No such thing as normal

Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Knight, this story universe however, I do.

"Oh was that Yuuki you were talking to, Kaname?" Takuma asks, with a carefree smile as always.

"Ah yes, I haven't seen her in a long time. Excuse me for a bit, I need to finalise my speech." I sit down at my desk and pretend to read my speech again. I already know it backwards, but I need to change the subject and collect my thoughts.

It's been 10 long years, no, 11 now since that fateful day... The day when Yuuki and my parents were murdered.

Eleven years ago...

The dinner was cooked but Father wasn't home yet. Mother had a slightly worried expression on her face, but tried her best to hide it. Something was obviously wrong but my 7-year-old mind soon waved off the insecurities. Father may be late occasionally, but he always came home. Yuuki, however, was completely oblivious to the tension in the air. She was only 5 at the time, and was doing her best to con some ice-cream before dinner with puppy dog eyes.

Little did I know, that day changed our lives forever.

Mother's mobile rang and she picked it up immediately. Yuuki, finally sensing that something was wrong, stopped her ice-cream chant. A worried expression, then horror, and finally determination flashed across Mother's face. "We've... sss... found out... sss coming here, get out now! Protect the kids... sss I will buy time... sss... I love you." And with that the phone went dead. She looked at Yuuki, and then looked at me.

"What's going on?" I asked. "Is something wrong, what's wrong with daddy, is he ok?" Yuuki was on the verge of crying, suddenly clinging to mother's legs. Mother showed a sad expression on her face and bend down, gently patted her head.

"Kaname, come here." While maintaining eye contact with Yuuki. "I didn't want it to come down to this, but it seems that I have no choice..." Mother hugged both of us. "Kaname, you've always been exceptional. Father and I are very proud of you. I know you have been sensing a secret in the family, and I wanted to keep you two out of it for as long as possible. Kaien Cross is a dear friend of ours and he will be picking up you two. You can trust him, but no one else!" At this point Yuuki started crying, and I was at lost for words.

"What is going on Mother, why are you talking like that, is Father in big trouble?" She hushed me with a finger on my lips. "Please take a good care of Yuuki."

Sounds of gunshots rang near the front lawn, and a loud squeak from tires over the pavement put us on high alert. "Back door now!" Mother pushed us towards the laundry door.

She opened the draw and took out a gun while holding a crying Yuuki in her arms, I on the other hand was desperately trying to find the key to the back door. Upon the door's opening, a man emerged from the side of the house. Mother reacted quickly and fired. "Take Yuuki, Kaname!" I heard banging, and men calling out for help to bring down the door. Then I heard a sadistic laugh, "One down, three to go." More footsteps seemed to be heading our way, and panic was starting to set in. Out of the blue, a white van came to a squeaking stop, "Juri! Get in! I will cover you!" A blond man in glasses that I hadn't seen before called desperately from the drivers seat. Relief washed over her face. "Ka-"

BANG!

Time stopped. Blood dripped down from her forehead. More blood. Mother, as if in slow motion, started falling. And behind her, a man was holding a smoking gun at the back door.

Adrenaline rushed in and I could hear the blood pumping in my ears. NO! Without thinking, I took the heavy gun from Mother hands and stepped out of her shadow, lifted it and pulled the trigger. The repercussion from the shot rattle the bones in my fingers, and I closed my eyes as the gun fired.

BANG!

When I opened my eyes again, I was shocked. "Uncle Rido?" He was as shocked as I, never expecting anyone, let alone a little boy, to step out behind Juri and shoot him in the stomach. The shock left me paralysed, and before I knew it, strong arms grabbed me and Yuuki, and shoved us into the back of the van.

In the dimmed light, the reality of it all suddenly dawned on me... Mother was gone, so was Father, it was just me...and Yuuki... Wait, Yuuki! I suddenly looked down at my sister. Mother's blood covered her face and her hair, her eyes in horror as she studied the blood covering her hands. "Yuuki! Yuuki!" I called out to her, and shook her shoulders. She vaguely acknowledged me, turned to look at me with eyes filled with tears and despair, and suddenly fell unconscious in my arms. "Nooo, Yuuki!" I held her tightly to my chest, my face distorted. It was then and there that I promised myself: "I am going to protect you Yuuki, even if it is the last thing I do, even if it kills me." It was a promise that I would never break.

"... and here is Kaname Ichijo, he is currently the president of the student council." My queue to come on stage. Well the students are getting very restless, watching a man with a interesting sense of dress style mumbling on about our school's ideologies. I can hear the gasps from the audience, especially from the girls. I give them my best presidential smile and proceed to give my speech.

"Good morning students and teachers, as Mr. Cross have just mentioned, I am the president of the student council..." I scan the audience for Yuuki, and I easily find her next to Kiryu, much to my dismay. That head of white hair sticks out like a sore thumb, glaring at me. Brushing my annoyance aside, my gaze softens when it lands on Yuuki, holding on to my every word with a look of admiration. Has it really been 11 years, Yuuki is no longer that scared little girl any more... Ah that's right...

I followed Kaien as he carried Yuuki into the house. I was in a state of panic. "She is not waking up! She needs a doctor! I can't lose her, she is all I got left-" Suddenly I felt Yuuki's hand move, and slowly, her eyes opened. I was so relieved that I collapsed onto the floor.

"She was probably going through shock, there isn't any physical wound on her, I think we should clean up," Kaien pointed to our blood stained clothes.

A glint of gold caught my eye, I saw mother's necklace in Yuuki's coat pocket. How did that get there, it was a wedding anniversary gift, she never took it off... I swallowed my grief that's threatening to overwhelm me again and looked at Kaien. "Tell me what is going on, don't treat me like a kid, I have a right to know!" I stumbled from exhaustion.

This man called Kaien looked at me straight in the eye, and then glanced at the necklace in my hand. "I will. I think I owe that much to your mother. You don't need to worry, you and your sister needs rest, I will tell you everything tomorrow."

Kaien sat me down while Yuuki was still fast asleep. She hadn't spoken a word since yesterday, and seemed to be in her own world. She looked at me but didn't acknowledge me, and I felt my heart break. I wondered if I should trust this man, but I didn't have a choice and Mother seemed to think highly of him. He promised that Yuuki will see a doctor when everything calmed down, but in back of my mind, I was unsure if it would do any good.

"I think I should start at the beginning." Kaien's voice broke through my thoughts.

"I don't think this is something I should tell a little boy... but after what you have been though, a proper explanation is in order. What I am going to tell you must not leave this room, with truth comes responsibility, and from what you mother told me about you, I think you can handle it."

I nodded.

"Are you aware of a drug with the street name 'Blood'?"

I looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"It's a new synthetic drug on the market. Named for the red colour when it is dissolved in water. It must be made in a lab, and when taken it gives a feeling of euphoria and also hallucinations. It is highly addictive, but has little or no side effects if you take it regularly. However, once addicted, the withdrawal symptoms includes unquenchable thirst, uncontrollable violent outbursts and severe mood swings. It is possible to whine from it, but it take an incredible amount of mental strength and people have known to choose suicide over rehabilitation. This is a dangerous drug."

"We have an inkling from the chemical structure that a pharmaceutical company must be involved. It's not something that you could just knock up in a basement. Rido, your uncle, was seen distributing a large amount of Blood tablets though his quite successful catering business. The vans are the perfect cover. Your mother Juri and your father Haruka were university friends of mine from long time ago, and upon hearing about Blood tablets, they agreed to help."

"It was suppose to be a simple assignment with minimal risks... all they need to do is to find out where Rido was getting his tablets from, that is all..." He sighed, a man suddenly looked a lot older than his age. "The fact remains, your involvement could place you both in danger. I will put you both into protective custody just in case... I cannot promise that you will be together..."

Rage sparked in my eyes. "You mean me and Yuuki will be separated? I can't lose her, she is my only family..."

Then realisation suddenly hit me. "Wait, you are the one who told my parents about the Blood tablets, you gave them the assignment, it's your fault that my parents are dead!" I stumped out of the room and slammed the door shut.

My mind was sinking in a whirlwind of emotions, how was I suppose to protect Yuuki, if I wasn't around?

Later that night I got up to get some water, and heard noises from the study. "Good news, no one appears to have seen you. That was a stroke of genius, using Rido's catering logo." A tall man with piercing blue eyes and wavy brown hair was conversing with Kaien over a bottle of brandy. "So, you are really quitting the police force, Captain of the Narcotics Unit aren't far away if you didn't like undercover so much."

Kaien gave a tired smile, "I don't think I can continue to put people important to me in danger Yagari. I have this school that I'm looking after, now that Juri is gone I need to give it more attention. I am weary of all this, I feel like I am fighting a war with no end in sight, I just want some normality... I also want to adopt the little Kurans, if possible, I owe their parents that much."

This man called Yagari furrowed his eyebrows. "They must be separated, you know that right? A boy and a girl of 7 and 5 orphaned together is a dead give away, you might as well paint a target on their backs." He paused, and then reached out and lit a cigarette. "About that ...whenever we get a lead, or find someone that can speak out, either it disappears or the person ends up dead, and then we realised, there must be corruption in the justice system at a higher level, and the case is secretly handed to the Internal Affairs Unit, but even then it was difficult."

He stood up, and picked up my mother's necklace from the desk. "Then, thanks to you, Haruka and Juri," He looked down at the necklace, which is really a locket in the form of a rose. A click opened the closure. "That is a piece of paper containing the password and the details of a safety box was in the locket. It appears that they understood how much danger they are in better than we do. I do believe that their death is not in vain." He then took out a folder from his briefcase. "This is classified information, only tell this to the people you trust. The name is Ichiou Pharmaceuticals, they are the ones that's been providing the tablets."

My eye widened, and I clenched my fists. I have been angry at the wrong person, now I know who... My mind raced.

"That's not enough for a conviction, or anything of that kind, but we now know where to look..."

I pulled the door open and stepped into the study. Both adults were shocked.

Kaien quickly flashed an uneasy smile, "Kaname, I didn't realise you were ther-"

"Kaien, I just wanted to say, I'm sorry that I shouted at you this morning." I took a deep breathe. "I understand the weight of what you told me and the responsibility of knowing the truth. Please adopt Yuuki, I think she will be happy here... She needs a stable home, and I think... this would be a safe place for her."

Kaien's smile widened a little. "W-well, that is not something I would expect a child to say. Thank you Kaname, I will be sure to look after Yuuki."

I bowed my head. "Thank you."

I walked out of the room, took a deep breath, and then went to see Yuuki. So small, curled up under blankets like a little kitten. I gently patted her head. She still hadn't said a word. I finally accepted that her memories were now all locked up. Ah, perhaps it was better this way. She could just be Yuuki, a normal child, with a normal life, going to school, laughing, eating an abnormal amount of desserts everyday... Yes, it was better this way. Even so, I felt a need to cry.

There is no point asking if I could help, they would've said no anyway. Ichiou Pharmaceuticals, you picked the wrong kid to mess with. That was the moment when my felt my childhood end, and my thorny path began. My eyes narrowed. Let the chess game begin.

The hour after school is my favourite time of the day. Everyone has left, and it is just me and my thoughts. I don't need to pretend to be a model student at school, or a model grandson when I am at home. No, it is a time where I can just be me. I have often wondered what it would be like, to be a normal child. I soon dismissed it. It's a silly thought, the opportunity was taken away from me a long time ago.

I was no longer that spoilt 7 years old, who chose to stay ignorant. I had the tools. I was above average in intelligence, had access to computers, and since I was not allow to leave the house while the trials were taking place, time. A lot of time. I tried to learn as much as I could about the people that took my childhood away from me while under Kaien's care. Yuuki was doing better day by day, but her memory lost was a constant reminder that nothing would be the same ever again. Plans started to take forms, plans that I did not think I could formulate.

I remember the day when I realised that I could do it, all I needed to do was write a letter. It sat secretly between the anime DVDs that Kaien thought would interest me. It sat there for days. A part of me was afraid. I have never taken initiative to do something completely independent before. I know that if I were to send it, it would be the point of no return. However, I also realised that my world was already turned upside-down, that I will never go back to the time when Yuuki and I, Father and Mother, would sit together at the dinner table. Were we to live in fear of discovery by the Ichiou Pharmaceuticals for the rest of our lives? I needed to take revenge, and I will not rest until I do.

"... There has to be a mistake... That second name, Ichijo... That's the same as the chairman of Ichiou Pharmaceuticals..." Kaien stared in disbelief at the adoption papers, and then realisation stuck him. "Kaname... you did something didn't you..."

"Mm?" I gave the most innocent smile I could master. "Say ahh, Yuuki."

"Ahhhhh." Cheeks rosy from the exciting prospect of desserts, Yuuki opened her mouth and latched on to the spoon.

Kaien stared at the picturesque view of a loving brother feeding an overjoyed little sister pudding. You could almost see sparkles in the air. He paused briefly, and then glared at me again. "Kaname, I should've known you wouldn't just sit around and do nothing. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't refuse this proposal outright."

"You don't have the legal means Kaien."

Kaien visibly twitched. "I hate the fact that you are smart Kaname. Where is that cute little boy I raised?" His expression suddenly became serious. "However it doesn't mean I don't have friends that can, what do you intend to achieve."

I wiped off some pudding on the corner of Yuuki's mouth, and patted her head. "Onii-san will be right back." I looked back at Kaien, "let's talk somewhere else, like the study."

We walked into the study and closed the doors behind us.

"Ok, talk." Kaien slumped down behind his desk, and crossed his arms.

"Have you been following Rido's case?" I rigidly took my seat across from the table.

The ex-policeman hesitated, and gave me a puzzle look. "Yes, he confessed to killing your parents along with his little gang. There was no further investigation due to his confession. He got off easy though, manslaughter charges due to insanity and having 'Blood' in his system. Unbelievable charges if you ask me. It appears that our suspicions about corruption were correct. What does this have anything to do with your adoption again?"

"I and my sister's identity was kept from the media for our own protection, even though there was no connection between Blood and Rido. Publicly anyway. However, I was the one that shot Rido, and my fingerprints were on the gun. The media got a hold of that information. It was on the news."

"Ah, you were blown up to be a hero. I had to pull some strings, so that your protective custody status is maintained and you were kept out of media's eye."

My gaze fell on to the floor, "I wanted Yuuki is be away from all this, so as far as the world knows, we were separated afterwards, and no one knows where Yuuki is now."

I took a deep breathe. "I wondered about what I should do next, if I did nothing, I could have lived a normal life, but I can't forgive the people that took my family away from me, and the evil things they continuing to do." I looked determinately into Kaien's eyes, my hands quivered.

"I have decided, I will not be keeping my identity secret for long, the person that's adopting me isn't the chairman himself, but his son. He is running for mayor this year. I've sent a letter to him, indicating my anger towards the justice system and how it handles narcotics such as Blood. I said that I am going to share my story to the media soon, and that I will give my support for his campaign to better the system...I also added that I am in foster care, waiting to be adopted." I smiled deviously. "If I want to be elected, there is no way I am going to pass on that chance."

"Thank you for praising my old unit Kaname. For a 9 years old, your maturity scares me. I guess you wouldn't be a passive grandson either. So," Kaien slapped his hands on his knees and stood up, " I'm going to get you out of this mess that you've made, it's too reckless."

"I'm going to be the chairman's 'grandson' Kaien, as far as they know I'm just a boy whose parents were killed by an uncle in a fit of madness. To be the family of the drug lord is better than sitting in a gundam. Besides, I would really like to see you find a reason why the future mayor of the city can't adopt me." That stopped Kaien in his tracks.

Castling move complete.

Author's note: That's right I make Kaname into an awkward little boy because he is just 7 and not a vampire ancestor that went through years of war and then lived for a couple of thousand more. But hey I did make him a hero and a super mature kid for his age... with an IQ of 160-170 :P. Sorry... again... I actually feel kinda bad about it... He also likes Gundam (robots), I haven't met a 9 years old boy who doesn't like robots. It's got a good dose to strategy as well in these shows. I also made Rido less significant, I mean in the real world someone as unstable as him wouldn't really make it that far... Asato Ichijo would definitely go places.

Ah, and I kept on wondering if I should say 'checkmate' or 'castling', but I feel it's really the beginning of the game. Castling, is a move in chess made by the king where you move a rook and the king simultaneously, general to move the king to protect it better.