Pizzicato

Author's Note/Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Knight

Brio

The halls of the Kuran Manor were as silent as a cemetery. Though it was night, and it was their day, not a single soul stirred. Moonlight impaled its way through the curtain-less windows, illuminating Haruka's pile of glass shards, as he clawed his way towards Rido's chamber. Rido's chamber, was on the opposite end of the manor, which only irritated Haruka even more, since the screeching was beginning to drive him insane.

--

Juuri found herself pinned against the cold, marble floor in Rido's chamber. Her breath was heavy as she panted in exhaustion. Brunette locks were splayed all around the marble flooring, as if they were a mess of melted chocolate.

"It's our little secret," Rido grinned, stroking her pale skin. His fingers trailed up her upper arm, all the way up to her lips, and then back down again. Juuri's nails dug deeper into the tiling, leaving deeps scratch marks. The blood from her neck dripped uncontrollably as she whisked her head away from him, still pinned to the ground.

"There's no need to fret," he murmured, twisting a bunch of tresses. Jerking her head closer towards him, he lowered his head and whispered over her lips. "Let's call is a day, shall we?" Rido chuckled.

"How about, 'let's call it a night'?"

Juuri's eyes widened at the sound of his voice. Her hero, her savior. Her love. Inside, Juuri knew that he'd come and stop Rido's wicked acts...though she didn't know how Haruka felt.

Leaning lazily against the door frame, with arms cross, Haruka arched an eyebrow towards Rido. "Well?"

Moving away from Juuri, Rido stood to his full height and sneered at his brother. "What brings you here?"

Shrugging, Haruka smirked. "It's interesting to see how incestuousthe both of you are," he retorted, allowing the words to roll of his tongue. Rido narrowed his eyes at the remark. "Incestuous? Really?"

"Really." His eyes met Juuri's but he quickly cut them eyes away from her, and met Rido's glare. "You're so cruel Rido. You're so cruel."

"What do you want?" he growled.

Putting his hands over his ears, Haruka's expression softened into a half-smile. "Just wanted to stop the screeching." Lowering his hands to his sides, he looked down at Juuri, who remained fixed to the cold ground.

"You're terrible at resisting, aren't you?"

"Haru! Wait--"

Turning on his heel, Haruka waved lazily. "I'll leave you two alone."

--

"What are you to do about Haruka?" Mrs. Kuran asked as opened a beatened, leathery book. Mr. Kuran propped his chin on his hands. "He would make a fine council member. After all, replacing Hiroki might be a good idea."

Widening her eyes, Mrs. Kuran dropped the book. "Hiroki Aidou? Why are you replacing him?"

Shifting his right leg over his left leg, Mr. Kuran replied, "Hiroki wasn't of much use. Haruka would be a fine politician. Nonetheless, an excellent investigator."

Mrs. Kuran narrowed her eyes. "Are you...telling me that youare responsible for the death of Hiroki Aidou?"

Allowing smoke to escape through his nose, Mr. Kuran removed his pipe. "It wasn't I. It was the work of another." Bringing his pipe up to his mouth, he inhaled the citrus and vanilla scent before letting the fume escape through his nose once more. "Someone had suggested the idea, however, no one approved of it. A witty and sly little vampire accomplished the job on his own."

"You don't mean--"

Mr. Kuran furrowed his brow. "Of all people, I didn't expect it to be him. I assumed that he was a simple-minded twit like his brother. I guessed wrong. Hikaru Ichijou is something after all."

Mrs. Kuran picked up her book and brushed away at the dust. "Indeed. But what are you going to do about your daughter?"

"I was thinking of pitting Rido up with Hikaru," he continued, ignoring his spouse's question. "After all...there is a prize that is to be won."

Mrs. Kuran shook her head in disapproval. "Why in the world do you change your mind? At first, it was Haruka, and you made a scene about that. And now it's Rido. I'm terribly confused," she sighed.

"To simplify it...Haruka is immature and incapable of being in a devoted relationship," Mr. Kuran replied, wiping away the frost that fogged the window.

--

"Hello, Haruka!"

Scowling, Haruka slammed the door shut as soon as he had opened it.

"Master Haruka?"

"Call the exterminators. There's a rather large pest at our door."

The butler swiveled around his master and darted towards the door. Peeking through the flimsy lace curtain, his eyes widened. "Master! You closed the door on Master Hikaru Ichijou! Your father was expecting him!" Opening the door, the butler ushered Hikaru in.

"Thank you for your kindess, Haruka."

"Pleasure," Haruka mumbled.

Juuri rounded the corner and stopped abrutptly at the sight of the guest. "Hikaru!" she waved.

"Hello there, Juuri!" he smiled back. Haruka was going to be sick if this continued. "My father's study is this way," he motioned. Haruka took brisk strides as Hikaru and Juuri followed, chatting along the way, as they manuvered through the long and puzzling corridors.

"Here we are."

The party stopped in front a set of unusually large french doors. Stepping aside, Haruka knocked on the door.

"Father. He's here."

"Bring him in."

Pushing the handle down, Haruka pulled the door back, and let Hikaru in. Nodding at Haruka, he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

Juuri nervously clung to the side of her dress as Haruka stared at the door. She studied his profile--his posture. He was obviously tired and a bit irritated. He didn't slouch, nor stand up perfectly straight, and his head was cocked to one side. His expression was dazed as he stood perfectly still.

"What?"

"O-Oh. Nothing."

Shrugging, Haruka turned away. "I guess we can leave."

"Wait! Haruka...about last night--" She bit her lip.

"Don't worry about it," he replied, glancing over his shoulder. He sheepishly smirked at her. "I didn't see anything."

Smiling back at Haruka, Juuri let out a sigh of relief and mouth back a 'thank you'.

--

"It is my job as a council member to thoroughly investigate the death of Hiroki Aidou," Mr. Kuran explained as Hikaru sat down. Surrounding the Ichijou, were six of the pureblood's footmen. All were itching to pounce on the convict as he sat cooly in his seat.

Hikaru grinned. "You caught me red handed."

"Here is the deal," Mr. Kuran continued.

"Deal?"

"Yes," he nodded. "I'm going to let you go...on one condition."

The Ichijou propped his chin in the palm of his hand. "Oh? And?"

"Haruka. What do you think of him?"

Hikaru straightened himself up. "Tolerable. Though he comes across as being a bit of a grouch. Are there anymore questions?"

Mr. Kuran nodded to a footman standing next to him. The footman placed a medium-sized lacquer box in front of Hikaru. Pulling the box towards him, Hikaru unhinged the hinged lock and raised the box open. Withing the velvet interior, was a pearl-handle, silver pistol.

Scoffing, Hikaru looked back at the pureblood. "Really?"

Nodding, Mr. Kuran replied, "You will be rewarded."

"With?"

"Something...the three of you are fighting for."

--

Please Read and Review!

Note: This may be the last chapter for a while. School begins shortly!