My apologies for the late update! I had been stuck for quite a while, and then once I got over the writer's block, I ended up doing lots of research with so many things I put into the chapter. My muse can be so demanding! So I have to put up a disclaimer here that I have taken creative license with one canon character (since he appears so late when I have given up on VK), but most importantly the historical people (and some who are not exactly historical) and places included in the chapter. I try to be as accurate as possible for the places since I wrote in my other favorite country besides my home country, and places I'd very much like to visit myself.
Before we continue to the chapter, I'd like to thank DragonGirl135, Komakipureblood, and Delaine for such enthusiastic and constant support, and welcome Evelyn and zerom1v to this story of mine. Hopefully this update won't disappoint you. ~Audriel
Chapter 17
It was a quiet afternoon in the Kiryuu mansion, which would be an unusual occurrence months ago. The twins were most active in the afternoons, where they often spent playing in and around the mansion. Now they rarely did that since they started elementary school. They were still getting used to mingling with children around their age, learning new things and having homework assigned to them. It was a new, exciting experience for them, but even they admitted to their parents they still felt afraid and worried that they wouldn't fit in, that they wouldn't be able to learn quickly, that they wouldn't do well at school. However, their parents were quick to notice and reassure them whenever those feelings crept in.
Before they were enrolled to school, both of their parents took time off from their work to get them used to going to school, no longer having only each other as playmate, their parents as teachers and somewhere else to play and study. The four of them visited the school together, exploring the school, learning everything they would do in school, and getting to know the teachers. The teachers were nice, they had been shy at first to ask questions, but with the encouragement of their parents, they asked everything they could think of. The teachers were no different than their parents, they were kind and patient with them and their endless questions, giving clear and easy answers to understand. The school was not too big or too small, but it had many rooms to study and large field to play in. The building had lots of windows, making the rooms bright and airy, and surrounded by tall trees and green grass.
Their parents also helped them to buy the things they need for school, letting them choose what they want though within reason. They gifted Mizuki lovely ribbons to wear in her hair and Kazuki wristwatch to tell time, even Marui-san, Kaien-jiji and Yagari-ji gave them gifts (though they overheard that Yagari had to be reminded by Kaien, they had giggled at how cross their grandfather sounded). Though it was their parents' gifts the Kiryuu twins had come to wear to school since the first day. They had been nervous, but Okaasan helped them with what to wear and what to bring and Otousan made them breakfast and drove them to school by himself, instead of Tetsu. They also attended the Opening and Entrance Ceremony. After the ceremonies, their parents mostly kept to themselves, their mother socializing with other parents and the school staff, while their father simply stood by her side. They didn't attempt to watch their children or even to interfere, but the twins knew that they would always be aware of them, like the twins were aware of their parents, however far away they were.
Since then Mizuki and Kazuki grew the habit on finishing their daily homework together. They were in the same class after all. Kazuki was good in Science and Arithmetic and Mizuki was good in Social Studies and Japanese, but both of them liked Arts and Handcraft homework most, not because both was particularly good at it, but because it was much like what they liked to do together before they started school. It also helped that they had a mother who was very good at Handcraft and had endless supplies for them to use.
Kazuki was sitting with his back against the side of the bed, while Mizuki was laying on her belly on the top of the comforter of her bed, her arm brushing against his head. He had been working on his Arithmetic homework, which was rather easy for him, so he found his mind wandering, thinking of their mother.
"Kazu."
The soft words from his twin quickly caught his attention. Rarely Mizuki called him Kazu, unless she was feeling uncertain, and in need of her brother's assurance. When he turned to look at his other half, they knew they had been thinking of the same thing, the same person.
They remembered how they felt such pain and sadness, and how they looked for each other at first, worried and upset that the other might have been hurt only to find that they had been fine. It was Mizuki who thought of their mother and it was Kazuki who took the lead to look for her. They found her, only to find her crying in the drawing room. She had been crying without a sound, if it weren't for the tears falling down her face, they wouldn't have known Okaasan was crying. They didn't know what to do, Kazuki had been tugging at his sister, asking for help and guidance. He had never been good with comforting or cheering people except for Mizuki, but his sister had been as confused and uncertain as he was.
Their mother was all warm eyes and gentle smiles. They rarely saw their mother sad or angry at them or anyone else. When she did, it never lasted long. She was never one to hold on to them, it was one of the first things she taught them.
"It hurts, doesn't it?"
They had fallen down when they were playing. They tried not to cry, but their nose felt runny and cheeks felt wet still. They could only nod at their mother's question.
"But it has been fun, hasn't it, before you fell?"
They thought carefully of the question, and gave a nod of agreement.
"Then remember that." She smiled that bright smile that made them smile too.
And they didn't hurt anymore.
But somehow… the pain was gone, but the sadness they felt in their mother seemed to linger… to remain, if Kazuki really tried, he could feel it in his bond with Okaasan. He didn't doubt that Mizuki could feel it without needing to try. She had always been closer to their mother.
"It used to be there." Kazuki looked at Mizuki in surprise. "It used to be there before Otousan came back." Kazuki didn't need to ask what Mizuki meant. "I thought it was gone."
Kazuki was alarmed to see those identical blue eyes were filled with tears. Mizuki's cheeks reddened, her lips trembled. She was going to cry and he hated to see her cry. It was bad enough to see Okaasan cried. He wanted to cry too, but he didn't allow himself to. He was the older twin, he couldn't cry when his sister needed him.
"Mizu." Kazuki climbed on the bed next to shaking Mizuki, pressing their sides together. "Okaasan will be alright. Otousan will help." Instead of comforting Mizuki, it seemed he only made her cry. Kazuki didn't like this, Mizuki knew something.
"Mizu." It was both a plea and a demand. Kazuki never liked not knowing, because if he didn't know, he couldn't help. He didn't want his mother and sister sad.
"It was Otousan. He made her sad this time too." Kazuki felt… he couldn't tell what he felt, there was confusion, anger, denial. Their father couldn't have made their mother cry, but then, dread, because Mizuki said this time too.
"But- but he made it alright before, didn't he? He will make it alright again." He wanted to hear it wasn't so, that their father didn't hurt their mother. He had made them happy, he had made her happy.
"…I think so." Mizuki wiped her cheeks with the back of her fists, smiling faintly at her brother. She was too much like Okaasan, trying to comfort others despite their own feelings. Otousan made things right before, he should be able to make things right again. People made mistakes, their parents made them too. But what was important was they apologize and fix their mistakes. It was from them they learned this, and Mizuki should have known that, should have been assured of that… but she didn't.
"Mizu, what did you see?" He didn't like the feeling he had now. It tingled, and it was not a good sign. It never was. The last time he felt the tingling, the branch Mizuki had been sitting on and he had been climbing would have broken under both of them. He felt, and Mizuki saw. When they had them in the same time, something bad was going to happen.
"I don't know." She shook her head once, twice. "I don't know, Kazu." Kazuki had nothing to say, but held his sister close, wishing and praying nothing would happen to them, to their wonderful family.
I
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I
Sounds of rushing water from the tap could be heard from the gap between the door and door frame to the bathroom. Bowed figure was standing before the sink, taut lines across the broad shoulder and strong arms, lean fingers gripping the edge with white knuckles. Hand blindly reached for an empty glass and brought it under the water to fill it in. Without turning off the tap, the silver haired man threw something into his mouth and drank mouthfuls of water. Zero looked at his reflection in the mirror as he wiped his mouth.
He had been running through blood tablets in an alarming rate. He used to only need two three tablets a day, sometimes less. Now he needed six tablets a day, at the least. Fortunately he had kept a supply of blood tablets and a habit of having two bottles of them in his offices and in his belongings and not to mention on his person, so the change wouldn't garner notice, though he had to be careful in replenishing his supply.
The last time he had been this bad was when he was in the dangers of falling to Level E. The thirst brought the painful reminder of the lowest point in his life. The only difference was he could see clear silver eyes, normal length fangs in the mirror, not the slightest hint of redness that indicated the fallen. He splashed water over his face and into his mouth, only to look again into the reflective surface and find nothing changed. He still looked like himself. No one noticed any visible changes to him, unless they paid attention to the amount of tablets he took every day, which he made a point to hide.
He couldn't pinpoint when it started. He only started to notice when he had emptied the bottles he had on him in a month, which usually took longer than that. Then he realized how often he reached for the tablets and gulped them, sometimes dry. It had alarmed him, but at the same time, he didn't have the sudden, painful urge to take anyone's blood, if anything it was still controllable.
Zero wasn't sure whom he could consult this… this change with. He was surrounded with hunters and vampires, either who knew nothing or much but would not exactly be understanding. He had ignored it at first, but it had shown no signs of going away. His first instinct was to tell his wife, but he had never quite gotten over the guilt and shame of drinking Yuuki's blood however little and unintentionally.
He had immediately confessed to her what happened in the Kuran Mansion. It had been obvious in how quickly he returned home and in how he carried himself that something had happened. Misaki had been quiet as he told her every single detail, not keeping anything from her, while he was unable to look at her in the eye. It had shamed him greatly that he wasn't able to refuse Yuuki, that it didn't occur to him to stop and think, to remember that he had Misaki and Yuuki had Kuran, and that he did not need Yuuki's blood anymore.
He had no excuses. He had nothing.
She only took his hands in her own and waited until he looked up to tell him that it was okay, that he couldn't help it. It was just blood-taking, nothing more and nothing less.
Somehow he knew, despite her words and her reassurances, that it wasn't, and worse, that she knew.
She knew that it would happen.
She knew that he might have shaken off Kuran's influence over him, but not with Yuuki.
And it broke his heart.
Gods, what a failure of a husband he was.
He would have kept apologizing, but she had refused to accept any apologies, any guilt or shame from his part. She just shrugged it off and carried on as though nothing had changed.
And nothing had changed. She still took his kiss on the cheek and greeted him home with a kiss. She didn't keep her distance with him. She answered his calls whenever they were apart, such as now when he was once again having to go on another trip as the president of Hunter Association that took him away from home.
She said it was just blood-taking, it was natural for him to seek blood when it was offered to him, more so when it was pureblood's. He only took it harder because it undermined his control.
Misaki always understood him best, it was not first time she had managed to put down the reasons behind his feelings or actions. However, he couldn't quite accept her explanation. There was truth in them, he never liked how he needed blood to survive, how his thirst made him lose control. He couldn't forget the time when he craved blood so badly that blood tablets were not enough, that he had to drink Yuuki's blood to regain himself. He had gotten better, though he didn't like to think how, that he could no more desire blood than he desired water to quench his thirst.
He didn't want to think that he was just another vampire. He was too much of a hunter to consider himself fully as a vampire. He didn't want to think that he fell into their twisted hierarchy that he could do nothing but scrape and bow to their whims when the purebloods used their powers. Being the leader of hunters, he had been in the presence of purebloods of various skill and strength, years and experience. He was certain that some of them tried to use their powers on him, but he had always been able to ignore, if not repel them outright. He had come to regard himself as an anomaly, an outlier, an abnormality, which was what he was, whether as a hunter or a vampire.
He was certain he could control his bloodlust, but then again as exposed he was to the presence of purebloods, he was never to their blood, considering how precious and sacred their blood was considered by the vampire society.
Could he truly not help it?
Zero couldn't help but wonder. The question was always in the back of his mind. It often came to the forefront in times like these, when he was driven almost mad for blood, which happened too frequently to his liking lately. He was half-tempted to make a pureblood bleed just to satisfy his curiosity, but most importantly, to assuage his guilt. When the thought registered to his mind, he couldn't help the involuntary snort that turned into sad chuckle.
He would have rather surrendered some of his control than hurt his wife because of his lack of control.
Loud bangs against the door to his suite could be heard, breaking Zero out of his musings. Few people who would do that.
"Yo, Zero! Time to go!" Fewer still who called the president with such disrespect, if not only one, making Zero smirk as he regained his bearings. Taking everything he needed along the way to the entrance, Zero was completely presentable when opening the door to find a familiar figure of Takamiya Kaito raising his hand again to bash his hand against the door.
For a moment, the two old friends only stared at each other. Zero broke the moment by raising his eyebrow.
"Are you intending to bash the door or my head?"
"The second option sounds much more appealing actually," Kaito answered with a thoughtful look, not quite lowering his hand yet.
"What have I done to warrant that?" Zero replied, nonchalantly closed the door behind him and walked past the taller man.
"For sending me to godforsaken lands in the middle of nowhere to teach snotty-nosed brats." Kaito easily matched Zero's quick, long strides.
"First, it's Samarkand, which is in the heart of Asia, not in the middle of nowhere. It's strictly, carefully selected youths from the best families you chose. You have only yourself to blame for that if they end up as snotty-nosed brats. It's part of your job," Zero deadpanned. "Besides, you like it."
"It's still nowhere and they are still brats." Zero snorted at that.
Kaito was among his most trusted people in the Association. He was among the few who truly knew and understood Zero, and the most vocal and unwavering in his support of him as the president, while not hiding his disagreements and failing to point out his mistakes behind closed doors. Thus, he made him a Special Envoy, to become his eyes and ears in Eurasia where he would be unwelcome as a president or as a vampire, and to act on his behalf with his authority and permission. It was a job best suited for the Takamiya who was a rebel and a wanderer at heart. It was also a job that challenged him the most, more than simply being an ordinary hunter.
Kaito moved in and walked among the shadows, discovering and revealing truth, judging and dispensing justice in Zero's place. It was not an easy task, but his friend shouldered it well.
However, with their responsibilities, it became rarer for them to spend time more than as the president and his envoy, more as the brothers and friends they had become. Zero could not contact Kaito directly in fear for his safety and Kaito did not always have the luxury to speak or write at length in his communications. It had been the first in a long time that they were within close physical distance with each other.
"Then I found out that you are married." Kaito's sharp eyes easily found the band on his ring finger, most likely already looking for it the moment he stepped out of his suite. Zero wasn't surprised that Kaito found out, regardless how much he would like for his close friend to hear it from himself.
"I'd have sent out an invite, but you were lost amidst flocks of sheep in Kandahar."
"Who's to blame for that?"
"The last time I checked I did mention that you would not make a good, let alone convincing, shepherd."
"You must admit that was a fine wool you have." Zero shot the other man an unimpressed look at the reminder of the sheep wool sent to his office. He had found out later in their friendship that Kaito had quite an odd sense of humor. It was not the first time he did something so strange and unexpected. He complained about it enough to Misaki that she could quickly deduce where the wool came from when he brought the boxes of fleece home. He could remember the way her blue eyes sparked with amusement at his exasperation behind the sympathy from the predicament he was in. She was trying hard not to laugh at him, but supposedly the grumpy look on his face set the laughter off. Eventually he found the humor too, and laughed along with her. The memory warmed him.
"Misaki gave them away to the nearby Mill and got colorful balls of yarn in thanks. She hasn't gone through all of them, although she had made several sets of winter clothes." She had actually made the whole family sweaters, scarves, hats, mittens and socks. Sometimes he wondered how she even had the time to make them, but he had once seen how quickly she knit and in another time, how she gleefully pulled the thread of half-finished sweater. They had their ways of relieving their stress, but then again gardening was not always an option. It was definitely better than making holes on a dummy or a target, or wiping the floor with fellow hunters.
"So her name's Misaki, huh." The look Kaito leveled him was penetrating. Zero fought the instinctive reaction to close off, to get defensive of his feelings towards Misaki. He should not have needed to defend himself or Misaki from his friend. He had chosen her as she had chosen him. His expression definitely caught Kaito's interest who raised his eyebrows.
"I'd like to meet her sometime."
"You have to return to Japan first."
"We'll see." Kaito hummed noncommittally, trying to appear nonchalant but Zero knew him too well. His wife already caught Kaito's interest, he would make an appearance in Japan. It was a matter of when.
Their duties demanded frequent traveling to other cities and countries, but that was where the similarities ended. Zero was required to be in the spotlight, to be present and visible, as such he was more often in the busiest and largest cities, attending meetings and functions with well-known and high-ranked people in either societies. His time was often already planned down to the greatest detail, leaving little freedom to slip away. It was a contrast with Kaito who did not have such restrictions, he had the freedom that Zero didn't have, nothing to dictate him and his movements. Thus, they rarely overlapped, even if they happened to be in the same place in the same time. It was not like that they couldn't allocate some time for one another, but they would rather not. They more often than not put their duties first.
Last he heard of the man he was in Almatau Mountains, complaining of the Turkic trainees and of their supposed lack of ability. He knew Kaito well enough that the Turkic was much better than anticipated, as he already expected from his own various experiences with their people. Regardless how well the training went, it was still a surprise to find the older hunter in Birka, Sweden to attend the gathering in Alshönus castle in Hovgården.
Sweden was the center of the Nordic region and one of the greatest powers in Europe since Gustavus Adolphus the Great. He had been a visionary that was not afraid to change with the times, a man of peace that was not afraid of war, a trait that was inherited by his descendants. He was among the rare human monarchs that managed to gain the respect of their vampire counterparts, the purebloods. When in most kingdoms and countries around the world, it was the purebloods who became the power behind the throne or government, it was the other way around for House of Vasa. The Oxenstiernas had sworn themselves to the Vasas' service and had faithfully and unfailingly served the royal family of Sweden for the centuries. Gustavus made no secret of the Oxenstiernas to his court, but it was Christina, his daughter, who took it further by making the people aware of the night creatures. Since then, Nordic became the exemplary region of peace between humans and vampires in Europe, where being vampire was no stranger than being queer or religious.
Nordic region was so peaceful that there was almost no need for hunters, but since Arnfinn Næss they made sure that the hunters they had were more than sufficient to maintain the peace and had relatively cordial relationship with Hunter Association. The region was also a neutral ground, perfect for a large-scale and highly-exclusive gathering of the most influential and powerful people in the world. This gathering could be considered as the follow-up for the peace treaty signed in Japan.
Zero would have liked to have his Special Envoy with him for this occasion, because Kaito would be the first to notice whether the treaty had any effect at all. Not necessarily during the gathering, before or after was fine by him, knowing the other's aversion towards formal events filled with high-ranking people. Thus he was surprised to see that the man kept matching his strides as they approached the port.
"Are you sure?" Zero couldn't help asking Kaito as they ascended the gangway to the ferry carrying the guests from Birka to Hovgården.
"Don't tempt me." Kaito spoke through gritted teeth as they passed a pompous bunch of humans and vampires exchanging pleasantries. Zero carefully concealed his smirk. His friend had reigned in his hatred, but not his disdain, especially for the high-class. It was growth in a way, since he treated vampires no differently than humans now, otherwise Zero wouldn't choose him as his envoy.
The ferry was more a luxury cruise, it was easy enough to snag a private corner for their perusal. The moment he was certain they wouldn't be overheard, Zero turned to Kaito.
"Report."
"The treaty is in effect in Eurasia, comparably better than the rest of the world. So the Africans and the Americans might have some inquiries for you. For Europe, the vampires are the problem, but the purebloods manage to enforce the compliance to the treaty to their underlings. The humans themselves are better-behaved, which is a contrast to the humans in most Asia. Then again, Asia is the largest and most populous continent. Some of them are testing the limits and the patience of the vampires, and vampires are not always a patient bunch, especially the Southern ones. You don't need to worry much about Far East. It is the rest you have to be worried about. Those countries and kingdoms near European borders are still wary of their continental neighbor that they won't try much, but you never know with those quick-tempered people."
"So Central and South."
"There were already some incidents in Samarkand and Lahore."
Zero leaned back in surprise, but then he put the places in his mental map and considered Kaito's last known place. If there was such incidents, then Kaito would likely take advantage of the opportunity to test the mettle of the trainees.
"How did they hold up?"
"Turkic." Kaito merely shrugged, admitting nothing. They went on a while, exchanging information that might be relevant for the upcoming event and ensuring that Zero would not be caught off guard. Before long, they heard the announcement that they had arrived in Adelsö. They took their time before disembarking, going over everything for the last time. Once they stepped onto the island, they didn't exchange any words, simply walking side by side towards the royal estate of Alshönus. The castle was a magnificent medieval marvel, standing on the highest ground of the island, facing towards Birka in Björkö Island. But it was the lights of the aurora in the sky shining over the walls and the towers that enhanced its beauty and splendor. They were not in the northernmost part of Sweden, but here where the castle was the sole human settlement in the island, there was nothing to obscure the natural phenomenon from view.
The windows were filled with soft light, music and chatters could be faintly heard from them. Flags and banners of all countries and kingdoms decorated the walls to welcome the guests. All of the guests were directed towards the Great Hall, following the path covered with red carpet. Stepping through the great doors, Zero already slipped into the role of the president of Hunter Association, while Kaito stood beside and behind him, a silent and watchful shadow.
I
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I
For all the importance of this kind of events, they had the tendency to be repetitive. Essentially, they amounted to talking and eating, and there was only so much of those you could do for long period of time. Then the higher-ranked, the better-known you were, you tended to meet the people you had met before. Once he had deemed exchanging enough pleasantries (and information) with the most important people on his list, Zero intended to find the most obscure place in the castle and spend inordinate amount of time avoiding people. Before he could do so though, he found himself being accosted by a young woman.
"President Kiryuu. Please follow me."
It was only because he noticed the earpiece hidden by her braided dark hair and the royal badge of the Vasa pinned to her red satin dress that Zero followed the woman without much query. He was wary of the invitation, but not as wary and tense as Kaito who was following him closely, prepared for any deception. They went up to the stairs and towards to a private chamber overlooking the Hall. Zero had been in enough castles to recognize that the chamber only admitted select guests.
"President Kiryuu and Kaito Takamiya," the woman announced to the person standing guard inside, taking Kaito completely by surprise that he was recognized. Their escort stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter the chamber.
The chamber was unexpectedly large and spacious, warm and bright. There was some quiet chatter from within the chamber, despite the moderate number of people scattered around. The atmosphere was much calmer and more casual compared to the Great Hall.
The first man to approach them was a medium-height, dark-haired and mustached man in a formal tailcoat decorated with royal badges. It was Bengt Oxenstierna himself, the royal retainer of House of Vasa, and the Lord High Chancellor of Sweden.
"President Kiryuu. It's an honor to have you here." The compliment was surprisingly sincere, as was the offered hand. The Chancellor was more open-minded than most people he had to deal with, keeping his judgment to himself and treating him no differently since he was first introduced as the new president to the Association. They had mutual desire for peace, though they often clashed in the beginning with their different approach. As Zero grew into his role and started to learn the advantages of different approaches, they came to respect one another, though they were too different at the core to be truly considered as allies.
"Lord High Chancellor Oxenstierna. The honor's mine." Zero returned the firm handshake with his own.
"I'd like to introduce you to our beloved Queen Victoria." The woman who came forward could not be mistaken as nothing but royalty. It was not the crown, it was the regal bearing. This was the woman who ensured that Sweden remained at the forefront and the powers of Europe and the woman who earned the respect and loyalty of the Nordic purebloods.
"Your Majesty." Zero kissed the proffered hand as dictated by protocol.
"President Kiryuu," the Swedish Queen smiled in greeting. "I've been looking forward in meeting you in person. The man who managed the impossible. The man who made peace possible."
Zero merely titled his head in the acknowledgment of her words but not his deeds, "My sole contribution was to ensure all representatives willing to sit down together and think beyond themselves." It took a lengthy and complicated process of diplomacy, of letters and meetings, of persuasions and arguments, of threats and bribes that sometimes he felt less like a diplomat and more a sitter, as the supposedly highly respected and intelligent people needed cajoling to act for greater good. There were times he was truly tempted to take the most direct and brutal approach, it would certainly be much quicker.
"I've been told that you are not one to take credit for your achievement. It appears that it's true." The Queen raised an eyebrow. Although she was not smiling, she was definitely amused.
"It seems you have found it is not an exaggeration on my part, Your Majesty." A jovial voice interjected smoothly into their conversation. Zero couldn't help the loosening of tension at the familiar presence.
"You are prone to exaggeration at times, my dear Louis." Queen Victoria turned slightly to allow the leading European pureblood joined their conversation. Charlemagne was dressed in his finest, wearing the adornments that acknowledged his royal blood.
"Ah, my mistake." Charlemagne tilted his head in apology towards the Queen, though his eyes were bright with mischief. The Queen waved away the gesture, familiar with the teasing manner of the fellow monarch.
"Lord Charlemagne," Zero nodded in greeting. He should not be surprised to see the European monarch here, it was his wife's lands after all. "Are you not with Lady Charlemagne?"
"President Kiryuu," Charlemagne returned the nod, raising his glass of wine in greeting. "She prefers to spend time with the family instead."
"Understandable," Zero followed his lead, taking a glass of his own from the tray the server was carrying around. "Hopefully you would kindly refrain from sharing anything potentially incriminating should you need to speak about me."
"Oh I try not to." Charlemagne replied genially.
Out of habit, Zero checked the color of the wine from various sides and with the aid of light then swirled the liquid in the glass before sniffing the scent. He took a small sip where bursts of flavor exploded on his tongue.
"Merlot with Cabernet Franc… Pomerol. Château Pétrus, 2008?" Zero made a guess as he took larger sip of the wine, rolling it over his tongue, in his mouth while watching the others' reaction from the corner of his eyes.
"Close. Château Pétrus, 2005. I am not aware you are quite an expert," Chancellor Oxenstierna didn't conceal his admiration. It appeared that Zero accidentally scored some points with the host who, based on his reaction, most likely made the selection himself.
"I've developed a taste for wine, especially red wine. Not to mention that wine is always served in events." Zero shrugged casually. With his enhanced senses, it was not difficult for him to separate the scents and flavors then to associate them with certain vintage he had tasted before. Wine also helped to conceal the iron taste of blood in the tablets that he preferred to take them with a glass of red.
Italian wines that incorporated prunes in particular were decent substitute for blood tablet. He had a cellar underneath the mansion, which couldn't boast of a collection yet since it mainly comprised of Italian wines with the likes of Cabernet Franc from Toscana, Sangiovese Grosso from Brunello di Montalcino, Aglianico from Taurasi, Nebbiolo from Barolo, and the rare inclusion of French wines, such as Red blend from Saint-Émilion and Malbec from Cahors. He rarely collected wine for the sake of wine itself. Misaki was not much of a wine drinker either.
"Lord Charlemagne forgets to mention how President Kiryuu is full of surprises." Queen Victoria seemed to be exceptionally pleased at this. "Shall we take a walk around, President? There are many who would like to know you."
"I'd be honored, Your Majesty." Zero allowed the Queen to hook her arm around his, obediently following her lead and abandoning his previous hope to avoid further interaction. Before he went with the Swedish-Charlemagne retinue, he caught a glimpse of Kaito sipping his wine in the corner of the room, his eyebrows raised and his eyes narrowed. He recognized the look as the patented 'You owe me a lot of explanation, Kiryuu' look whenever he did something unexpected, which Zero must admit, having the most influential monarchs of Europe in both societies taken such an interest towards him, counted as one of them. It was definitely nothing expected from the lone wolf he was known as. Misaki would have found amusement in his situation was his last thoughts before he donned his president's mask once again.
I
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I
Finally, after decent, if not extended, amount of time which consisted of making introductions and exchanging pleasantries, Zero managed to excuse himself from the Swedish hosts. Inwardly he envied his shadow for getting away from the monotony, and admired him for being able to get away at all, considering how he didn't fail to be recognized by the high society. Kaito would need to be more careful in the future. He snatched a full glass of wine from a passing server in his way to a shadowed alcove where an antique chaise longue was situated next to a small round table and matching bergere chair.
Zero settled with a sigh on the surprisingly comfortable longue, very much tempted to stretch out his entire length on it but refrained from doing so. He had been sitting for interminable time when he was joined by another presence.
"May I join you?" Zero didn't need to turn around to know who it was. He merely gestured towards the empty bergere next to him. Were it any other person, he would have left or denied the request. As it was, they ended sitting close to each other in easy silence.
Charlemagne was a calm and soothing presence, reminding him of his great-grandniece. Few he knew appreciated silence, fewer radiated such comfort and tranquility. He could recall how it had been in their early acquaintance, how Misaki withstood his suspicion and hostility with silence, how he refused to look at her and yet in time grew to tolerate her. It was difficult to hold any ill feelings against her.
It had been a similar approach Yuuki had taken, though instead of using silence, she had used persistent nagging. It had come from good intention, so he couldn't begrudge her for the attempts. Both chipped away at his defenses slowly but surely, with patience and persistence. Both saw something more in him that worth their efforts. Both were dear to him.
He had let go one and chosen the other. He had made his choice.
Yet... why was he drawn to Yuuki still?
Was it truly something he could not help? Or was it not?
He realized that he was in the presence of the right person to ask his question, but dread gnawed at him. He was afraid for the answer he might receive. He was afraid that he might find that he had committed a great betrayal to the woman he had promised himself to. What then?
You won't know unless you ask. He could hear her voice in his mind with the tone she reserved for him whenever she thought he was being ridiculous. She was never too kind to call him stupid or foolish right to his face, but she preferred more he came to his own conclusions, or made his own decisions without anyone's interference. For all you know, all your fear and worry is for nothing.
It might be for nothing. It might be only his insecurity and uncertainty talking. It had been always his problem that he couldn't quite conquer even with Misaki's help. Zero took a deep breath, the released, finding his courage from somewhere within him.
"May I ask a question?" Zero asked, not removing his eyes from the swirl of liquid in his glass.
"It is unlike you to ask for permission. Is this question of sensitive nature?" Charlemagne asked, the tentativeness Zero displayed as he approached him easily caught his interest.
"It pertains to… vampires' nature." Zero spoke slowly, carefully. He couldn't quite find in himself to say our nature, fortunately, Charlemagne didn't seem to take offence either on his choice of words or his choice of topic.
"What do you want to know?"
Zero tried to form the right words, to ask the right question.
"Could… we refuse fresh blood?"
Charlemagne's mouth quirked slightly, noticing that Zero might not identify himself as a vampire, but he acknowledge his vampire's tendencies. It was understandable, the man might have the physical traits of his kind, but none the others to be fully considered as a vampire. The president was in a unique position of being of both and neither worlds. It must not be easy to reconcile those two contradictory sides of him. He was surrounded by hunters, whose understanding of vampires was tainted by deeply-ingrained hatred and prejudice. He didn't have anyone to ask about his vampire side. The closest one he had was Cross, but he was still no vampire. He didn't experience the blood-lust that plagued their kind, but also the intimacy of the blood sharing.
The latter made Charlemagne wonder. Did Misaki give her blood to Zero? Did Zero take her blood?
"How important do you think is blood to vampires?" Charlemagne refrained from asking what was on his mind and instead attempted to answer Zero's question, leaning back to have better sight of the younger man.
"Vampires… need blood to survive. It is sustenance not unlike food and water are to humans. As it is with humans, vampires could go on without for some time." Zero answered hesitantly.
"From humans' perspective, that is a sharp and accurate observation, if not a bit too simple. Blood is not just blood to us. It is precious and sacred to us like nectar from the gods or manna from heaven. We don't give or take blood away easily, as difficult as it is to believe considering what you have seen and experienced." Zero didn't deny that, tilting his head but listening still.
"For those you often encounter, blood symbolizes power to them. Power over others, whether humans or other vampires. They don't actually need the blood as a sustenance. They are most likely not thirsty for blood, unless they are the lowest level vampires."
"Power to make and destroy lives." Zero muttered quietly, fingers twitching towards his neck where Hio Shizuka had bitten him.
"It is not a trait that is exclusive to vampires, but with our ability, naturally the power is amplified." Charlemagne spread out his hands in the universal gesture of what could you do. It was stark truth. It was unpleasant, but nevertheless true. Humans were no better than vampires. They only lack the means the other possessed.
"For others, blood symbolizes trust. Trust that one won't abuse that power over the other. Trust that the one doing the taking will take no more than necessary. Trust the one doing the giving is truly willing. That is why we always call the act as blood sharing, in the stead of blood taking. It is a mutual give and take, no one has power over the other." Zero was completely captivated by the other's perspective of what he had considered as the worst, the vilest, the most despicable part of vampire. He was fascinated with the picture Charlemagne drawn, which made the act as precious, sacred, treasured, a complete contrast with what he had thought. His mind immediately went towards Misaki, towards the experience of taking, no, sharing her blood.
"It is… the most intimate act between vampires. Not only you give your blood away, you also give away yourself. You lower your defenses, your reservations… You simply feel. And when you take, you take their blood and their whole selves. You feel what they feel. You see all of them."
Zero's breathing hitched at the apt and astute description and inwardly hoped that Charlemagne wouldn't notice.
"Fresh blood appeals to us. It will always appeal to us. Especially in comparison to those dreadful blood tablets." Charlemagne's face soured slightly at that, Zero couldn't help the snort that escaped him. "Purebloods' blood holds the most, if not the strongest appeal. It will certainly sustain whoever drink their blood for a long time, not to mention granting abilities as purebloods' wont. But as I mention before, blood is not just blood to us." Zero tried not to tense visibly at the mention of purebloods' blood.
"'The thirst of a vampire could only be quenched by their loved one.'" For the first time since the beginning of their conversation, Charlemagne looked at him solemnly.
"What does it mean?" Zero's throat was dry, knowing with such certainty the significance of those words without truly understanding why.
"It's a matter of need and a matter of want."
"What is the difference?"
"You can deny what you want, but not what you need." Charlemagne only gave an enigmatic smile at those words before excusing himself to attend the Swedish monarch who requested for his presence, leaving Zero to stare unseeingly at his departing figure and reflect upon everything he told him.
I
I
I
It was dark when he arrived home, the only light came from the small lamps placed on the walls, giving dim illumination within the darkness. He didn't really need it, having keen senses as his but it was better than having complete darkness surrounding him. The words of Charlemagne could hardly leave his mind, reverberating in his mind like a broken recorder.
It was a wonder how he could still retain enough sense to continue performing his duties and responsibilities as the hunter leader throughout the week in the Nordic kingdom with the conversation a constant presence in the back of his mind. It was not the last he had seen the European pureblood, nor the Swedish monarch. Through the Queen he was introduced to other influential figures in the Nordic-Baltic League, gaining potential allies for the Association and humans, for peace between humans and vampires. He also went through every information Kaito had gathered whenever he was not detained by the high society, while his old friend also attempted to find out everything and every changes he noticed, specifically in Zero. It was enough to drive him to drink if only it helped to get rid the mother of all headaches he had. His enhanced metabolism didn't grant him such reprieve that others sought by drinking copious amount of alcohol, unfortunately.
He felt such a relief when he realized that he reached the end of his trip, that it was time for him to return to Japan, to home. He was quite sorry to see Kaito go, but not so sorry with the way he kept pestering him. He wasn't sure what the other man was looking for. He just hoped that he wouldn't just drop by Kiryuu mansion not only to find his wife, but also his children. He wasn't sure how that surprise visit would turn out. Misaki might or might not see that one coming, though he was certain she would just introduce herself and let him in. The image of flabbergasted Kaito managed to get a snort out of him, lessening the tension across his shoulders. He was already breathing easier the moment he stepped into the mansion.
He climbed up the stairs slowly, already discarding his coat at the entrance, his jacket on his left arm while his right hand absently loosening the tie around his neck. He passed by the children's rooms, peeking through the slight opening made on the door. His boy was sleeping on his side, a hand underneath his pillow, a sleeping position that made it easy to move about after waking up. It seemed the hunter training was starting to show, but his boy had always been the wary one. Kazuki was indeed his son.
While in the other hand, Mizuki still slept normally, hugging her teddy bear close. She was the stronger of the two to inherit her mother's foresight, but it appeared it wasn't as bad as Misaki who had her visions in tender age of three and already more detailed in its brutal images. It was a relief to see Mizuki seemed to sleep through her dreams peacefully with only the company of her teddy. A small smile graced his tired features that never failed to appear whenever he saw the innocence in his children that hopefully would not completely disappear with time.
He turned on his heels swiftly and quietly, barely leaving any signs of his presence close to his children rooms, heading towards his and his wife's room in the other end of the hallway. The door appeared to be closed, but by slight push it was already swung open. These simple things no longer surprised him when he had a wife who was capable of seeing the future. She knew that he was coming home even without him telling her.
The room was completely dark compared to the children rooms that still had some sort of light in the room as dim as it was. It took him few seconds to get used to the darkness in the large chamber. It didn't take long for him to find the sleeping figure of his wife on their bed. She was sleeping on her side, underneath the covers. She was sleeping on her side of the bed, facing the door. He realized that it was how she always slept whenever he wasn't home before midnight and she wasn't awake all night. He moved soundlessly, removing his tie and vest on the back of the chair nearby and taking off his shoes and socks. However, despite the care he put not to wake her he still sensed minute movements from the bed.
"Zero?" sleep-laden voice called out blindly, making him instinctively turn toward the sound of her gentle voice.
She was stirring awake languidly, using the arms she used previously as her pillows as the leverage to sit up. She rubbed her barely opened eyes and shed some of her hair out of the way behind her ear unconsciously. Her long golden hair was falling freely on her back and shoulders; her honey-colored skin was exposed as she wore a spaghetti-strapped nightgown, which made it slid loosely of her small shoulder, revealing more of the smooth skin between her neck and shoulders.
The sight made him froze; her sweet scent immediately assaulted his senses in such force that it jolted all of his senses awake. He became aware of the steady pulse of her heart that pumped that rich, delicious blood through her veins, of the veins underneath the skin of her neck. He felt his teeth elongated itself, his eyes turned into blood-red color, his breath turned into short pants, and his heart beat quicker in anticipation.
He gritted his teeth forcefully, he could not remember having such an immediate reaction towards prospective source of blood. He should be able to control his thirst better, he never failed to push back his thirst when it came, but now, being deprived of fresh blood for so long, being deprived of his wife's blood for months, his throat felt so dry and starched, especially after he drank some of Yuuki's sweet, sinful blood.
He held back his thirst with all his strength, holding the backrest of the chair he was leaning on so tightly that an indistinct crack could be heard, but that only further worried her. He could see her eyebrows knitted together at the sound.
"Zero?" She threw aside the covers off her, getting out of the bed to approach her husband while putting on a robe over the nightgown. He could hear her soft steps on the carpeted floor towards his direction.
He wanted her to keep her distance from him, but he couldn't find his voice. He tried to shut his senses as her alluring scent became more pronounced as she was getting closer to him. His eyes snapped open when warm gentle hands held his face. With one look from her face, he knew that she knew. His red-tainted eyes and the protruding tips of his fangs were a dead giveaway.
Her face was sad and gentle as he saw the state he was in. Wordlessly she used one hand to tuck away her hair to the other shoulder and let the silk robe slid down to the floor to expose more of her neck, and ran her hand through his silver locks to rest on the back of his head. There was a brief moment of hesitation and a sharp intake of breath before she pulled his head towards her exposed flesh.
The moment smooth skin brushed against his dry and cracked lips, he couldn't hold back his thirst any longer. At once he sank his fangs into the veins under her skin, earning a muffled cry of pain and a jerk of her soft body against him. As the blood flowed from the pierce caused by his fangs into his mouth, the blood soothed the previously dry and starched throat and slowly but surely, the painful feeling in his mouth and throat diminishing.
Wanting for more, he turned them over, pushing her back to the wall while sinking his fangs deeper into her veins. Her blood was not as sweet and tempting as Yuuki's blood, but her blood tasted wonderful, as if it was nectar from heavens itself, soothing and cleansing away of all his tumultuous emotions and most of all was the feelings within those rich red nectar, all of her feelings to him.
The affection. The love. The devotion. The concern. The trust. The longing.
Those feelings were contained in her blood that he drank greedily, letting it wash over him. Then he felt something more underneath those prominent feelings within, breaking him out of his thirst-induced stupor and making him stop.
Carefully he pulled out his fangs from her neck, licking the wounds to stem the blood and lessen the pain. His hands kept her hands pinned against the wall, those large hands enclosed those small wrists, holding her firmly and keeping her from sliding down weakly to the ground. Both of them were breathing heavily, although his short breaths were rougher than hers.
She blinked away the stars at the edges of her vision. He had taken quite a lot from her, but not enough to make her faint. Light headed, yeah, but fainting, no. Although she half-expected him to do so, seeing the unrestrained thirst that made him unable to deny the temptation of fresh blood and the state he was in after he drank her blood.
He was still breathing heavily, his forehead leaning on her shoulder wearily. Inwardly she thought that he still needed more blood, but the abrupt stop worried her. She wiggled one of her hands free from his hold and reached out to hold the side of her husband's face gently.
"Zero? Is everything alright?" She felt the hold the still enclosed hand tightened and saw his shoulders tensed imperceptibly. The reaction worried her, she never saw him this way after drinking her blood. He couldn't have felt guilty; they had been through that phase. She would always be willing to give him her blood whenever he wanted. He was quiet, all too quiet.
It was something else, she thought.
"Zero?" The concern was clear in her voice. The concern for him was clear. And all Zero felt was that the ache in his heart that was tugging painfully at the reminder.
Misaki had always been there for him. She would always readily be there for him whenever he needed her as much as she would let him alone whenever he wanted to be on his own. She would always keep the smile on her face, rarely showing her pain or sadness unless at her most vulnerable moments. She was his rock, his support that never failed to keep him steady, picking him up whenever he fell, lifting his spirits up whenever he was down and giving him warmth whenever he was cold.
She was, in his eyes, unbreakable.
He forgot that she could break, as she had before his own eyes. He forgot that she was as fragile as he was, having lost all of her family without being able to do anything, having to endure a lonely life without anyone truly understanding what she went through.
He should know her feelings; he should know her insecurities for being the second in his eyes, for being a replacement for Yuuki. And he didn't do anything about it. He never truly convinced her that he no longer felt anything towards the Kuran princess. He never truly told her how much she meant to him. But even if he realized it now, it would be meaningless.
He had fallen for the temptation, tasting Yuuki's blood when he wasn't supposed to. And she knew. She knew that if opportunity revealed itself, he would drink Yuuki's blood. Not because he needed it, but because he wanted it.
He recalled Charlemagne's words when he asked of the meaning of the thirst of a vampire could only be quenched by the loved one.
It's a matter of need and a matter of want.
He wanted to laugh as those words became clear to him, as he compared the taste of Yuuki's blood and Misaki's blood. A blood from someone he didn't truly love could only aggravate his thirst. It would never make him satisfied, never made him content.
Suddenly he took her in his arms, but didn't dare to meet her eyes. She was so small, so fragile against him yet she carried his burden along with hers on her own and the realization hurt. He could sense her confusion along with her concern, but she held back from questioning him further, knowing that he wasn't going to tell her about it. And so that was how it was for some time, he was holding on to her tightly against him without any words being exchanged in the darkness of their room.
What can I do to make things right?
I must admit I really like this chapter. The details gave me hell, but they are worth it. We learn a bit more of VK world, and characters, but most importantly we see more of Zero, not only being a competent president (I like to see competent people in stories) but also understanding and accepting more of his vampire side, and of the gift this particular side he despised actually grant him. Leave a review, I'd like to hear your thoughts about the chapter!