A/N I don't own Vampire Knight nor do I make any profit from it

Chapter 15 - A Proposition

Yuuki and Zero sat down for dinner that night as Hikari entered the room. Hikari walked towards her chair at the end of the table, "Are you glad to be back, Lady Yuuki?"

"Yes, indeed," she said with a cheery smile, "How are you finding life here?"

"Pleasant," Hikari replied, "However, I do not see my husband very much."

Yuuki sighed, "Is he mistreating you?"

"No, we just live separate lives," Hikari replied, "We haven't even consummated our marriage."

Yuuki placed a hand to her chest and blinked, "He hasn't consummated the marriage? When does he plan on doing it?"

"I don't know," Hikari replied, "And nor do I care."

"Sure you must care," Yuuki asked incredulously, "It's what any wife would want."

"Yes, that's true, but it seems that I am no ordinary wife," Hikari replied, "I am just in this marriage to save my family from destitution, nothing more. We're like friends with benefits. Although, the benefit is money not sex and… come to think of it… we're not even friends… merely two people who live in the same house."

"But, don't you wish for a loving relationship," Yuuki asked, "Surely you do want that."

Hikari gazed at Yuuki pensively for a moment, "I must throw my own wishes and wants to the wind and carry on as if I am in a catatonic state."

"But you can't honestly think that way," Yuuki gasped, "Everyone craves love and affection. You have the right to expect that from my brother. You're his wife."

"That's true but this is all political and love has no place within it," Hikari replied coldly. Yuuki sighed heavily.

"Oh, all right then… you see it that way then," Yuuki said as she turned to look at Zero. Zero scoffed slightly but said nothing. A few moments of tense silence later, Kaname entered the room with Hanaka. Yuuki shifted uncomfortably at this and cleared her throat, "Kaname, may I have a word with you… alone?"

Kaname shifted his gaze from Hanaka to his sister, "You may."

Yuuki stood up and stiffly walked from the room. Kaname turned to his wife for a moment before making his way out. Hikari frowned deeply but sat back in her ornate chair. Hanaka, feeling slightly uncomfortable about being left with her lover's wife, sat down stiffly. Hikari smirked at her slightly before turning to Zero.

"I hear that you are a vampire hunter, Zero," Hikari said, "Have you had any work lately?"

Zero cast his eyes to her, "Yes, there have been many Level Es lately," he replied, "Yuuki doesn't approve of my work but in order to still retain what is left of humanity, I must go on these hunts."

"Even though you are married to a pureblood vampire you're worried about not coming across as human? Zero, forgive me, but you're still a vampire whether you like it or not and you have married a vampire. You're humanity has well and truly gone."

Zero glared at her, "I don't need your opinion."

Hikari scoffed, "It wasn't an opinion. It was an observation."

"Well, I don't need your observations," Zero hissed.

"Yes, you should keep those to yourself, Your Majesty," Hanaka cut in, "You should just stick to being a good little wife and looking pretty."

Hikari glared at her, "I was merely making conversation, Hanaka, no need for you to make snide remarks."

Hanaka glared back but remained silent.

Meanwhile, Yuuki turned to Kaname and placed her hands on her slim hips, "Kaname, why are you flaunting your lover in front of Hikari?"

"I am not flaunting her," Kaname replied, "She is a member of my court and has the right to dine with us."

"But Kaname, why are you still carrying on with this relationship? Hikari doesn't deserve to remain unloved for the rest of her life. Hanaka is from an ambitious family, no? Don't you think that there could be a possibility of her using you?"

"No," Kaname replied defensively, "Hanaka loves me!"

"Are you sure? The Ikeda family have always been wanting to get in the royal circle," Yuuki replied, "Don't you remember that Hanaka was always forced to play with you? Her parents were always watching you two like a hawk!"

"You know nothing, Yuuki," Kaname said coolly, "Besides, Hikari does not care for me so why should I even try?"

"How do you know she doesn't care for you? Have you ever asked her? She is lonely and needs to have some kind of love. You're not even her friend. Have you kissed her yet?"

"Yes," Kaname replied, "I kissed her a few weeks ago."

"What did you feel when you kissed her? Did you feel desire?"

Kaname stared at her for a moment, "I suppose I did," Kaname answered carefully, "It was different from kissing Hanaka."

"In what way," Yuuki asked.

"It was innocent and pure," Kaname replied, "Her lips were soft as the petals of a rose. It was then that I felt the desire to have her and consummate my marriage."

"Well, if that's the way you felt, why can't you feel that way again and do your duty to your wife," Yuuki asked, "You talk of duty yet you cannot fulfil your own roles. I suggest that you give up Hanaka and take Hikari as your wife."

"I would do that except Hikari will not allow me to touch her," Kaname said as he leaned against the wall, "I tried… a few weeks ago to consummate the marriage but she pointed a sword at me and ran from my room in tears. How can I make love to a woman who does not want it?"

"Well, you must make her want it," Yuuki said strongly, "Put Hanaka to one side for a while. Focus on Hikari. You never know, you might fall in love with her and she, in turn, my fall in love with you."

"I doubt it," Kaname said softly, "Why would she love me, Yuuki?"

"You need to show her the real Kaname," Yuuki replied, "The kind and caring Kaname… the Kaname who used to play with me and keep me company."

"That Kaname is long gone," Kaname replied tersely.

"No," Yuuki said strongly, "That Kaname is still there and you can show that side to Hikari!"

"So, say I do fall in love with Hikari… what about Hanaka?"

"You give her up," Yuuki replied, "It shouldn't be a problem if you love Hikari."

Kaname sighed deeply, "I'm afraid."

"Of what, my dear brother," Yuuki asked.

"Of falling for a girl who may or may not love me," Kaname replied, "I don't want to lay my heart out to a woman who obviously doesn't want to be near me."

"You need to stop see Hanaka," Yuuki replied, "That's why Hikari doesn't want to be near you! Goodness, for someone as intelligent as you, you lack the common sense you were born with."

Yuuki sighed and Kaname closed his wine coloured eyes, "I would but Hikari is in love with someone else. I am sure of it."

"Who do you think it is," Yuuki asked.

"Hanabusa Aidou," Kaname replied, "I can see the way they look at each other when their in each other's company."

Yuuki frowned deeply, "That does pose as a problem, doesn't it? But then, it's your own fault."

Kaname stared at her for a moment, silent anger radiating from him. Yuuki laughed nervously, "Well, why don't you have a dinner with her tomorrow night? Tell Hanaka exactly what you're doing. There is no reason to pussy foot around a mistress. She is not your wife."

"A dinner," Kaname asked.

"Yes," Yuuki said, "A romantic dinner! You could get the court musicians to play some romantic music. I would choose the cellists and violinists though."

"Yuuki… I don't know about this."

"If you want a sure fire way of consummating this marriage, you had better start romancing her," Yuuki said.

Kaname grunted and looked up when he sniffed, catching the scent of his wife who was making her way towards them, "Yuuki, Lord Kaname, we're waiting to start dinner! Are you coming or not?"

Hikari stared at them for a moment, cocking her head to the side, her silvery blond hair cascading over her shoulder, "Well, are you?"

"Oh, of course we are," Yuuki replied, "But my brother would like to have dinner alone with you tomorrow! What do you say?"

Hikari blinked, "Dinner? Me and Kaname…tomorrow," Hikari asked sceptically, "I…. well…"

Yuuki turned her gaze towards Kaname and urged him to speak, "Yes, dinner with me. What do you say?"

"I don't know…" Hikari replied, "Would Hanaka be there?"

"No," Kaname replied, "It would just be me and you."

Hikari frowned deeply before nodding, "I suppose it wouldn't hurt. I accept your invitation."

Yuuki beamed, "Well, that's settled! Tomorrow night will be a romantic dinner for two," She ran forward and gripped Hikari's hands in hers, "I wish you every happiness! Now, let's go and have something to eat! I'm so hungry!"

"You, me both," Hikari said as she turned her head towards Kaname. Yuuki ran down stairs happily and left them alone, "Why do you suddenly want to have dinner with me? Hanaka obviously means more to you."

"I just want to have dinner with you," Kaname answered, "We need to become more comfortable around each other."

"I agree," Hikari replied, "Does have anything to do with wanting to consummate the marriage?"

"We'll have to do it at some point," Kaname replied, "I don't want you to have an excuse for an annulment."

"I wanted to make love with a man who cares for me," Hikari replied, "You don't want to do it because you love me. You want to do it out of obligation and a way to trap me."

Kaname gazed at her for a moment before stepping forward and gripping her shoulders, "You never know what we will feel… if you give it a chance."

He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips causing Hikari to stiffen under his touch. He pulled back and let go, "We should go."

Kaname walked away, leaving Hikari dumbfounded.

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