Scarred Fates : Sequel to Twisted Fates. It's Seiran and Zero's final year at Cross Academy. More enemies inadvertently created due to her newly created blood tablets are out to get her…And who is that elegant lady plaguing her dreams? Why is everyone targeting the Level Es Seiran decided to protect…? Zero x OC (Seiran). Sorry, bad at summaries -.-"

Disclaimer : I don't own VK nor its characters. Any resemblance to any fanfictions, the living or RIPs is highly unintentional.

Dedicated to those who supported Twisted Fates. For new readers, do read TF in order not to feel lost :P

CHAPTER 2

"So, what's up with the blood tablets?" asked Seiran coolly. So…when I went to receive the award, Chairman Cross, Yagari Sensei and Kaname surely had been discussing this issue… Her eyes darted to Yuuki momentarily before focusing on the chairman. As far as I can see, Yuuki doesn't really know anything much compared to her brother-fiancé. And the chairman…for his childish appearance, inside lies a very observant man indeed…

"Seiran, the new President of the Hunters' Association had spoken to me regarding your new creation which is creating a slight furore amongst some of the hunters. These hunters disagree with the blood tablets being fed to the Level Es whom they say are a menace to the society…," explained Toga Yagari. When Seiran cocked her eyebrow at him, he hurriedly added, "Of course there are some who full heartedly agree with your idea, considering the Level Es lead a rather…err…sad life…"

Zero noted his teacher's hesitation and he assumed his teacher hadn't wanted to hurt his feelings as everyone in the room knew how much he had been suffering. Of course the hunters will not give Level Es a chance to live, seeing how they prey on innocent humans for blood because they don't understand what is happening to them. Even when I was out hunting them…I…I wouldn't even have given them a chance to live. But Seiran… He turned to look at the vermillion haired pureblood whose facial expression had turned cold. Seiran…has worked hard on those tablets because she wanted to give those forced-to-be-vampires their lives. She didn't want them to suffer…Or did she do it because of me…?

"Seiran-chan, of course what you did is a great thing! I wholeheartedly support it!" Yuuki said with gusto when she saw that Seiran didn't say a word, yet again.

"So what the President of the Ryuushuu Pharmaceuticals warned me of was true…," Seiran eventually said softly. What should I do…? Were my actions honestly wrong?

"Even the President of the pharmaceutical company had also told you this matter?" Toga Yagari's ears perked up at what she had said. Now this was rather interesting. The previous events involving the Kurans as well as the Orchid Murders which had occurred had really strained the relationship between vampire hunters and vampires. Thus a vampire offering advice in regards to the sake of vampire hunters…

Seiran nodded. Letting out a deep breath, she asked, "Were my actions wrong? I also had been thinking about it for the past few days…yet I believe what I had created was purely out of beneficence."

Producing good consequences, huh? wondered Zero as he noticed Seiran's cold expression still hadn't left her face yet.

"We're not saying your actions were unreasonable, however it did create some interest…Seiran, we're trying to mend the relationship between the Hunters Association and vampires, or whatever's left of that relationship. There is a lot of tension and unresolved matters which we have to address carefully when we go and meet them," added Kaname. "Right now, your creation is a new issue which has been brought up. So if you don't mind, may you tell us why you decided to invent those blood tablets?"

Seiran did it for Zero's sake, that much I know. But why did she do it for the other Level Es? Come to think of it…she could have made Zero the sole recipient of her creation… Yuuki pondered herself.
Actually there are a lot of things we don't know about Seiran. I'm sure she wants to find out more about herself too…

I'm sorry, everyone. I can't tell you yet…Truthfully, I need to find out myself. I thought Sensei Tamaji would have all the answers regarding who my parents and I were when I went to our…home…but everything I've read and reread so far – I've gotten even more confused that I just want some private time to myself so that I can sort everything out. Without troubling anyone or putting anyone's life in danger again. Seiran heaved a silent breath before saying directly to the three men, "I've said earlier – it was out of beneficence…When are you supposed to address the Hunters' Association?"

She's keeping something to herself, noted Chairman Cross before answering, "A month from now."

Seiran bowed. "Then a month from now I'll be ready to face both the vampires and the vampire hunters." She stood up, clearly showing she wanted to leave the room and it was the end to the 'interrogation'. A month for me to decipher what all those dreams have meant. Those dreams about the lady. And what had made me invent those tablets for the Level Es because she was the one who created them…

*

She told no one, not even Zero about what had happened to her when she had been healing after getting Kuroumura's talon in her chest. While she had been sleeping, she had been getting images about the mysterious lady. The lady had looked refined, elegant and beautiful…however her face was always sad.

Seiran had been busy stirring her chemicals tiredly after working non stop for 20 hours straight when she dozed off and saw the lady once more. However this time, she was no longer refined. Her eyes were wild with madness, her hair disheveled when she, draped in black had stole out into the was she doing? wondered Seiran as she subconsciously forced her mind to stay onto that vision as she wanted to know who that woman was – surely she was linked to Seiran herself, otherwise Seiran wouldn't have gotten those dreams of her…

The lady swerved in and attacked an innocent passerby like a hawk, muffling his cries with her sleeves as she eagerly licked at his neck before puncturing it with her fangs. Seiran shuddered. That woman whom she somehow envied slightly for being so graceful – something Seiran was not – was drawing the life out of an innocent man. If only it wasn't a dream, she would have helped the man, fought that woman off him…She was only a helpless watcher…or was this merely a nightmare and nothing more? Her eyes widened.

The lady, with her face now smeared with blood, had stopped her horrific actions and had ripped her fangs off the man's neck and scuttled away from the limp body, her chest heaving with might. Her blue eyes were bloodshot and tears leaked out as she realized the significance of what she had just done. Her mouth was open in words Seiran assumed to be, "No…no…nononono…", as Seiran could only see but not hear what was going on. The bedraggled woman spun around, trembling hands clutching her head as she dragged herself towards a wall to support herself.

Seiran woke up to an almost spilled beaker of chemicals if not for her basic reflexes pushing the glassware more inwards the table as she hadn't discovered her powers as the third Orchid Princess yet at that time.

The Kaede pureblood knew there had been regret in the lady's actions and…yet there had been something nagging at her thoughts. She could feel her pain, understand her horror at the unfortunate Level E she had created…Those sapphire eyes belonging to the lady – they looked similar to her own eyes…were they related? But then again…many vampires had similar features. With her red hair and blue eyes, even Shiki Senri and she could be related…

So the young pureblood began her search in private. Meditating in silence, thinking of everything which had occurred, especially her losses – Sensei's life, Zero's friendship – she gathered the courage to go to her old home again. To seek answers regarding herself, wanting to understand the importance of Orchid Princesses, what powers vampires of different levels had…

*

"You've injured yourself," Chairman Cross voiced out once more breaking Seiran from her private reverie, trying to ease the tension created in the room when he saw a small bandage around Seiran's palm.

"Yeah, it was just a careless accident." Seiran lightly brushed it off before she opened her bag and brought out a few wrapped packages and placed them onto the table.

"Another thing, I didn't forget souvenirs. Each of them have your names written on them," she quietly said, not looking at the reactions of the other four.

Zero followed her movements reaching the door before stopping her. "Are you alright, Seiran?" he asked gently, placing his fingers on her shoulder.

Seiran removed his hand. "Zero, can you leave me alone for awhile, please…? I…need some time to think. I'll see you afterwards, alright?" She squeezed his shoulder slightly before she walked out of the office door. Zero stood there, watching her, his own mind muddled up before he decided to leave the office as well. Why? Why can't she just share her troubles with me? She's still keeping to herself…

*

Inside, Yuuki was busy lecturing the three men. "Now look what you've done! What we should have been doing was congratulate her on her award but instead, you've made her unhappy! After what she did for us vampires too! We should be grateful! Seriously, you men, geez!" She also left the room clutching at her souvenir, leaving them gaping in her midst before Kaien Cross pulled out a handkerchief and began to bawl that his daughter had just showed her temper. Kaname merely shook his head before following his fiancée.

Pfft…Women and their hormones! Glad I'm solo and free… Toga Yagari disdainfully thought, rubbing his temples. Clearly something was making Seiran keep mum, and he respected her privacy. I just hope she has good reasons when she faces both parties.

His thoughts went to what Seiran had told him about the President of Ryuushuu Pharmaceuticals giving her the same warning they had told her. Maybe the man would be interesting to meet to see what his opinion on this delicate matter would be. Toga Yagari himself did not see any harm with her creation, considering all he'd been actually battling the past year were more powerful vampires who used the tormented Level Es as easily-to-be-killed pawns. I suppose I ought to contact that president to ask his thoughts regarding this matter…right after I finish my pile of work.

Cross pouted when everyone left him alone but his eyes landed on the remaining package Seiran left for him. Opening it, he couldn't help but gasp in happiness.

"Awww…Daddy loves this cherry patterned apron very much, it's so kawaii!"

*

Seiran unlocked the gates of the academy, heading in the direction of her old home. She'd been the one taking care of the place because her late sensei didn't seem to have any other relatives around. Even when the Chairman and Sensei Yagari had suggested hiring a caretaker for the place, she insisted in holding onto that responsibility. "It's my home," she said and immediately they stopped the subject. Reaching the simple single storeyed house, she bowed as a sign of greeting before entering the front door and locking it.

Her footsteps were softly padding on the wooden floor as she went into his study – their study – and she tentatively chose a file, picking off where she left the last time. Despite Sensei Tamaji's roguishness, he was rather organized in his case files because he had been a really good investigator all along. She took a deep breath to ease her rather heaved breathing as she opened the file, sitting on her old chair. She was already familiar with the way Hiroju Kuroumura murdered his victims, but that still didn't stop her from shivering each time she read a new case.

She had been searching through the profile pictures of her distant relatives, to see if any of them had blue eyes like that woman she'd been 'dreaming' about so that she could at least have a family name she could trace back. That stunning woman had raven black hair and blue eyes. Her eyes looked away when she read about a German boy vampire, 12 years old was found burned to death by self combustion. I don't think I can continue reading the notes…She flipped the file shut, but the rational part of her reminded herself, you have to continue…it's the only way you can get answers, Kaede. Even if it's terrible, gather your courage…She released her pent up breath and reopened the file, continuing her search for the elusive answers to her questions.

Lesson no. 3 : If you have courage, then even fear can't stop you…

HY : Please do review - I'd like to know if my break from writing has made my skills rusty ^^. Arigato gozaimas!