused to close

"Don't look so shocked!" he cried

"I thought you hated vampires Zero!" Yuki laughed at the irony of Life.

Zero muttered something and put his head down "I don't want to die inside, like I said I want to live. She has become a part of my world, like you are. I'm happy that even though I'm loosing you I'm gaining another friend in the process."

Yuki smiled and kissed Zero's forehead "Come visit, or I will miss you very deeply."

Zero smiled "I'll write to you as much as I can, and beg your new Mother in law to have me over for tea."

They giggled at that, as they walked hand and hand out of the Moon Dorm garden, to where the carriage was sitting, waiting.

She watched Kaname get in; two other figures were already inside "I have to go now Zero."

Yuki felt the tears prick at her eyes, and Zero wiped them away before they fell. He emabraced her, inhaling the last smell of her silky hair.

"Goodbye" Zero kissed her forehead and let go of her hand, Yuki turned hiding her tears and calmly walked to the carriage. He observed Yuki slip inside, the footman closed the carriage and Zero watched with a melancholy smile as the carriage began to move and suddenly pick up speed… Yuki was waving and he waved back suddenly full of joy. Zero Kiryuu stood rooted in the fine gravel of the Academy's driveway until the Baroque carriage carved of finest wood disappeared into the fine cloud of dust.

Wiping away a tear he whispered, "I will always love you, Yuki Cross. May Kami go with you."

With that Zero turned and walked back to the Headmaster's Suites, someone was waiting for him at the top of the stairs. He smiled at her

"Thank you Kotori-san"

She smiled

"I told you that everything would be alright" and for a brief moment her cerulean eyes glistened with unshed tears. Knowing that what she had done was right, Fate was unchangeable.

Destiny's wheel ever turned.

Though there is suffering, in the end everyone will be happy..

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THE END.