Finally I have some time to publish another chapter. I apologize for the wait -_- I even delayed my 10 page paper essay to write this :D Hope you and joy and please leave your wonderful reviews, much love.

SHIKI

Chapter 30: Aftermath

I couldn't get t her on time.

I didn't get to her on time.

And now it was too late. They had taken her away as a hostage.

No, even worse, as a prize.

"We have a few Vampires misisng, theres no pile of dust anywhere so we can only assume that they were taken as hostages," Ruka informed me, slowly appearing at my side.

Not able to stop myself, I punched the wall beside me several times until my knuckles bled.

I needed this pain. I deserved it, I reminded myself clenching my jaw shut.

"Kaname-sama has a plan to get her back before dawn tomorrow, you have to calm down if it's going to work," she instructed lightly placing her hand on my shoulder.

I shrugged it off and walked over to her bed, or what remained of it. The explosion had ruined most of her room and very little remained in tact.

Picking up the now ragged pillow, I saw one thing that wasn't affected at all.

The one thing that could give me hope, even now. Bending down, I picked up Rima's favorite stuffed rabbit.

With his fancy hat and red eyes, the rabbit I gave Rima as a present. The one thing she took care of more than anything.

I held it close to me.

"Kaname-sama has called an emergency meeting right now in the main ball room!" Aidou announced as he rushed into the room, his blonde hair a mess from all the fighting he had done.

I couldn't protect Yuuki and left her, but luckily Aidou was there for her and took most of the damage, I owed him though I was sure that Kaname wasn't going to forgive me for that.

As all the remaining vampires crowded into the dim ball room, everyone checked to see who was still there and who was not, some had blood on them, others didn't appear to have a scratch on them.

At once the room went silent as we all felt that powerful presence enter and we bowed.

"There was an attack on us tonight, Kiryuu, the one I thought we could trust turned against us," he started, his voice was low but firm and his eyes were glowing a violent red.

A few feet from him I spotted Yuuki. She looked torn at hearing the news confirmed that her best friend turned against her and flinched when she heard his name. She kept her face low, covered in the shadow of her bangs and held Artemis helplessly, slightly hunched in defeat.

But there was something more. Something that felt that it wasn't the betrayal that pained her so. Unless...

And then it hit me. He didn't simply betray her, he had pointed his weapon at her. HIM the one who she trusted more than anyone had pointed his gun at her and threatened to take her life if she dared to get in his way.

"What will most likely happen now, is that the President of the Hunters Association will kill Rima by sundown tomorrow. It was clear that he never planned on letting her live no matter how harmless she seemed to be and the meeting was just a way to confim that Kiryuu would be the one to bring her to him. We will not waste anytime. We will attack quick and hard, and before they can get themselves re-organized enough to fight back it will be too late."

The room was completely still.

"What I plan to do will get those who stay to fight in grave danger. If you wish to withdraw, now is the time. You will not be harmed as we all have someone we must protect and I understand. Feel free to walk away now for I can not promise that everyone single vampire here will return after tomorrow." As he said this his gaze went to Yuuki.

Though he didn't say it, I knew he would not let her fight knowing what it would do to her.

Everyone looked around, waiting to see who would leave. But in the end it was clear that no one was going to walk away.

Especially not when one of our own was in such danger just because the President hated Vampires.

"Very well then," Kaname said gaining everyones attention once more.

"I have the blue prints of what the Hunters headquarters looks like. I have already planned out who will be where, the weakest points and when will be the prefect time to attack."

As he laid out the blue prints on a black oak wood table, he called out groups of vampires out and told each one where they would be at what time.

Soon everyone knew there place.

"I will leave a piece of myself with each group to give them the signal of when to attack. That is all, I suggest everyone rest well."

Back in my room, I grabbed the rabbit from the night stand beside the bed.

"Wait for me Rima" I whispered as I closed my eyes and laid down on the bed.

~End of a a sweet dream, But I'll show you another one ~