Disclaimer- I don't own Vampire Knight

Chapter 20

Deadly Games

"Do we have to go?" Reina asked, her tone whiny and childish.

Kaname chuckled and brushed his fingers over the smooth skin of Reina's cheek. He nearly lost himself in the velvety feel of her skin, but after a deep breath he managed to regain himself. "I'm afraid so my love. The meeting and ball are necessary. It will allow us to see whether or not the vampire population will actually follow me. I'm officially announcing that I am the governing head of our race and that I'm willing to do whatever it takes to create a peaceful coexistence. The talks almost two years ago began the process of creating a peaceful world, but now we need to see who will actually support it. This will also announce Zero's new position as the President of the Association. Since I'm the pureblood leader and you are my future wife and queen, more or less, we are both expected to attend the meeting and ball since it will be us that must work together for everlasting peace."

Reina sighed dramatically. "So troublesome you are."

"I'm very sorry to cause so much trouble, what will it take to get you to forgive me?"

"A kiss," Reina replied with a soft smile, tilting her head up to the brown haired man from where she sat on the small sofa in his room.

"That's it? Just a kiss?" His hand was caressing her cheek until his long fingers buried themselves in her hair and pulled her head towards him gently.

"It's never just a kiss with us, Kaname," she breathed before their lips touched, softly at first and then more urgently. Wrapping her arms around Kaname, Reina tightly grasped him, bringing him as close to her as she could and eventually forcing him to lay over her.

"We're going to be late," Kaname pointed out, though he didn't seem to care. He trailed kisses along Reina's neck, pushing the deep blue robe she was wearing out of the way.

"Somehow I doubt the Hunters will mind," Reina breathed.

"You're late," Zero growled at the approaching couple that had just exited a sleek black limo.

Reina giggled and skipped up to the glaring man. "Aw, were you worried, Zero?"

He grunted in annoyance, pushing himself away from the stone pillar he had been leaning against. "Hurry up, everyone else has already arrived," he said blandly before turning to lead them into an ancient stone building where the party that would celebrate Zero's official promotion to the President of the Hunter's Association was taking place.

Upon entering the building, Reina's entire demeanor changed. Her shoulders seemed to square more than they already were and her chin tilted higher into the air. Her face was blank and nearly devoid of emotion except for a slight trace of arrogance in her sapphire eyes. The tiered black strapless gown she wore, brushed quietly against the floor and her heels clicked primly in time with her steps.

The meeting room that the talks with the Hunters would be taking place in was on the top floor of the building. With no elevators in the old mansion, Reina and Kaname were forced to follow behind Zero as he led them through back passageways and up several narrow flights of steps. Aido, who was with them as well as Kain, could be heard grumbling his displeasure at having to follow the white haired Zero.

"Hm," Reina hummed, blinking and glancing to the east.

"I forgot to mention, Yuuki and Ken have come back to join us for tonight's ball. I thought it appropriate given the reason why a good number of the vampire community has gathered here," Kaname told her.

"Oh," Reina replied quietly, not failing to notice the way Zero had stiffened at the mention of Yuuki. He had never really come to terms with Yuuki's true identity.

Having finally reached the top floor, the group was led to a large meeting room where Cross sat at the head of a long table, Yagari was there as well as several other Hunters that Reina wasn't familiar with. Taking her seat beside Kaname, Reina folded her hands in her lap and waited, she was here because Kaname was the leader of the vampire race. She wasn't there to do anything but support him as his future wife.

"Hello again, Kaname," Cross began. "Reina," he tilted his towards her and she smiled slightly, nodding her head. "Shall we begin?"

Listening, but not entirely paying attention, Reina let her mind wander while Kaname conversed with Cross, Yagari and occasionally Zero. She hadn't even realized that she was frowning or that she had ventured into a world all her own until Kaname placed a hand on hers and called her name. Startled, she jolted in her seat and blinked dazedly at Kaname.

"Kaname?" She asked in confusion.

"Is something wrong?" He inquired, keeping her hand firmly in his grasp and watching her closely.

Opening her mouth to reply, she found she had no words and shook her head, closing her mouth before looking around to see that all eyes were on her. Some looked worried, those were the ones she recognized and others looked almost suspicious. "I..." She managed to say, her brows drew together and she shook her head again. "Something is wrong."

"Reina," Cross called. "What do you mean that something is wrong?"

She shook her head and looked towards the door. "I don't know," she answered truthfully, her voice conveying just how confused she really was. "I sense something and it's vaguely familiar, but...It's all wrong..."

There was a knock on the door that took everyone's attention from Reina. Ken pushed the door open, followed by Yuuki. Ken's eyes took in Reina's state and the paleness of her skin and then shared a glance with Kaname that seemed to be full of meaning.

"You don't look well, Reina. Would you like to rest for a few moments?" Kaname asked her worriedly.

It took her a moment to answer, but she finally nodded. "Yes, I think I would."

"Perhaps, Yuuki should join you. I have some things I need to speak to Kaname about in private," Cross spoke up, his eyes hidden by his glasses.

If Reina had only been able to see the look that lie in the eyes of the Hunter, she might have noticed that he suspected Kaname of keeping something from them, but she didn't notice. Nor did she notice the exchange of glances between Kaname and Ken. It was as if they had just realized something. Yuuki had noticed, but figured it was none of her business and instead stepped forward to help Reina from her chair.

Once the two purebloods had left the room with an escort to a nearby bedroom and several of the other Hunters had left to leave only Cross, Yagari and Zero with Kaname, Ken, Aido and Kain, Cross sighed and removed his glasses.

"What is going on, Kaname?" The blond asked, rubbing at the bridge of his nose and then replacing his glasses.

Kaname would have refused to answer, but he didn't see the point and figured it was best to get everything out in the open. At least between those in the room.

"As I'm sure you recall, after the attack on the school by the former Council of Ancients and the Hunter's Association it was believed that Takuma Ichijo was among those dead. Though he was believed to have died by his grandfather's hands at their family mansion and not at the school."

"What do you mean 'believed'?" Zero asked harshly, stepping forward from where he had been leaning against the wall behind Cross. "You said he was dead. Reina thinks he's dead."

The crimson eyed pureblood sighed and folded his hands in front of him. "There was speculation, between Ken and I that there was a chance that that wasn't the case."

"And?" Zero pressed.

Kaname glanced at Ken who looked rather grim. "And as of tonight there's no doubt that Takuma Ichijo is alive."

Aido and Kain both couldn't hide their surprise. Aido gasped, his blue eyes widening and Kain just blinked in disbelief.

"There's more to it than that, isn't there?" Cross inquired seriously.

"Yes," Kaname answered. "The body of Takuma Ichijo may not be dead, but his consciousness is. His body is being used by someone else."

"Who?" Yagari questioned.

"My brother," Ken spoke up quietly. "Michael. The one who has tried time and time again to kill Reina."

"And you're just now realizing this?" Zero hissed, slamming his hands down on the thick wooden table besides Yagari.

A partial glare was sent in Zero's direction, Kaname was in no way happy about being questioned by the Hunter. "Did you notice, Zero? After all you have enough pure blood running through you that you should be able to sense what we do."

Clenching his fists together, Zero growled at Kaname.

"That's enough," Cross scolded harshly. "If what you say is true, Kaname, then Reina is in grave danger here."

"Reina will be fine, I don't think Michael is here to do more than shake things up and announce that he's back," Ken said.

"Why would he show up now? Why wait almost five years?" Yagari asked.

"Who knows," Ken answered. "I don't even know how it was possible that I never noticed his presence."

"So Reina was right?" Cross sighed, leaning into his own chair. "Something is wrong."

"So..what are we going to do?" Zero asked.

"Nothing," Kaname replied blandly. "Reina doesn't need to know that Michael has taken over Ichijo's body. The news would possibly break her and I can't do that."

"So you'll let her continue to think that the man she loved is dead?" Zero snapped.

His eyes darkening, Kaname locked eyes with Zero. "What do you propose we do, Kiryu? Telling Reina that Ichijo is alive would make her want to search him out, but she wouldn't find Ichijo. She would find Michael in his body. The man who has tried to kill her several times. Do you think she'd be able to fight back against him? Do you think she would be able to defend herself when fighting him? I don't like lying to Reina, but it's in her best interest that she believe Ichijo is dead, because essentially, he is. At one point in time, there may have been a chance that he could have been brought back into control of his body, but judging by what I'm sensing I don't find that to be true. It's unfortunate, but at least let Reina believe he died while fighting a noble battle, not at the hands of the Takamora's eldest son."

"Kaname is right," Aido spoke up nervously. "Reina wouldn't be able to handle knowing what happened to Ichijo... and I don't think that she would just leave the situation alone."

"She'd go after him," Zero sighed.

"Yes, Reina would want revenge against Michael for the life he's stolen, but the many outcomes of that are grim. The worst one ends with her dying, or being forced to kill Ichijo's body. The toll that would take on her is tremendous," Kaname said.

"While I understand that, we need to know why Michael has taken over his body," Cross stated. "We need to know what is being planned and stop it if it puts the peace we're working towards in danger."

"I agree," Kaname replied.

"Poor Reina," Cross murmured. "That child has had enough hardships."

"She's strong, but we can't let her know about this. I won't hesitate to alter the memories of anyone who thinks otherwise." Kaname glanced at Zero and cast an inquisitive glance to Aido and Kain. Aido frowned, but lowered his eyes, he would keep his mouth shut. He didn't like lying to Reina, but he understood that it was for the best.

"How many other purebloods were expected to attend?" Reina asked Kaname curiously. She was being led down the hall now that she had recovered herself and was feeling much better than she had been.

"Outside of Yuuki and Ken, two. Ouri and his fiance, Sara Shirabuki."

A small hiss escaped Reina's lips. "What is that woman doing here, Kaname?"

"She's a pureblood, Reina, and it's been unclear as to what side she is on," Kaname answered. "Ouri, however, has been supportive of our cause. On the surface at least."

Snorting in disdain, Reina tossed her loose hair over her shoulder. "Well," she said blandly, looking to the stairway that would take them to the lower level where the chattering and laughing of many noble level vampires waited. "Let the games begin."

"Interesting choice of words," Kaname chuckled.

"You have told Yuuki, haven't you? About just what we truly are to the aristocrats," Reina asked.

"Yes. I've explained everything to her," Kaname answered, casting a glance over his shoulder.

Reina stopped when he did and turned in the direction of Sara Shirabuki, who had the light scent of fresh blood clinging to her. Her eyes darkening, Reina was about to step forward to rebuke the pureblood, who was younger than she and also had a great amount of nerve to show up to a party wreaking of blood, but Kaname stopped her.

"Kiryu, I don't suppose you'd mind escorting Reina into the ball would you? I need to speak with Sara."

His lavender hued eyes narrowed, but he nodded and stepped up to Reina. "Come on."

"But-"

"I'll join you in just a moment, Reina," Kaname replied, a tiny bit dismissively and disinterestedly.

Angered over the obvious dismissal, Reina cast a cold glance at Kaname's back and then to Sara before taking Zero's offered arm. "Thank you, Zero." It took several seconds longer than she would have liked to school her features into those of someone who was better than everyone in the room below, but by the time she and Zero stepped onto the marble of the ballroom floor, she looked like a regal, but cold queen.

The murmurs of the vampires gathered grew when they saw that Zero was leading her into the ball instead of Kaname, her fiance and the host of the party. She ignored them all and glided through the room with Zero.

"It's rather vulgar of you, Sara, to show up to a party still covered in the scent of your last meal," Kaname pointed out monotonously to the beautiful young pureblood in front of him.

"You're right. I apologize, I don't know what I was thinking," Sara replied, her soft voice lilting with amusement despite the seriousness of the situation.

"And where is Ouri, your fiance, this evening?"

"Hm? Oh, he's around here somewhere," she answered with a mischievous smile.

Kaname watched her with narrowed eyes for a moment. "I do hope that you haven't done anything to him. It would be a shame to lose such a great ally."

Sara smiled a smile that to some would have appeared innocent and gentle, but to others was dark and full of malice. "I simply did to him what you had done to Shizuka Hio."

"Is that so?" Kaname darkly stated. "Just what type of game are you playing, Sara?"

"A fun one."

"And what about Takuma Ichijo? What have you done with him?"

Sara giggled lightly. "Nothing that he didn't enjoy." Without bothering to stay for further conversation, she skipped past Kaname. "At least his body enjoyed it anyway," she called over her shoulder with a demure chuckle.

When Sara's golden head disappeared down the steps, Kaname's gaze darkened and his eyes flashed red. One moment he was standing at the top of the stairs and the next he was in the room that Sara had been allowed to use to ready herself in. His eyes were glowing a deep red from the anger that was coursing through him as he slammed a familiar blond roughly into a wall, knocking a picture off the wallpapered surface and sending it the floor with a loud crash when the glass cover erupted.

Ignoring the glass littering the floor, Kaname stepped closer to the blond, his rage was evident in the way his teeth were clenched and the way his grip tightened to the point that he nearly snapped the neck of the person in his grasp. Chuckles filled the room, familiar yet dark and mixed with something that the original owner of the body he had pinned to the wall hadn't possessed. A rage filled loathing.

"What are you playing at Takamora?" Kaname demanded in a low hiss.

"So you saw right through it, hm?"

"It wasn't difficult. You made it fairly easy to tell who was truly here and it wasn't Ichijo."

"Yes. The boy has finally stopped fighting me. He was such a nuisance for awhile," Michael answered through lips that had once been controlled by Takuma Ichijo.

Growling, Kaname pushed the body of Takuma Ichijo further into the wall. It groaned and creaked under the pressure. "Why his body?"

"Because it was available," Michael answered amusedly. "Sara also thought it would prove to be quite fun. She was right. I mean just look at you. You're so angry and yet you can't do anything to the person that spent ten years by your side. The person you betrayed and whose woman you stole. I wonder what she'll think when she sees his face again..."

Kaname released his hold on Michael, letting the man stand on his own two feet again. "I don't know what you're planning, but stay away from Reina. If you so much as look at her...I'll kill you."

"Would you relax," Zero whispered almost harshly. "You're going to rip my arm off."

Realizing he was right and that she was gripping much too tightly to his arm in her anger, she released him. "Sorry," she muttered.

"Ah, so this is Kaname-sama's sister."

"She looks just like Juuri-sama."

"No, she has Haruka-sama's soft gaze."

"You're Yuuki-sama, right? We're so happy that you've joined us."

"Can you believe what a beautiful girl that Juuri and Haruka-sama left us with?"

"Now, now," Reina spoke up, her voice sing song, but the tone cold, commanding. "Yuuki is still young and unused to so much attention. Don't tire the poor thing out too early in the evening."

There were mutters asking for her forgiveness and several people bowed to her, while others were bitter about her interruption and the obvious command that they were given to leave Yuuki be.

"You should let her stand up for herself," Zero mumbled, folding his arms stiffly over his chest and gazing into the crowds.

Reina shrugged a shoulder disinterestedly. "She's too kind and not used to these types of gatherings. It takes practice. Years of it. Dealing with some of the noble class is tiresome and frustrating, not all know when to stop and some purposely don't stop. They like to see how far they can push us. We're respected and feared, yes, but we're nothing more to them than entertainment and in some case, the most desirable prey."

"I thought that the purebloods were revered and treasured," Zero replied.

Chuckling dryly, Reina smirked over the rim of the wine glass she had taken from the tray of a passing waiter. "Oh, we're treasured, Zero. We're treasured because of the blood flowing through our veins. And what is blood to a vampire, but food."

"But they're all below you."

"Yes, if a single one of them stepped out of line," she paused here, her eyes locking onto a black haired, blue eyed noblewoman that was getting too close to Ken. The woman froze suddenly, her eyes widening in shock. Reina released her hold on her a moment later and the woman walked off, leaving Ken alone. "It's not hard to make them realize their place."

"Then what's the problem?" Zero asked.

"The problem, Kiryu," Kaname said, appearing beside Reina. "Is that not all of them learn from their mistakes or the mistakes of others."

"Is there a problem, Kaname?" Reina asked.

"No, everything is fine. I'm sorry I made you wait." He smiled lightly at her and kissed her forehead.

"I'm leaving," Zero mumbled and within seconds, he was on the other side of the room, scowling at everyone and everything.

"You seem distracted, are you sure everything is alright?" Reina asked again.

"Everything is fine, Reina. I promise. Lets just focus on getting through tonight.

Shooting up in the bed, Reina clutched a soft sheet over her bare chest with one hand and put the other over her damp forehead. Letting out a deep breath, she tried to get her breathing under control since she was practically gasping for breath.

"Reina?"

The soft, caring hand on her back startled her. She spun around to lock eyes with a worried Kaname and close her eyes. "Sorry," she murmured, letting her head fall on to her knees as she brought them to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs.

"Don't apologize when you have nothing to be sorry for. Now what's wrong?"

Focusing on the calm and soothing strokes that Kaname's hand was making through her hair, Reina exhaled deeply again. "A dream."

"You mean a nightmare," Kaname stated, pushing himself up in the bed so that he could pull Reina into his bare chest.

"Yeah," she sighed tiredly. "A nightmare."

"What was it this time?" His hand didn't stop stroking her hair while he kissed the top of her head tenderly.

She shivered in his arms. "Basically the same. Takuma trying to kill Emi in front of my eyes before coming after me."

"Are you alright?"

She nodded against his chest. "I'll be fine.. I'm just so tired of these dreams, Kaname. What are they supposed to mean? Or do they even mean anything?"

"I don't know, but I won't let anything happen to you or Emiko. I promise you."

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