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

Chapter 22 – Humiliation

Hikari woke up in Kaname's arms. He had changed into clean clothes after having an unintentional bath with her. She closed her eyes and remembered the passion which had been there as they kissed each other with a burning passion. If it hadn't been for Hana interrupting them, they would have made love. There was no doubt of that. She had been vulnerable under him and without clothes on too.

The feeling of them growing closer was an odd experience indeed. When she had first married Kaname, he had been cold and rude towards her. Now, Kaname couldn't keep his hands off her and her blood quenched his insatiable thirst.

Hikari placed a hand on his cheek and caressed it, "How am I falling in love with you? What makes me love you? Why is it, when I kiss you, I want you to make me yours? My feelings are growing and it scares me…" Hikari kissed his cheek and gazed at his beautiful face. She knew that great power lay behind the beauty. He was dangerous but so was she. Hikari was a pureblood vampire as well. She was just as powerful. If they ever fought, it would end in stalemate. However, when Kaname kissed her, she couldn't help but surrender to his power and will.

Kaname's eyes fluttered open and the fell upon his young bride, who was watching him intently, "Hello, my little Hikari."

Hikari smiled gently, "Hello, my handsome Kaname."

Kaname caressed her cheek, "Hikari, you are most beautiful in the morning."

Hikari blushed deeply as Kaname's body shifted over hers and stared deeply into her eyes. Hikari's legs loosely wrapped around his hips and Kaname's lips pressed to hers in tender kiss, "You naught little girl… tempting me like that."

"Make me yours, Lord Kaname," Hikari whispered tenderly, "I want you."

"My innocent little Hikari," Kaname replied, his hot breath tickling her face, "You are too eager."

"I am only eager to be with my husband, Lord Kaname," Hikari replied in a whisper and she tightened her grip on him, "Make me yours."

Kaname sat up, bringing Hikari with him and making her straddle his lap. He kept an arm around her waist and a hand on her now bare thigh, his lips devoured hers in a tender kiss. Hikari wrapped an arm around his neck and a hand rested on his firm chest. She slowly began to unbutton his white dress shirt and she broke the kiss to kiss his neck and bare chest.

"Hikari," Kaname moaned deeply, "What are you doing to me," he groaned and tightened his grip on her. He knew he had to take more care of Hikari when he did this with her. Hanaka was a confident lover where Hikari was not. Now that Hikari was his only lover, being his wife, he knew that he had take this slow and with due care. Hikari was like a white rose, pure and untainted.

"Hikari, I don't want this to be rushed," Kaname whispered, "I don't want you to feel forced. I want you and you obviously want me, but I want us to be totally comfortable. We are only just beginning to fall in love or so it would seem. I don't want us to be rushed into it when we're just starting out."

Hikari stared at him before kissing his forehead and hugging him tightly, "I am so happy," Hikari said in a hushed whisper, "Yes, I want to wait too."

Kaname rested his forehead against hers and his eyes gazed into hers, "I do want you though… make no mistake."

Hikari nodded and moved off her husband's lap. "However," Kaname leaned forward and caged her in with his arms, giving her a predatory look, "It doesn't mean we cannot drink from each other. Only you will quench my thirst."

He took her hand in his and kissed it softly before turning it over and kissing her wrist where the vein was. He breathed in the scent and licked the area tenderly before sinking his fangs into her thin wrist. Hikari gasped and gritted her teeth. It was little more painful in that place. Her blood ran down her arm as Kaname drank the blood which gushed into his mouth. His eyes were red with blood lust. Kaname removed his fangs before moving to her neck and bit her neck suddenly. Hikari gasped as Kaname's arms wrapped tightly around her slim waist, pressing her slim body against his.

A resounding smack pierced the silent air, "You stupid girl," Soichiro hissed.

Hanaka fell and sobbed into her mother's chest as she tried to soothe her stinging cheek. She had been a shell of her former self since Kaname had rejected her. Of course, her family were both devastated and angered by this humiliation. No one had expected Hanaka to be rejected because of their history together. It was humiliating to be the family of a discarded mistress. When the mistress was out of favour, the family was too.

"Mother, he just rejected me! He wouldn't kiss me, he wouldn't let me touch him, he wouldn't talk to me… what have I done wrong? Why has he rejected me?"

"Perhaps he has fallen for the queen after all," Yuko said sadly, "Or perhaps he has chosen another mistress."

"This is humiliating," Soichiro growled, "You all know what happens to families who fall out of favour, don't you? We will lose everything! Our position, our home, our wealth… none of it was possible without the favour of the Kuran family and the relationship Hanaka had with Lord Kaname," Hanaka sobbed louder, "Yes, you stupid child, you would do well to sob. You have condemned this family to ruin."

"Soichiro," Yuko hissed, "Our daughter tried her best. In the end, Lady Hikari has won his heart. We cannot do much against the queen."

"She should have been able to divert him for much longer than she has done," Soichiro said as he raked a hand through his hair, "You realise that we will be destitute, don't you? You have ruined this family."

Hanaka sobbed bitterly into her hands, "I'm sorry father! Please forgive me! I tried my best."

"Your best was not good enough, you stupid girl," he hissed, "Get out my sight."

Hanaka clung to her mother and Soichiro's eyes flashed red with anger, "GO!"

Hanaka jumped and ran from the room in fright. Yuko glared at her husband, "You didn't have to be so harsh."

"You know as well as I that we are not in favour anymore. You know what happens the families of discarded mistresses. They are ruined, losing everything including their lives. We are lucky to have gotten this far."

"The young king is not a cruel one, Soichiro," Yuko said with a sympathetic look, "He is not his uncle. He is like his parents before him. Juuri and Haruka Kuran were kind and fair. They didn't give out favour to take it away without good reason. Now, Lord Kaname is following in their footsteps. I do realise the situation but you mustn't be so hard on Hanaka. It was out of her control."

"No, it wasn't out of her control," Soichiro growled, "She should have worked harder to keep his attention. Now, he's fallen for that slip of a girl."

"Well, we don't know that," Yuko replied.

"No, he has. The last time I was at court, I noticed the way he looked at her. It was no longer cold or impassive. It was a look of adoration and longing," Soichiro growled again, "This is maddening. Sure there was so way he could fall back into Hanaka's arms."

"Not unless the queen didn't love him back," Yuko replied, "And we don't know how she really feels about him do we? Perhaps Lord Kaname is aware that Hanaka does not truly love him."

"Love has nothing to do with it," Soichiro said obstinately, "This is about power, wealth and position. We're playing a game here and I will not lose."

"But what about your child's happiness," Yuko asked, "I know I have been in favour of this relationship but you are forcing this responsibility onto her shoulders. She is a child who had been forced to grow up too quickly, there's no getting away from that. You have forced her to grow up and give up her virtue to aid this family. She has done enough. Everything has to end eventually."

"No," Soichiro shouted, "Hanaka was born to be a political porn. We are lucky to have been blessed with such a beautiful daughter."

"Indeed, but Lord Kaname is intelligent and observant," Yuko replied, "Surely he must have noticed Hanaka is only using him for our ends."

"Hanaka is a stupid girl," Soichiro said cruelly, "She isn't capable of keeping Lord Kaname interested."

Yuko sighed, "I will check on Hanaka. You calm yourself down. Don't worry, everything will be all right. You'll see."

She kissed his cheek before walking up the stairs to her daughter's room. When she found her, she was lying on her bed in a foetal position. Her tears would not stop, even as her mother gathered her into her arms.

"Your father doesn't mean it, you know," Yuko said softly, "He is just worried for our future."

Hanaka looked up, "I have caused this family to become destitute and without position," she said with a sniff, "It was all based on the strength of my relationship with Lord Kaname… it was a little foolish."

"No one expected Lord Kaname to marry and fall in love with Hikari Kitamura," Yuko said, "But we mustn't worry. You must become brave and win the eye of a rich husband. That is probably the only way you will win your father's forgiveness."

"Win… you say… that's the way it has always been…" Hanaka replied sadly, "But I will not give up on Lord Kaname. Hikari will pay for stealing him from me. Once I have him back, it will give her a taste of the humiliation I have suffered."

Yuko gazed at her daughter sadly before wordlessly removing herself from the room.

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