Through his peripheral vision Zero spotted Maria and Ichiru entering the ballroom as well, hand and hand.
Maria was dressed in a full skirted, white gown that she had tailored to stop just below her knee and a halter to wrap around her neck with a white ribbon with a diamond pinned on to it. Her long silver hair was pulled into a bun decorated with pearl combs and a diamond studded headband. Her make-up had been simple and she'd had asked Zero to approve it for her; white eye shadow and pale pink lip gloss. On her gloveless fingers she wore a pure white gold, pearl engagement ring.
Ichiru was too dressed in white; a white waist coat with a long tail, pleaded pants and shoes. All white, like this was their wedding day. But it was worse; it was their engagement party, where everything was final.
The Kuruizaki Prince didn't want to be alone on this day where people practically threw a party for his failure. He scanned the crowds until he found the person he was looking for: Ruka Souen. He stayed hidden on the upper gallery of the ballroom floor a bit longer and continued to observe her.
Her long wheat field colored hair was pulled into a twist that allowed her bangs to hang in her face. Zero frowned at this, she obviously wasn't expecting him to show up, and if she was she would have worn her hair down. He liked her long hair and to add to that he loved to pull it back when his fangs sunk into her neck.
Relishing the thoughts of blood his mind wondered back to his sister. Liquid fire flowed through her veins and it had to be the best blood he ever tasted, but it never fully satisfied him. She wasn't meant for him, -he knew that just by seeing Ichiru on her arm- but still she was born for him, wasn't that enough?
Of course, a Pureblood's presence is never hidden too long and Ruka turned around to smile up at him. Zero smiled lazily back and started for the stairs so he could meet her on the dance floor. Not standing too far away were Ruka's parents Lord and Lady Souen. Zero had met them before and they just seemed to love the idea of marrying into a Pureblood family, but Zero wouldn't let it get that far, he never did.
"Ruka," He took her hand and pulled her closer to him so he could plant a kiss on her cheek. "Happy Birthday."
"Shh, Zero-kun, it's Maria-san's day." She muttered jerking back from his small show of affection.
"Please drop the horrific, your with me no one will touch you. Besides your seventeen today," Ruka rolled her eyes and Zero smiled. "You're not going to look any older, even if you were human your still look beautiful; it's what your name means anyway."
Ruka blushed a little and Zero smiled, it was rare that he smiled and actually meant it, but having a new woman to court always brought out the better side of him. As he led her towards the dance floor he spun her around once before leading her in a waltz.
Then he spotted Ichijou Takuma in the corner of the room and his eyes narrowed. Ruka followed his gaze. "What is it?"
"What's Ichiou's grandson doing here? I thought his loyalty lied with Kuran."
"Oh, Ichijou-san is Sara-sama's escort." Zero smirked and spun Ruka around again. "I know what you're thinking and it's not like that." Ruka softly scolded. "They're good friends."
"Yes, and we were 'good friends', but that didn't last long. Also Takuma's neck has bite marks on it."
"What?" Ruka tried to crane her head around so she could get a better look but Zero jerked her a bit.
"Hey, thank is not how you spy on someone."
"Sorry, it's just Ichijou-san is my friend and I don't want anything to happen to him."
"Don't worry. Purebloods have many lovers and each one they hold precious. She'll keep him alive and when the time comes she'll put him down as gently as possible, though Sara-san is not known for her gentle nature..." Ruka suddenly froze and Zero stopped moving too.
"Is that what's going to happen to me?" Zero eyes softened and Ruka looked away from him. His eyes darted back to the marble stairs and the upper gallery leading to the room he had changed in.
"Come on," He tugged her hand and without any protest she followed. The Souen family spared a glance when they saw their prized daughter being led away by a man. Her father murmured something to her mother, whose response was elbowing her husband and saying something that made him blush.
Zero shut the door firmly behind him and turned to the Noblewoman in his room.
"I'm one of many?" Ruka asked again. Zero stalked towards her and against Ruka's better judgment she smacked him, but his head didn't snap sideways like it was suppose to. He was stronger than her and he could killer her if he wanted and no one would seek revenge; no one, except Akatsuki Kain, her childhood friend who never liked Zero one bit.
When Ruka's thoughts were wrapped up in Kain, Zero's arms closed around her in an embrace, pulling her almost off the ground completely.
"Ruka…you don't love me, you love Akatsuki you're meant to be with him. I didn't want to do this on your birthday; it's a special day to you, but now that I've said what I said I don't think I can avoid it."
"Zero-sama…"
"And you don't need me, and I can't get too attached to you. The Council wants me married to another Pureblood." Tears welled up in Ruka's eyes.
"You defy them all the time, you can do it again!" Zero held Ruka closer against his chest.
"Do you remember Amu Kurenai, my distant cousin? She was my everything, a little before the time of my father's death and in the dark times when everyone in my family was paired up, she loved me. The Council knew I was getting serious about her and do you know what they did?"
"They never found her ashes." Ruka murmured. Zero smiled at little.
"I'm not going to go through that again and you are too precious, Ruka, you deserve better." Ruka looked up at Zero with a blank expression.
"Way to set me down gently."
"I'm trying here and at least you didn't burst into tears."
"Crying on the inside."
"That's my girl," Zero petted her long hair and there was a long silence.
"It's my birthday…and if I promise it'll be over after tonight…can I stay with you?" Zero pulled away from Ruka and cupped her face in his hands.
"No," Giving her a kiss on the forehead he stepped away from her and left the room through the other door.
~X~
Zero's servants had finished packing up the last of his traveling clothes and hauled them out to the car. Ichiru was asleep in his bedroom and Maria was on the staircase, face in hands still in her engagement gown, ready to burst into tears. Zero was reluctant to go downstairs, but there was only one staircase and one door, Maria had him cornered.
"Onii-sama," Maria sobbed, she only addressed Zero like that when she was really upset, on the verge of balling her eyes out until she created a new English Channel. "My Onii-sama…" She was going to drive herself mad if she continued to fall to this state.
"Maria," Zero said dryly, hoping to get her attention.
"Zero-onii-sama!" Maria flung herself into Zero's arms and started sobbing. Zero smoothed her silver hair and tried to calm her down. "Otou-sama is dead, Okaa-sama is missing and now my Onii-sama is leaving…I'm losing my family."
"Maria you're not losing anyone, I'm going to piece this all back together and in order to do that I must leave."
Maria smirked. "Makes no sense to me," I loud cry rang through the house and Maria let out an irritated growl and turned toward the source of the noise. "No one can get any sleep around here when that little brat won't shut up!" The servants rushed into young Kyra's room only to be scolded further. "Oh don't come running, she's spoiled with affection! She's our prisoner and lower in the pecking order than you!"
Zero grabbed his sister's shoulder. "Maria you and Ichiru are in charge of the house until I get back, I'll be in touch and if Okaa-sama comes back I'll need you to inform me." Maria's eyes softened.
"Is this practice for the future? When Ichiru and I are married and you can't be with us all the time?" Zero sighed.
"I can't always be here; you'll have Ichiru begging for a divorce within a few months of your marriage." Zero laughed dryly and started for the door.
"Onii-sama, would you stay if I choose you?" Maria asked.
"Not even then." Zero didn't turn back.
"Can I come with you?"
"No. What's done is done. You stay with your fiancé and you let me go." Zero shut the large door behind him and heard Maria run up the stairs.
God I can't do anything without making someone cry today. He climbed into the limo and sped off into the night.
Kuran
"Yuuki," Juuri smiled at her daughter, as she crept behind her in the living room chair. "I have a surprise for you."
"What is it?" Yuuki turned around, expecting to see some sort of gift, but instead met a packet of papers…papers to Cross Academy! "Oh! Okaa-sama!" Yuuki jumped from her chair and hugged her mother tightly.
"Hm, I got the packet from Cross Kaien –an old friend of mine- he said he was opening up a night class and really needs a few Purebloods to register and maybe some Nobles and the others will follow." Juuri explained only to receive a tighter hug from her daughter.
"Yes! I'll register!"
"And Kaname-kun will be joining you." Haruka added, only to get a frown from Yuuki.
"Otou-sama, I love Kaname-onii-sama, I really do, but can't I do anything on my own? Please? Ever since I've been out in the world either Kaname or one of you have been piggyback riding on to it. How can I become independent if I can't get the chance to be on my own?"
"Oh, this conversation brings back memories." Juuri sighed. "Haruka, I'm standing by my daughter on this."
"Yes this does, you didn't want me to follow you to school either, but then again you didn't love me then like Yuuki loves Kaname now. But I can't shake the Kuruizaki's or Rido from my mind." Haruka decided.
Juuri leaned down and whispered in her daughter's ear. "Don't worry, you'll be going by yourself, I'll make him agree." Yuuki winked back at her mother and took the packet before retreading to her room.
Onii-sama will be upset but she wanted to do this herself, how could she ever become more like her mother if she always has Kaname to take care the bad things in life for her?