A/N I don't own Vampire Knight nor do I make any profit from it
Chapter 7 - A Knight in Shining Armor
When Hikari returned from her in laws' manor, Hana approached her as she took her coat, "Lady Hikari, your father has returned back to the Kitamura mansion. He wanted to say goodbye but you did not turn up for breakfast."
Hikari nodded, "I see," she said distantly, "I will visit him sometime this week. Did anyone ask after me?"
"Only your father, my lady," Hana said, knowing what Hikari was saying. Hikari walked away and indicated for Hana to follow.
"Is it true that Lord Kaname has a mistress," Hikari asked. Hana gasped with shock but Hikari gave her a pleading look.
"It's true," Hana said, "It is now common knowledge throughout court that Lord Kaname is in love with another woman."
Hikari clenched her fists and said nothing. As she walked out into the garden and put up a parasol for herself, "Hana, I think I will have tea out in the garden."
"Very well, my lady, I will bring it out to the garden table," Hana said politely. Hikari nodded and walked on through the garden. Eventually, she came to a large garden table with a large parasol and some chairs placed around it. Hikari sat down in the shadiest part and put her own parasol down.
"May I join you," she heard someone say. Looking up, she saw a handsome young man standing before her. He had messy golden blond hair and vibrant turquoise eyes.
"Well, if you wish to, that is your choice," she said kindly, "But before you do, what is your name?"
The young man smiled charmingly, "My name is Hanabusa Aidou. Glad to make your acquaintance, Lady Hikari."
Hikari smiled as he bowed and took a seat beside her, "My maid is bringing out some tea. You're welcome to have some if you wish."
"Thank you," he said happily, "So, how are you settling in here at court?"
Hikari hesitated from speaking, not wanting to reveal too much, "I'm settling in well, thank you," she said serenely, "Are you on a visit or do you live here?"
"I am a friend of Lord Kaname's, my lady," Hanabusa said, "I am your friend too if you wish."
Hikari smiled serenely, "I would be please to be your friend," Hikari fiddled with her cream pleated skirt and with the frilly sleeves of her silk shirt, "So, you're a friend of Kaname's?"
"Yes, I've known him since we were very young," Hanabusa replied, "I didn't like him at first but we grew closer as friends over time. I hear that you too are struggling to have an amiable relationship with our lord and master."
Hikari growled quietly, "Is it that obvious, Lord Aidou? I am trying but I don't get anything back. He has a mistress I hear he is in love with," she said with a frown. Hanabusa sat back in his chair and his right leg crossed over his left, reclining back in his chair.
"Hanaka and Lord Kaname have known each other for quite a long time," Hanabusa said, "I don't think he will let her go too quickly."
"No, I think that you are right," Hikari replied. Hanabusa eyed her for a moment, noting how sad and lonely she was, "I am sure that I am doomed for all eternity."
"I'm sure you won't be," Hanabusa said calmly, "I'm sure you will come to an amicable agreement."
Hikari shook her head, "I don't want an "amicable" agreement," Hikari said in a passionate outburst, "I want passion! I want love! Those two things I will never have!"
Hanabusa's eyes widened slightly and Hikari gasped, "Forgive me," she said, "I should not have burst out at you like that. It was extremely rude of me."
"No, my lady," Hanabusa replied, "You are entitled to such things."
Hikari stared at him for a moment before straightening her posture as her maid placed the tea Hikari had asked for, "Thank you, Hana, I will take it from here. You may return to your other duties."
"As you wish, my lady," Hana said as she bobbed a curtsy and walked away. Hikari picked up the tea pot and poured out the tea for the both of them.
"There you go, Lord Aidou" Hikari said kindly, "I hope you enjoy your tea."
Hanabusa graciously took the delicate porcelain cup of tea and put it to his lips, "If I am not mistaken, this is rose tea, no?"
"Yes, indeed," Hikari replied, "It has become a favourite of mine during my time here. I also adore this beautiful garden. Here, I can just escape my fate as the unloved queen just for a little while."
"I am sorry," Hanabusa replied, "I don't think it is right for you to be doomed to such a life."
"I do it for my father," Hikari replied quickly, "The Kitamura family has been in poverty for many years. The Kuran family is extremely wealthy and they only way they would help us were if there was a marriage between our two families. Apparently, my father was supposed to marry another member of the Kuran family but she had the right idea and ran off with a hunter. So there was just me and Lord Kaname left."
"Has Lord Kaname since helped your father," Hanabusa asked and Hikari shook her head.
"Lord Kaname, fortunately, isn't responsible for that. Lady Juuri and Lord Haruka are financially helping him," Hikari said as she sipped her tea, "They are very good to me and my father."
"What about your mother," he asked cautiously. Hikari blinked and stared at her reflection in her rose tea, "Sorry, have I touched a nerve?"
"No, you haven't," Hikari replied, "It's just that… my mother is dead."
"How did she die," Hanabusa asked.
"In childbirth," Hikari replied, "I never knew her. I sometimes blame myself for her death because if I hadn't have been born, she would have been living and loving life to the full. My father was deeply in love with my mother, a rare occurrence in a pureblood couple, and he never remarried after her death. He tried to meet other women but he simply couldn't do it. I had asked him why, but he told me that he would be betraying my mother's memory."
Hanabusa felt himself feeling rather shaken by Hikari's history, "I am very sorry that happened to your family."
"You have no need to be sorry, Lord Aidou," Hikari said blankly, "You had nothing to do with it."
"No, but I can offer you my sympathy and… empathy to some degree," Hanabusa replied and Hikari looked up at him with widened eyes, "Yes, I too lost my mother to childbirth. She died during the birth of my third and youngest sister."
Hikari clasped her hands to her mouth with a gasp and forgot that she was holding cup of scolding hot tea. The tea spilt all over her and Hikari screamed in fright, "Lady Hikari, are you all right," Hanabusa cried. He pulled out a handkerchief and tried to wipe away the excess tea.
"I'm so clumsy," Hikari said with embarrassment, tears running down her cheeks. Wanting to get out of the situation, Hikari stood up but caught her foot on the leg of the chair, tripping over and flat on her face, twisting her ankle.
"Lady Hikari, are you all right," Hanabusa cried.
"No, I think I've just twisted my ankle," Hikari whimpered helplessly, "And I have fallen into dirt…my clothes are all dirt…"
Hanabusa placed his arm under her knees and an arm around her shoulders, sweeping her up into his arms. Hikari squealed and clung to him tightly, "Lord Aidou, what are you doing?"
"Well, you're hurt, my lady," he said, "I wouldn't be called a gentleman if I didn't help you."
"No, I don't suppose you would," Hikari replied as she gripped him tightly, "Thank you for this. You shouldn't have to do it. I'm so embarrassed."
"Don't worry, my lady, I will take you back to the manor and see that those burns heal up quickly," Hanabusa said, referring to the red mark caused by the hot tea.
"Thank you, Lord Aidou," Hikari said as she gripped her knight in shining armour.
Yes, a little shorter than last time. This is a filler for the next chapter.
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