Sorry for the late update! I tried to make sure this chapter well-edited so I had to chase my beta to the ends of the Earth to make this chapter readable enough. So here it is. Thanks to my lovely yet lazy beta, Shapby (snickers) and my faithful supporter, Primal Red.

~Audriel

Chapter 6

"Yuuki… She's gorgeous…"

The high-pitched squeal came as no surprise from the eccentric headmaster, who also happened to be the adoptive father of Kuran Yuuki, and now, the proud grandfather of Kuran Kaede. Cross was currently cradling the newborn in his arms while gushing of the cuteness of the additional member of Kuran family with Yuuki who was currently sitting on the sofa with him. Kaname was hovering over the two on the back of the sofa with a gentle, affectionate look towards his beloved girls.

"Isn't she?" Yuuki agreed vehemently with Cross, wine-colored eyes drinking over all of her daughter's features the same way she first laid her eyes upon her daughter, as though as she hadn't memorized it already.

"Don't you think so, Kaname?" The dark-haired beauty beamed towards her husband whom she had this… this wonderful blessing with.

"She inherits her mother's beauty." Kaname took his wife's hand to gently kiss it. He couldn't truly express how grateful he was for everything she had given him. He was already more than happy to have Yuuki by his side for the rest of the eternity. To have her love and her devotion was something he could never truly fathom. And now… she had given him more happiness, a child conceived from their love… their child. He never thought he would ever truly feel such joy after such a long and lonely existence all those centuries ago.

Meanwhile, their close friends and family respectfully kept their distance to give a semblance of privacy for the family, in order not to spoil the moment. It was the first day for Yuuki's return from the hospital where she gave birth to the firstborn of Kuran.

Usually the women of the Kuran family chose to give birth in the safety of their home, especially when the labor was such painful and grueling ordeal. However, Kaname decided it would be much safer to give birth in the hospital, especially when he had a trusted vampire physician in his chosen hospital which wasn't far from Kuran mansion. Though his main consideration was Yuuki who refused to be cooped up in the mansion throughout her pregnancy and still refused to take it easy as the time for the birth was coming closer.

Yuuki's water broke when she was on her way back to the mansion after a visit to Cross Academy. Fortunately Ruka was with her, as per Kaname's orders to keep his wife from traveling alone in her condition, and quickly brought the heavily pregnant Yuuki to the hospital while taking care of the doctor and the hospital and informing the soon-to-be-father and instructing the soon-to-be-mother to stay calm. Basically, the new father and mother owed a lot to the Souen, because if it was any other person, or if there was any, Ruka was certainly the best they could have. God knew what would happen if it was Kain or Aidou.

Zero felt the corners of his mouth quirk slightly at the thought as he watched Yuuki and Cross talking over what appeared every single part of the child, from head to toe. He was invited along to welcome Yuuki and Kaede's return from the hospital as part of the family and currently leaning to the fireplace which gave him vantage point towards the whole scene and people in the living room. He could see all the familiar faces he recognized from the days of the Academy, all the people deemed close or trustworthy enough to share this intimate occasion with.

He inwardly wondered which one of the two he was as he discretely watched the others from his place. Ichijou and Aidou, unsurprisingly stood the closest to the Kuran couple, each on Kaname's side, indirectly showing what they were to the Kuran. His left and right hand. While Kain and Ruka stood at the opposite side together, their fingers intertwined. They would have their turn eventually with their upcoming wedding.

Watching Yuuki and Kaede, Zero started seeing an image of another mother and children. He couldn't help but wonder whether she had the same look when she held the children in her arms, with that warm and gentle smile towards the children she had given life to. He wondered whether she had someone to share the happiness with. She would have her friends, that was certain. But would it be the same?

Zero couldn't help to question this as he watched Yuuki with the father of her child. Suddenly, Yuuki turned her head towards his direction, her face bright as though she was struck with a brilliant idea. His instinctive reaction was to raise his eyebrow, just like those days long gone when this same woman, no, girl, would not hesitate to think twice before causing any mischief with the same look in her eyes. His knowledge of her was soon proven correct.

"Why don't you hold her, Zero?" Yuuki suggested innocently to Zero.

The reaction to the suggestion was instantaneous and mostly identical in expression, surprise and disbelief for the new mother to even dare to suggest such thing. Only Cross who didn't share the odd looks with the others and it was him who cheerfully –almost too cheerfully, Zero noted dully- moved closer to him and was about to hand the newborn to him without even asking the father's permission. Zero merely gave the other man a bored look, while he didn't miss the contrasting look on the couple, Yuuki who was glowing with happiness and excitement that was greatly a reminiscent of the old Yuuki he knew and Kaname who raised his eyebrow slightly, daring him to refuse the suggestion.

Inwardly he was amused with the pureblood's streak of protectiveness that overcame his willingness to please his wife and the other man seemed to forget that there were few people who could deny this Yuuki that he hadn't seen for a long time. Thus in order to please Yuuki and infuriate her husband, Zero nodded his consent to Cross who immediately told him how to take the fragile baby in his arms and slowly placed Kaede in the makeshift cradle that was his arms.

The baby was surprisingly light and warm in his arm. He could understand the care others put as they took her in their arms. The baby wriggled rather violently at first, being moved from one place to another and he thought that Yuuki's child would keep wriggling after being placed in his inexperienced arms or let out a wail like she did in Aidou's arms, but what happened was completely the contrary. The baby stopped wriggling and opened her unseeing eyes towards him with such innocence and curiosity that reminded him of other newborns he only saw in a single portrait that he kept in his breast pocket, where could feel the familiar painful ache. He barely heard the loud exclamations from Cross and Yuuki that pointed out how little Kaede liked him. Even he barely felt the sharp gaze directed at him from a certain Kuran father.

Kaede gurgled what it seemed to be happy, excited sounds and reached out her small, chubby hands. Absently he moved his finger so it was close enough to the child's reach and was slightly taken aback by the strong hold on his finger, making him inwardly wonder whether his children were also this strong when they were newly born. He let the vampire newborn to take some of his life force, which was barely affected by the action.

Outwardly, Zero didn't reveal anything that was possibly running in his mind, simply handling the newborn with a care that was rarely seen from the silver-haired man with a rather distant look in his eyes. Yuuki who noticed this was silenced, wondering what might go through his mind. She wanted to see him drop his guard, even for the slightest bit, and she thought that Kaede would be able to do it, seeing how much her daughter liked him and he seemed to return the feelings. However, she was disappointed to see that he still kept his guard around her.

They were no longer enemies like he once declared that they were, and they still kept in touch, she would share her stories with him, being the one who knew her best still, but their relationship was no longer the same. Zero still retained this aura that kept others away, but she always managed to ignore it and even got through him few times. In those times, she managed to make his drop his façade and saw the real Zero. He still humored her, scoffed at her, patted her in the head, but it was never the same.

Somehow, Zero was closer than those days she spent separated from him but at the same time was as far and unreachable as those days. Kaname didn't fail to notice the sudden change in his wife's demeanor and wasn't surprised to see that the source of her sadness was Kiryuu.

Zero returned Kaede to her self-anointed grandfather who didn't seem satisfied holding her for most of the time. Absently he wondered how his adoptive father would react when he found out that Kaede wasn't actually his first grandchild. But at the same time, seeing how much the man fussing over the baby, he reconsidered his thought, maybe it was best that he didn't know. His thoughts were stopped with a familiar vibration coming from his phone. He pulled out the phone from his pocket and when he found that it was coming from the office, he excused himself out the room to receive the call.

"Kiryuu." As he said his name, a woman's voice on the other end of the line immediately went into a short and succinct summary of the latest happenings, enough for him to give out orders until he went there himself to take care of things. He ended the call with a sigh, and returned inside the room. Kaede was already returned to her mother, her father once again resumed his place beside his wife and daughter. Zero walked straight to the couple, although only kept his eyes mainly to Yuuki.

"Are you leaving already?" There was a slight disappointment in her voice that made him feel guilty, but it didn't last long as he remembered the steady presence of Kaname beside her.

"I'm afraid so. Something urgent came up," he gestured his phone that he returned to his pocket.

"Then go, just make sure you come to visit Kaede again," Yuuki smiled to him. Zero merely nodded in confirmation to the invitation.

"Kuran. Cross." he nodded briskly to each of them to excuse himself out of politeness that years ago he would blatantly ignore in the presence of the vampires he despised. Cross couldn't help but notice this with pride to see how the man carried himself with such grace and confidence that he used to lack, but sadness passed fleetingly across his eyes with the knowledge what was lost in exchange. Unfortunately so absorbed he was with his thoughts that Cross failed to notice the inscrutable look on a certain Kuran's face.

I

I

I

"That was taken care of pretty nicely," Yagari commented offhandedly as he sat on the comfortable couch and crossed his legs on the coffee table in the study that acted as the president's office in the Association headquarters. The gesture that could be considered rude of the older man didn't earn him any sharp reprimand from his superior who was also in the same room, reading through the reports on his desk, completely ignoring the other man.

"It's not over yet. We're merely putting it off," instead it was the president's blatant reply as he calmly skimmed through various reports and sorted them out in better order. He raised an eyebrow at some reports, scratched some of them with his pen or even threw it into the trash bin after crumpling it into a ball. It was done with such eased practice and barely any pause between the movements that he didn't seem working seriously, but Yagari knew better.

"Well, at least we ain't gonna see them knocking our door anytime soon. Every time they appear, they always bring up one matter or another."

This time there was no response from the younger man whose attention remained on the files on his desk. He only stopped for a brief moment to drop some tablets into a glass of water on his right that soon turned into red-colored water which he drank for few gulps before once again returning his attention to his work. All of these didn't fail the man's astute observation; despite he had only one eye to see everything.

Yagari had known the current president of the Association since he was a mere child who barely able to hold any hunter's weapon in his small hands. It made him the one who knew the young man the longest. The only one that still lived, that was. He knew the loss of his family by the hands of the pureblood princess, Shizuka had left an everlasting mark on the boy, and especially it was on the very same night he lost his family that he also became the very thing he was supposed to hunt.

Zero had always been a quiet boy who rarely spoke out whatever in his mind or even his heart. But after the incident, he became more withdrawn. He wasn't only quiet but also distant, keeping everyone away. And most notably was the burden he put on his shoulders by himself. The anger, the sadness, the pain, the hatred, the guilt…

He kept those burdens intentionally, letting them drag himself into the darkness of despair and if possible, death. Cross Yuuki had prevented him to go that self-destructing path, but that role inevitably ended after her awakening as the Kuran princess. In a way, he was no different than the walking dead, even after he consciously took it upon himself the role of the leader of the hunters' society and reined his own resentment against the vampires and somewhat maintained a cordial relationship with the previously Cross Yuuki.

Slowly, Yagari started to notice some changes within him. Those eyes held less shadows within them, the darkness surrounding him seemed to be lifted considerably, the smiles more often than not crossing his features. Until all of a sudden, all those bright, hopeful signs were gone without a trace.

The darkness that once nearly dissipated from his aura seemed to return, hanging over him like dark clouds, growing thicker, if possible. The life within his eyes seemed to be snuffed out, leaving a dim, scarce semblance of the light that once resided within, replaced with sharp calculation and cool detachment. The burden on his shoulders remained as though he would never be released of it, as though he had no intention of shedding it. The only positive side that came from it was giving him the edge that he needed to become the leader of the hunters.

The last Kiryuu started to grow into the role he was chosen into, but not the way Yagari and Cross wished him to be. Gone was the brash young man, replaced by cold and calculating adult in his place. Zero had slowly but surely strengthened his position as the president, gaining both fear and respect from humans and vampires alike. No one questioned his authority anymore. However, Yagari couldn't find it in himself to feel proud of his former student's achievements. This was not what he and Cross wanted for him. Zero had little life outside his duties. He spent most of his time either in the headquarters or in other places that required his presence as the president.

Zero had an apartment in quite a distance away from the headquarters, but it was rarely used. He was easier to find in his office or around the headquarters than in his apartment. Sometimes he found his former student asleep on the couch with papers and pen strewn over the coffee table next to the couch. And that was when he actually bothered to check up on the president late into the night. Zero could have been spending the nights in his office for all he knew.

Yagari was aware that this kind of life wasn't uncommon to hunters like them, hunters who could only do the one thing they were best in. Having a family for a hunter was a rarity itself, which was why a hunter married another if they wanted to remain as a hunter and passed their duty to their children, such as the Kiryuu family. Cross could have a family of his own if he wanted after he resigned from his duty as a hunter, but he seemed content having Kuran Yuuki and Kiryuu Zero as his children and looking after other children in his Academy.

Yagari never pictured himself having a family of his own; he was never good with kids. He could only tolerate the Kiryuu twins, especially Zero because he was unlike most children who tended to whine and make a fuss over small matters. Zero had always been much older than his age gave away. It might be because he was the stronger one of the Kiryuu twins that were supposed to be one instead of two. The perfect hunter.

As he spent more time with the older twin of Kiryuu, he couldn't help to notice that boy was… still a boy. He was still prone to foolish mistakes. He still needed love and affection. The Kiryuus cared about their children, but they still saw them through the eyes of hunters. They weren't bad parents, but they could be better. Sometimes he thought that they didn't try hard enough for the twins. Maybe they wouldn't be so messed up. Both Zero and Ichiru.

Sometimes he wished that those two weren't born as Kiryuus. The twins truly cared for one another, but the others around them didn't care about it, only desiring for the stronger, surviving twin, giving little choice for the two. That was why he and Cross were adamant with Zero attending school like other normal children in his age. They knew that the boy would never be normal, him being a Kiryuu already didn't allow him to be, added that he was also a vampire and caught the Kuran's attention.

Kuran, the name tasted bitter on his tongue. Yagari respected the man and everything he had done to ensure peaceful coexistence between humans and vampires, but it didn't mean he liked him. That man never failed to keep him on his toes. That man was too dangerous, with his status as a pureblood, his influence over vampires, and his ability to make everything dance under his fingertips. He had taken every freedom Zero had, leaving the young hunter little choice but to walk the path chosen for him. It wasn't like he and Cross was any different, he thought sadly, by placing their hopes in the barely ready young man to become the leader of the hunter society.

Zero was reluctant, it was clear to both of them who knew the younger man well, but he accepted still. It wasn't easy for him, Yagari knew. There were times where more experienced hunters had to intervene in his behalf, but he was trying. He answered their hopes, without asking anything in return.

There was a slight sadness gracing the dark-haired hunter as he watched the young president through his good eye. Better late than never, he thought as he slowly rose from his seat and approached the working man. His dark gloved hand was slammed on the table, stopping the shifting of the papers and getting him Zero's attention. Silver eyes narrowed at him, wordlessly questioning this sudden and irritating action. Yagari smirked seeing that annoyed look on his face, it never failed to amuse him. While another part of him was relieved for such response, for the fact there was any.

"I mentioned that those benefactors of ours ain't likely to come again to bother us for some time."

The only reaction he got was a raised eyebrow and a challenging look, but Zero let him elaborate.

"For the last three years you've working non-stop, even going as far as using your free days to work. I think it's about time for you to take your unused leave."

This earned him an incredulous look. "And what would I do with that leave?"

"I don't know," the one-eyed hunter shrugged nonchalantly, "Maybe going to where you once disappeared to for weeks?"

The reaction he got was instantaneous and completely unexpected that it caught him off guard. Various emotions flickered on his features but immediately those emotions were gone in an instant as if a curtain has just thrown over. Yagari inwardly cursed, the younger man was starting to rarely wear those cold and detached façade around him, but now he had made him put up the barrier again around him. He had never tried to broach that subject since that day, and it seemed he should never have. Before the man could say anything else, Yagari quickly reacted,

"Just go," he spread his hands before the other man. "Your well being is also my responsibility. Having you cooped up here all day, all week isn't good for you. Just… Please, Zero." Yagari softened his tone and for once, addressed him by name instead by title, which he rarely used to the younger man.

When Zero looked into the other man's eyes, seeing the real concern underneath those eyes, he lowered his guard slightly that he unconsciously put up at the unintentional reminder of those difficult weeks. The older hunter meant well, his reaction only made him more worried.

"Sorry," he muttered quietly as he closed his eyes for a brief moment, running a hand through his hair habitually, "I'll take my leave if it relieves you. Just let me finish this."

The eyes that met his eyes were the eyes of the president of Hunter Association. There was no trace of those previous emotions once clouded his features, only clear and calm silver eyes. His tone brooked no argument, even and demanding. Yagari hesitantly stepped back from the oak table, straightening up as if he received one of his orders.

"You're dismissed." Zero avoided meeting his advisor's gaze after he told him to leave curtly. He could sense from his stance that Yagari felt guilty for bringing it up, but the older man didn't say anything else and obediently excused himself from his presence.

When the door was closed behind him, Zero slumped on his seat, feeling guilty and ashamed for the slip. Those days weren't the days he wanted to recall, as were the days that followed. Killing the vampires was a justifiable action, considering that they were responsible for hurting innocents, and who knew how many other innocents they had killed as they worked for Esterházy, and Belmont in particular was actually in the list.

However it was everything he did to get to Esterházy using his family that weighed in on his conscience. True, he didn't actually have the intention to kill them, he simply wanted to hurt the pureblood through them, and he didn't actually do anything, merely giving a catalyst to what was going to happen sooner or later with or without his interference. He had known the restlessness under the Eastern royalty's rule in the short time he spent in the nation. It was a matter of time, he simply quickened the process.

But in the process, many innocents lost their lives and he couldn't help the guilt that he was somewhat responsible for it. The man had hurt Misaki and their unborn children without any compassion, his mind tried to justify his actions. It might be Belmont's fault at most, being the one who actually went after her. However, for a man with Esterházy's caliber couldn't—mustn't fail to see what his servant might do in order to fulfill his orders.

His justifications felt hollow even to himself, he felt that he was no better than the other man he had become to despise more than Kuran -who at least didn't try to do such drastic and cowardly measures. He shook his head in bitter amusement at his line of thought that placed the Kuran actually in high opinion for once. What would that make him?

He had known that he didn't have the right to see them, as much as he wanted to. He remembered that night after he confronted the Esterházy. He recognized the deep longing that surfaced when Yagari indirectly suggested him to go to where they were. He wanted to see them, to see them safe and sound by his own eyes.

His hand instinctively went to his breast pocket, pulling out the envelope he kept safely there. Gently he held the envelope with his name written on it. At first he only stared at the elegant handwriting of his name before he finally pulled out the photograph within. Even after three years, the image of her and her children never failed to bring warmth to him.

Maybe… maybe it was alright for him to see them without meeting them…

His hand absently traced the figures in the glossy paper, sadness graced his features. Just for this once, he thought. Just for this once…

I

I

I

When Baudin offered his patient to stay with him after she was discharged from the hospital -–which wasn't long after she regained consciousness, the blood healed her quickly and perfectly- his reasons were not completely selfless. Since his being the servant of Charlemagne, he had been living on his own in Paris. His house, if it could be called one, was in actuality more a mansion located near Champs-Élysées, although it was comparably small and modest between other mansions in the area, it was a mansion nonetheless.

It had been a gift from his pureblood master, and of course, he had been unable to refuse such gift, fearing that as kind as Charlemagne was, he would not take refusal well. It turned out to be a wise decision. He later learned that the gift was also a sign of the European monarch's protection, making him virtually untouched by any vampires. This piece of knowledge wasn't left forgotten as he made the offer to his patient.

The young woman's eyes were practically wide in disbelief when he told her where he lived. But the surprise didn't linger, instead the mademoiselle asked him whether it was truly alright for her to stay with him, whether she would be a bother. She asked this with a kind smile, seemingly understanding the real reason behind his offer aside from his concern over her safety, making him unconsciously tell her the truth. That he actually lived alone, only with a caretaker and a driver that came early in the mornings and went home in the evenings and that he had plenty of rooms in the house. She merely smiled in understanding as he told her and asked whether it would be alright for her to extend the offer to her friends.

He had interacted quite often with the young woman, but it was that certain conversation that made him start to see what kind of person Misaki Hisakawa was. Eventually, the three young women moved into his house, the other two had arranged the moving of their belongings from their apartment before their friend was officially discharged and arrived at his house with everything already in order.

The two took the two empty rooms in the second floor as theirs, while she had one of the rooms in first floor, mindful of her condition that would be impractical for her to climb up and down the stairs. Although that was how they divided their living spaces, there were times when one of them would occupy the other room close to their friend's in case she would need anything.

Baudin could understand the treatment of the girls whom he was finally introduced to as Sonia and Tanya. They nearly lost their friend and it would take a while for them to convince themselves that she was no longer in any harm. Misaki took everything in stride, to his admiration.

She handled all the attention well, taking them with calm and patience although there were times when it went a little too much and almost ridiculous. She also handled her pregnancy the same way, taking care of the needs of her and the children in her womb without letting it hinder her life even as she grew larger. She continued her studies, managing her time between classes and assignments. And throughout it all, she managed to make the living arrangements more comfortable to everyone.

It was her who first reached out to him and tried to get to know him better, an example that was followed by her friends. And slowly the ice was broken. Baudin and the girls were already in first-name basis after few months of awkward conversations, and by now there were times when they called him by his title as an endearment.

When he looked back, Baudin felt glad that he made that offer. The house felt livelier than before when he lived on his own, especially after the new arrivals. It had fascinated him at first when he saw how different the girls were in personality. The mixed-descent Sonia with dark green eyes and dark hair that easily attracted many attention towards her unusual beauty who was quiet and graceful, the typical Parisian flower Tanya with contrasting red hair against pale skin who was brimming with energy and the eastern beauty Misaki with clear blue eyes and golden hair who was calm and composed. With such different personalities, he had wondered how they could be so close, but slowly he began to understand that it was Misaki who brought them together and became the bridge between the two different personalities.

The young women became dear to him and he treated them no different than his own daughter that he lost in an accident that also took his wife. However, it was Misaki who was dearest to him, maybe because he spent more time with her than the others who returned home during their university breaks or because she knew of his true identity yet held no contempt or suspicion against him. But then again, she was the mother of the children of the Kiryuu who was both the hunter and the very thing he hunted.

His first assumption was that the girl must be somewhat naïve and trusting by nature to be able to accept the existence of vampires easily. Thus he was surprised to find she was anything but, she was sharp and observant, with such maturity and wisdom he didn't expect to see in the eyes for someone so young. She carried herself with a quiet grace that was less apparent compared to the attractiveness of her dark-haired friend, yet no less appealing and if he were to be honest, more pleasant. He welcomed her company whenever he wanted one, enjoying the playful banters and intelligent conversations they had. Baudin could see why the young woman was so dear to the young hunter that he dared to go such lengths to assure her safety.

Then there were the twins. The twins were almost a mirror image of their father that for a person like him who barely knew of him couldn't help but noticed this when he laid eyes on them when they were still newly born. The labor was a swift and rather painless one, erasing his worries that the previous incident with the mother would affect her condition. The boy was born first, followed by the girl in few minutes after. Fraternal twins usually had less identical appearance with one another, but the Kiryuu twins bore great resemblance to one another that they were no different than identical twins if it weren't for the fact that they were of different genders.

They were a handful, those twins; especially those two seemed to have the infamous twins' mental bond, but they were relatively well-behaved and almost too well-behaved when they were around strangers, merely looking at them with bright, inquisitive eyes of their mother without saying anything. It was rather unnerving to get that kind of gaze from such small children whose height barely reached their knees. In those times, those who knew their father couldn't be helped but reminded of the cunning resemblance.

Kazuki and Mizuki, it was their names, rhymed with their mother's name and contained their father's name. He had given them a special attention to their health and behavior since they were in their mother's womb. Initially he feared that the children would start to manifest their vampire behavior as the pregnancy slowly coming into term and start feeding off their mother's life force, but it appeared that his worries were unfounded. The children grew as normally as human children could, even after they were born safely into the world. He made sure of it while he had the twins under the same roof.

What confused him that they certainly had vampire blood that they inherited from their father, if their robust health was any indication. He wasn't a pediatrician to have enough comparison of the two with other normal children, but the children never once caught any kind of illness, even the slightest fevers or coughs and any kind of injuries, either bruises or scratches. They were certainly blessed with the vampires' regenerative ability.

After he was sure that the children would grow like most normal children without the sudden thirst of blood or life force, reaching the conclusion that the twins might be the first case of successful hybrid of human and vampire, he immediately dropped the case, thinking how dangerous it was if anyone were to find out of the anomaly. He knew that many vampires found their constant need of blood as a hindrance, as the only flaw in their perfection, and if they found out that this flaw actually could be removed genetically… Not only vampires, even humans would try to get their hands on the children to find the secret behind this genetic anomaly. He shuddered at the thought, not wanting anything to happen to those younglings.

Until few months earlier, his scientific curiosity once again piqued by the thought that there might be something else that caused the anomaly when he realized that there were some considerations he overlooked. He went through all the files he gathered throughout the years taking care of the health of the mother and her two children, and after careful and thorough examination, he came into stunning revelation. He had debated with himself for days after the discovery whether to keep it to himself or inform the concerned person.

Baudin was walking absently through the hallways of his house as he mentally argued with himself the advantages and disadvantages of sharing this certain information. The house was quiet, most of the residents were still occupied with their activities outside, Sonia and Tanya were out working, the children were currently having their afternoon nap in their shared room on the first floor, and their mother was currently working on her project in a room upstairs that was turned into her working place in order to prevent the children come into contact with her architecture-related things.

He slowly climbed up the stairs, mindful of his steps so that he wouldn't disturb the sleeping children or the working mother. The drawing room, that was how Misaki named the room, was on the western part of the house where it was comprised largely of a library, a room for his collections and a small storage room for unused furniture. When he saw her working on her architecture assignments in her bedroom, seeing how her equipments took most of the space, he decided to turn the storage room for her working space, especially when she would have her children running around that prone to disturb or even destroy her hard work. She wasn't able to refuse when he pointed it out to her, knowing that the young woman was pretty perfectionist when it came to her works.

Baudin stopped before the entrance, leaning slightly towards the doorframe as he watched the fair-haired woman bent on the drawing table. The room was cleaned out of the furniture that used to be kept inside and the walls were repainted in white. The windows were cleaned and opened to let the sunlight and breeze inside the room. The room was bathed in warm glow of sunlight, illuminating the room without the need of artificial lightings and filled with cool breeze, refreshing the air within the room without the need of thermostat. She had arranged the architectural books, papers, models and tools in such way that they were within her reach but provided enough space for her to move freely about, thus despite the numbers of architectural things within the room, the room still felt wide and comfortable. She was indeed an architect, he thought with a smile.

"Francis?" His musings were interrupted by feminine voice; it appeared that Misaki noticed his presence. The focus of his musings tilted her head innocently; the strands of hair that managed to escape her braid bounced lightly as she looked at him questioningly.

"Am I interrupting?" Baudin stepped forward.

"Nope, I think I'll take a break for now. Are the children awake?" Misaki stretched out her limbs as she said this.

"They're still sleeping soundly," Baudin answered, hiding his anxiety behind his smile.

"Let's have some tea in the library then." Being as perceptive as always, Misaki was the one who gave the suggestion.

"That sounds good," he nodded in agreement. "After you."

Misaki laughed lightly at the gentlemanly gesture and led the way to the library. Due to the time she and her friends spent upstairs, the library also had some new arrangements, such as the assortments of snacks and beverages on a short cupboard near the entrance of the library. She knowingly heated the water to prepare the tea for both of them who preferred the lighter beverage in the house as he seated himself on a cushioned chair nearby. He used the time waiting for the tea to ponder over the words he should say. Before he knew it, a steaming cup of tea was placed before him on the glass table; its familiar fragrance was a welcome to his senses. Misaki seated herself on the opposite chair, a cup of tea on her hand.

"Thank you," Baudin smiled gratefully before taking a sip of the hot liquid. The Japanese woman learned his taste in tea early on, having the same liking to that certain beverage. He preferred the tea natural and bitter so he could savor the rich flavor of tea leaves brewed in the water whilst she preferred her tea sweet with the addition of honey and milk.

Misaki simply smiled and sipped her own tea calmly, letting the silence fall between them to give him time to say whatever in his mind. In times like these he couldn't help to notice the small gestures. Her posture was relaxed, her back leaning on the cushioned chair, but her shoulders set and her chin high even as she sipped her tea from the cup slowly, her fingers slightly bent and slack.

Sonia was graceful, but not the same kind of grace that nobles or royalties who had been taught such etiquette since early age that it was deeply ingrained to them. Sonia's grace came more from her character who liked to maintain her appearance to impress, which was very well suited for her major as law defender, while Misaki's… was more of the other kind of grace. He remembered how easily the young woman fit in with the other guests in Lord Charlemagne's party without the slightest sign of awkwardness in her movements. He wondered whether that was what caught his master's interest. He inwardly shook himself, realizing that his mind had gone off track.

"There's something I need to tell you," Baudin started, putting down the cup of tea on the table. Clear blue eyes moved towards him, silently urging him to continue.

"I've taken special care and interest in your and the twins' health ever since I treated you. It came to my attention that the children inherited their father's blood but they didn't reveal any kind of vampire tendencies." Misaki merely nodded knowingly, he had told her of this the moment she was healthy enough to discuss of the possible dangers she might face during pregnancy when the twins seemed to inherit the vampire blood.

"I simply thought that it was mere genetic anomaly. And that your children were a perfect hybrid of human and vampire."

"Are they not?"

"No. Yes." Baudin rambled nervously, but Misaki seemed to understand that the no was for the genetic anomaly. "So I think it was something from the mother, instead of from the father."

"So I went through all of your medical reports for the past three years and I realized that… your blood was changing, if not already."

"You mean my blood has turned into vampire blood?" Misaki was oddly calm throughout the explanation, which was a contrast to him, but he could see how her grip on the cup tightened.

"Yes, I know it sounds impossible. All I know that the vampire blood that went into your system shouldn't affect your blood itself. I made the observations myself. But when I compared your blood before that incident and your latest blood sample a year ago, your blood definitely changed… to that of a vampire's."

"What do you think happen?"

"I have many theories… but the most plausible, realistic reason I can think of that you actually had dormant vampire genes in your blood that were awakened or triggered by the presence of vampire blood either from them or him…" Baudin didn't know how to explain it, his hands flailed around trying to find the right words.

"You're saying… that I'm actually the hybrid," intelligent eyes met his confused ones, "and it was the reason why the children didn't turn out the way they should be. That somehow my genes or something they inherited, managed to lock the vampire behavior in their blood."

Baudin was dumbfounded, the words he tried to come up with was easily spoken and summarized by the young woman and with surprising calm and composure.

"Yes. That's my suspicion," this time it was his turn to be confused. Misaki merely smiled a little sadly.

"This is my body, doctor, I know there's something different with me. I didn't actually enjoy good health. I had regular bouts of illness from time to time. It seems I inherited it from my mother who had weak body. However, for these past three years, I've never had any illness, not even a headache or sore throat," Misaki paused, her lips pursed thoughtfully, "I've had a paper cut once or twice when I was working on the assignments, I felt the pain, I saw the blood, but I never had any mark."

Baudin leaned back on his chair, taken aback with the new information. This time it was his turn to be the one asking the questions.

"How long have you noticed this?"

"It wasn't long after the twins were born. I thought it was momentary due to the blood still in the system, so I didn't pay much attention to it."

"But it didn't change," Baudin concluded sympathetically. He imagined how difficult it was for her to suddenly find herself changing without unable to do anything. Most changed humans at least knew what to expect after they were bitten and had time to prepare for it. She had no such luxury. However, it appeared that she knew for some time, but she handled it better than he would have in her position. Could it be because she expected it? He asked the question out loud.

"Most of my family lived longer than normal humans. It was believed because our ancestor was an immortal being," Misaki answered lightly as if it was nothing serious, but for Baudin who had learned to know her for three years, he knew that it wasn't.

He never heard of an unchanged human as a spouse to any vampire, let alone bear any vampire child, but it shouldn't be impossible. In order to maintain the purity of their own blood, the vampires rarely did not marry their kind, intermarriage, especially among purebloods became rather a common practice. Having any interest in ex-human vampires or even ordinary human was considered a disgrace, but it should not stop any vampire from having an affair with them, or even having children.

Although considering vampire children's nature, he thought the mortality rate for both the mother and the child would be great for the human body wasn't capable of handling such life form within, and that was based on the assumption that the child inherited the vampire blood. There was no scientific research done regarding how the vampires came into existence. It was generally believed that actually vampires came from normal humans, although what caused such drastic change was unknown; while there were proud vampires who denied this vehemently.

Being a scientist in the modern world, Baudin believed little in myth and legends that surrounded the origins of vampire kind deeply and inwardly thought that it could be explained by the least logic. Vampires had always enjoyed great authority due to their status and position, and it would be easy for them to erase or change parts or the whole of their own history, especially those that they didn't want others to know about themselves.

Through some of his private research and his privileges as the doctor for the twins, Baudin was certain that vampire traits were passed on through the parents' gene, although he wasn't sure which and how. If vampire genes were rather dominant, then there should be more vampires in existence without discounting the nature of vampires. There was too little known about this, so he couldn't disregard any possibility.

"Just to make sure, other than your state of health, is there anything else, any other changes you noticed?" Baudin asked concernedly.

"Well… I cannot really tell, but I think my physical strength seems to be affected," Misaki answered rather hesitantly. Baudin understood why she wasn't sure; she was used to with her previous state of health and took more care to herself not to do more than she could, rarely pushing herself than necessary. The thought saddened him; life was already difficult enough for the young woman, having to pursue her studies while raising two little children on her own.

"Is that all Francis? I'd like to return to my work," Misaki inquired, interrupting his thoughts.

"Ah. Yes. Don't mind me. I'd like to think about this a bit longer," Baudin waved his hand.

Warm blue eyes looked at him in understanding. She stood up from her seat, gathering her own cup before giving a gentle pat on the older man's knee. That gesture made him smile although it turned slightly sad when Misaki left the library, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

Misaki was kind to everyone and never hesitated to help in any way she could, her nature made it easy for other to open up to her but she herself rarely opened up to others. She was honest in her thoughts and feelings, but rarely revealed her deepest thoughts and feelings because she didn't like to burden others with her own matter. She didn't feel comfortable enough to.

Misaki never went as far as stopping the children to know their father, she always answered about him whenever any of them asked, but she didn't often initiate any conversation regarding the man herself. All of them knew that Misaki cared deeply, if not truly loved him, seeing the look in her eyes as she spoke of the silver-haired man to her children and as she looked at the constant reminder of their inheritance in their great resemblance to their father.

Sonia and Tanya, and himself who had seen how the man was affected with her near-death experience suspected that those feelings were returned in kind and because of it, they didn't understand how the two of them decided to separate without having any contact with each other. Unlike her friends, he was aware of the dangers if she were to be known of her relationship with the hunter leader, but those dangers should be reduced greatly as she lived with him whose master was known and also the fact that his own master himself had taken an interest in her, going as far as inviting and introducing her to the guests in his party.

Baudin wondered whether Lord Charlemagne was actually aware of her relationship with Kiryuu. His master was truly an exceptional pureblood that earned all the respect given to him, he wouldn't wonder if the man managed to connect the dots after seeing the twins. However, he didn't know the reason why Charlemagne went to such extent for a common human, which she was to him and he dared not to ask.

Lord Charlemagne could give her every protection she needed, especially against vampires, Baudin could help her when it came to her and her children's well being, and her friends could give her all the support she needed, but he thought it would never be enough. In the end, what Misaki needed… was him.

I

I

I

The young woman didn't immediately return to her unfinished work after her conversation with the doctor, instead she stood by the window, letting the breeze caress her face and play with the golden strands of her hair. Her eyes were gazing at the view outside the window, but she wasn't seeing the crowds in the streets, or the French buildings around her.

Her hand reached out for an x-acto knife lying on the desk nearby. She looked at the pointed tip of the knife, lightly tracing the sharp edge. There was a brief pause before she suddenly swiped her finger against the blace. She winced slightly at the pain and the sight of blood from the wound, and slowly reached out to wipe the blood with trepidation. Beneath the blood, there was no trace of any cut, only smooth, flawless skin, as though she was never wounded. She cradled her hand to her forehead, her fair bangs fell before her eyes, wanting to simply curl into herself and hide for forever.

"Zero…" Her voice was quiet and hoarse, almost broken. Please… I need you…

Misaki closed her eyes, praying and wishing fervently for the one person who always understood.

A familiar image she hadn't seen for a long time came up in her mind. An image of the person she sorely missed with all her being. She wanted to reach out, she wanted to have him by her side.

Zero…

A little explanation for those who were wondering why in the hell there are mansions around Champs-Élysées. Again, it's a some of the liberties that I take, as you may have noticed in my portrayal Schloss Esterházy. It still exists right now, but it's more of a historical landmark where people can visit, no longer a residence to nobility. Despite the resemblance to our world, it's not our world. In the world of VK, nobilities still have authority and prestige, they would still have residences in the most exclusive parts of the cities, especially in the capital.

'Nuff said. Please review! :D