Yo! Sorry, I posted this a little later in the evening then I thought I would! *smacks head for being three hours late* But as soon as this is posted I'll start Chapter 5! I suspect 5 will be up right around midnight! Or maybe ten-ish... These chapters don't take long to actually write, I get distracted easily. My "distraction" is music. I hear it and imagine it fitting Vampire Knight, and I skip around my room while I picture it. I swear to god, that's how stupid I am. XD
Disclaimer: *Hino-sensei is tied up behind a couch* I own Vampire Knight. I do.
"Maria-san!" Exclaimed Yuuki, (Relieved, because Maria was much better than a ghost) "I, you..!"
Maria smiled, and the moonlight reflected in her lilac eyes. She used her hands to push herself out of the tree, and landed agilely in front of Yuuki. To anyone the distance between her and the ground would have been intimidating, and would have required the person to slowly climb down the tree. But this did not apply to Maria Kurenai, who seemed to merely drift toward the ground as she jumped. "Yuuki-san, we're both vampires now! This is going to be so much fun! And to think that I've met another pureblood!"
Yuuki felt the slightest bit apprehensive over Maria's sudden appearance. Maria's body had been the one to threaten her at one time, with a different controller, Shizuka Hio. Yuuki had momentarily forgotten the brief time she had once seen the real Maria, who had been a very friendly girl.
"Maria-san, what are you doing in a place like this?" The nameless estate was truly in the middle of nowhere.
"Just paying a visit!" Maria sang and hugged Yuuki, dancing in place. (Yuuki's previous apprehension melted away, it must truly be Maria this time, for who would hug someone and dance around the way she did?) "I didn't know you were going to be here! This is going to be fun! Are you staying at the mansion up there?"
"Y-yeah." Stammered Yuuki, still taken aback by the animated Maria. "You may stay with us, if you don't have anywhere else to stay tonight." She offered politely. Kaname wouldn't mind. But the others…? They would just unhappily follow Kaname's orders.
*
Back at the estate, Kaname had finally had enough worrying over Yuuki, now he was going to take action. It was all Ichijou's fault; he was the one who made him start worrying about her. And not only that, Ichijou's stupid joke/idea was disgustingly appealing to Kaname. It would be better if I sent someone else to retrieve Yuuki, so Ichijou doesn't suspect me of anything. For several seconds he considered sending Aidou, but that reminded him that Aidou still hadn't served his punishment yet. Pushing him down the stairs was always an option, but was not exactly a fitting thing a respected pureblood should do. Too bad, I had it all planned out.
Sending Luca was out of the question, she never attempted to hide her dislike for Yuuki. If he sent Rima, Shiki would undoubtedly accompany her, and that could serve to be a slightly awkward reception for Yuuki, the two could be very quiet. Sending Ichijou was out of the question, he was still unconscious. And he was still pissed off at him.
That left Akatsuki. Yuuki and Akatsuki got along relatively well; they could start up a slight conversation when together. Kaname halted his pacing and moved into the kitchen, where inside Akatsuki and Aidou were desperately trying to clean. (Akatsuki wasn't actually worried; Aidou had just begged him to help.)
At the sound of Kaname entering the kitchen, Aidou cleaned even faster. "Look how nicely and quickly I'm cleaning, Dorm Leader Kuran~! Isn't it impressive? Only I would work so hard for Dorm Leader Kuran!"
Kaname promptly ignored him, "Akatsuki, I could use a favor. It's important."
"Eh? Me?" Akatsuki held a feather duster in mid air. The dust falling from it made Aidou sneeze.
"Yeah. It's a very important job. A job I would only entrust to someone I could always count on." Taunted Kaname. Aidou handed his broom to Akatsuki, and slunk to a corner of the room. "You're free right?"
"Uh, yeah." He paused at first, but seeing as Aidou didn't plan on leaving the corner for a long time, he shrugged and followed Kaname out of the kitchen.
Why is everyone so mean to me?? Thought a distressed Aidou.
*
"Yuuki-san, are you staying at the house with Kaname-sama?" Maria curiously asked as they headed back. She did in fact have a place to stay for the night, but she had decided that staying with Yuuki would be more fun.
"Yeah. Ah, careful, there's a tree root in the path." Yuuki cautioned Maria as she stepped over it, she turned to help Maria, but Maria simply danced over it.
Maria pranced ahead of Yuuki, twirling around. "I have to admit, Maria-chan is surprised that Kaname-sama isn't accompanying Yuuki-san."
Yuuki looked surprised, "He isn't worried about me getting hurt out here. Your appearance was unexpected, but it's very safe."
"Eh, in theory it is. But Kaname-sama doesn't know too much about this place does he?" Maria's sweet and cheerful tone made her sentence seem all the more eerie. The bird bath had come into sight, and she skipped to it. She gently ran her hand through the silky powder, and clenched some in her hand.
Yuuki viewed her cautiously, "Are you telling some kind of ghost story? I'm not a child."
Maria smiled slightly, opened her hand, and slowly allowed the substance to fall through her fingers, like sand. "Ah~~ Maria-chan failed then. I was going to tell a ghost story, but as Yuuki-san isn't frightened by them… This is a dangerous place though. No ghosts, just little surprises here and there! But it seems a bit troublesome with all the Hunters…" She faded off and looked frustrated.
"Hunters? Vampire Hunters?! They're here?"
She didn't contain her surprise, "Didn't you know? After President-dono died, there has been disruption in the Hunters. They're roaming freely doing their job now, but no discretion in whom they hunt. There are probably a few in the area; however I don't feel they're a bother to us." She moved away from the bird bath, ending the conversation. She then amused herself by admiring the trees, those of which were dead increased in numbers as they continued towards the estate.
"We should be careful then. I don't think Kaname-senpai knew about the Vampire Hunters…" She started forward, walking through the trees, now wanted to hurry to the mansion.
Several moments later she realized Maria wasn't following her. Yuuki turned back to look at her, and saw Maria staring past her with an even gaze. "Maria…-san?"
"It seems we have a visitor." She answered.
*
"Kaname, Kaname!" Called Ichijou. Several hours had passed, and he had finally awakened from his coma, he now had white gauze wrapped around his head, to help heal the light bulb injury.
"What is it, Ichijou?" He cautiously answered. After that earlier episode, he didn't want to walk into another trap set by him.
"Lookie lookie! Look at what Shiki and Rima found!" He held something up to Kaname, to which he looked amused. It was not exactly something one expected to find left in a house after one hundred or more years.
"Where did they find it?"
"Ah, it was in the closet."
Kaname and Ichijou were in the servant's quarters, trying to move out all the old mirrors that for some reason had been placed in there. Shiki and Rima didn't feel like doing any work, so they simply roamed around the mansion, looking for anything interesting.
"I see. There doesn't seem to be much use for it, does there?"
"Mm~ dunno. I was thinking maybe Yuuki-chan would like it..."
"I doubt Yuuki would appeal to such a thing."
"Maybe it wouldn't be her ideal choice of clothing, but I know I wouldn't and you sure as heck wouldn't mind seeing Yuuki in this." Ichijou giggled.
Kaname was busy searching the room for something to throw at Ichijou, when a thought struck. "Maybe," He thought aloud, plotting something.
"What? Don't tell me that you're agreeing with me? I really wouldn't mind seeing Yuuki in it, but I'm rather surprised it's an idea you'd go along with!" Kaname roughly clapped his hand over Ichijou's face, shutting him up.
"No, I would never submit Yuuki to such a thing. But I have thought of an appropriate punishment for Aidou. This place really needs a good cleaning, and this would put him in the mood…" Kaname held up the lacy, black and white maid costume, grinning evilly.
*
Ooh! Look! There's a button below me! I wonder what it does? Click on it!