Chapter 2
Since there was still a month, Kaetsukikko had Kain search for maid candidates. The castle had not been cleaned in a long time since the sealing. Even though it had not seen daylight for thousands of years, it was still very clean and new both on the inside and outside. Still the silver, bronze and gold still had to be polished and the floors scrubbed to a shine, the sheets washed and changed and various other things had to be done, to make the castle much grander for the ball.
In fact, several modern appliances had to be added too. Yes, Kaetsukikko wanted to bring in a plasma television, stereo, dvd players, pool tables, and whatnot.
She ordered some of the rooms to be renovated for new purposes. There was to be a dance studio. This was where the stereo and mirrors were to be installed. There was to be an entertainment room where the dvd player, television and pool table were going to be. She even had an extra glass building built to serve as a greenhouse and to hold the swimming pool.
"I advise against this," said Kain.
"The more than half of my inheritance is in a secured account in Switzerland. The rest, in a high interest account in this country, the money is still growing. There will be more than enough for the three of us," said Kaetsukikko. "Besides, I am making preparations for the next party. This will come after the one next month of course. The next is to have human officials come over with their children. The one after will have humans and vampires at the same ball, which is why I am ordering this to be done now. The preparations have to start somewhere. The renovation will be after next month's ball. The equipment and appliances will be hidden well in the dungeons. You need not worry, Kain."
"Very good, hahaoya," said Kain.
Kaetsukikko smiled at him. "As for the maids, I want you to pick the top ten from each list of twenty. Then when you have picked those sixty, I will divide them into two lists, thirty in each. You will then pick the top fifteen from each. When you have done that I want to interview the thirty that you have picked. When I ask you to pick, I want you to seriously interview them. I want some of half of the maids here to be human. One of the questions you will have to ask is whether they are averse to working with the other race. Do you understand? And this last bit is more request of than order."
"Hai, hahaoya. By the way, have you noticed, Seiren's name on the list?" said Kain.
"I have, thank you for your concern," said Kaetsukikko. "I want her to try and find out as much as she can, without us giving anything away. She is one of my chosen thirty, regardless what you say. Don't worry, I will be safe. From now on, you must never mention Kiryu Zero again. He is dead or at least the hunter, Kiryu Zero is dead. And from now on I am Kaetsukikko-hime or –sama, even in this house because Seiren has agreed to enter my service today. Yes, I am mocking Kuran Kaname, almost like the old days," there was a hint of wistfulness in her voice.
"When I gave word out, I signed the posters as Servant of the Shichiyou, as you commanded. You wanted it this way, didn't you, hahaoya?" asked Kain.
"Hai, I do," said Kaetsukikko. "It will be an amusing month. Don't you think?" The question was also meant for her adoptive son, Hanabusa Aido. Although he was now her son, he still kept his given name because it was a part of him. It had been with him for the past few decades and he was determined to keep it.
"Hai, hahaoya. I wonder how Seiren will act around us," he said thoughtfully then a slow sly smile entered his features. "Oh, this will be fun."
Both Kain and Kaetsukikko felt goosebumps grow on their skin. Both hoped that whatever the impulsive boy said or did wouldn't cause too much trouble outside the castle.
Knock knock. The knocker sounded. Kain moved so fast that he nearly flew through the door. He ran down the stairs and panting slightly reached the door. He opened the door, bowing slightly. Then…
"Kain?" said a familiar female voice.
"Akatsuki Kain," he corrected her. "I am butler to the Shichiyou clan. I will take you to the drawing room to meet our mistress."
"Kaname-sama and Yuki-hime have been worried," said Seiren.
"Kuran Kaname-sama?" said Kain. "I'm sorry, but I have only been in his confidence for few occasions, though they were important." If this is the way Aido wants to play this game, I might as well play along. He walked briskly up the stairs. "I have always been waiting for my Queen to Wake, but she and her adopted son are the only ones I serve."
"Adopted son?" asked Seiren.
"Yes, her adopted son. She adopted him after he and I mated. The truth is the Queen is my cousin several times removed. I belong to the branch family. We were cut off when the main body of the clan sealed away their powers. But since the Queen has Woken I am to serve her. That was the pact; I had with Kuran Kaname-sama."
"…" Seiren knew in Vampire Customs that as long as a pact was unbroken or in-dissolved the pact would hold.
"My mistress is kind; she was raised as a human, like Yuki-hime, but her life was darker than Yuki-hime's, therefore she is stronger, emotionally and mentally. When they do meet, Yuki-hime may become unhappy. So if you still have loyalty towards her, you must comfort her. Hime-sama adopted Aido because they both pained of being alone. Aido adores his new mother and she loves him unconditionally. Aido, my love, vowed that he would deep freeze whoever tried to hurt his mother. I have no need to ask her to remove the pact anymore. She has my respect, by all she has done for us and gone through." And what she will do, in the future.
They were at the door to her room. Kain opened the door. She was a sad stately, yet warm figure sitting on a divan. Her face and hair was hidden behind a mask and veil. Kneeling at her side, with his head on her lap, was a boy with mussed up blond hair. The woman was petting his head.
"Seiren is here, Kaetsukikko-hime," said Kain.
The woman looked up, her fingers still threaded into the boy's hair. "Kain please carry our sleeping prince back to his room." She turned to Seiren. "Seiren come closer I do not bite." She could sense an almost fear radiate from Seiren. "Do I scare you? Why? I can not have you work here, if I scare you."
It was the first time Kaetsukikko had seen the other woman loose her cool.
"I don't care who you are, Kaetsukikko-hime! What have you done to Kain and Aido?" cried Seiren. As much as she wanted to suppress her fear, she knew the woman had seen part of it.
"Show some respect for our mistress," said Kain sharply. He was silenced when Kaetsukikko-hime waved him away.
"All I did was adopt Aido. As for the reason, I found that we were very alike and Kain would have less reason to leave, but I did not have to in order to make Kain stay. All I had to do was trust him and be honest with him because that was all he wanted from me. I told him that I preferred that he not use the honorific when we were in private, which means when I have no guests in the building. I have no need for it. If you stay that is what you will do. I also let him know my reasons for adopting Aido, what I have just told you, plus the fact that I have been alone for a long time," said Kaetsukikko.
"How can you be so honest with your servants?" asked Seiren aghast. She realized that this was one of the reasons why she was so afraid. Another was because even though Kaetsukikko would not lie, she would also withhold information, without second thought. If anyone were to lie in this household, it would be Kain and Aido. She could tell that Kain respected the woman and Aido adored his adoptive mother. They would do anything to protect her. Seiren gritted her teeth. The mission Kaname-sama gave her, she began to see how almost impossible it was.
Kaetsukikko asked, "Are you alright, Seiren? Shall I call Kain to show you to your room?"
"Yes," gasped Seiren. How do I get the information? She is protected. I do not know her voice or face. How much does she know about me? If I had known Kain and Aido were here and related to her I would not have signed up for this without disguising myself.
Seiren snapped out of her thoughts, when Kain grabbed her by the arm and brought her to her room. Then she realized that he was talking to her.
"Sorry, I did not hear what you just said, Kain," she said.
"My room is that one." He pointed at it. "It is beside Kaetsukikko-hime's. The prince's room is next to it."
"Kain," she asked softly. "Have you really forgotten about Kaname-sama?"
"No," he said. "But my place is here. I am sorry if I have offended you. I had to test you for the sake of my mistress. I know what you came to do, but as long as you work here and find nothing, then there is no need for me to report something that my mistress already knows to her."
"She is mocking Kaname-sama!" She said. She tried to punch the boy next to her, but her hand was caught and he pulled both her arms behind her and pushed her with his knee into the floor.
"I will have to send you back to the Kuran estates wounded, if you keep insulting our mistress under this roof," his voice was even, as if he was just making a statement. But Seiren knew better. The words and the position they were in at the moment told her that it was a threat. He had her pinned to the wall.
"Very well," she said her voice just as even. "I will tell him just what happened exactly as it is as of now. Then I plan on staying until the month is out as was my contract with our mistress."
A gasp made both Seiren and Kain turn. They saw Aido rooted to the spot, a thousand emotions written across his face. He was mortified. The boy turned and ran towards his mother's rooms. Once inside, he rushed to his mother's side. She was taking off her veil and unclipping her hair. Her long silver hair flowed down to her ankles. She sighed and clipping her hair back up and pulled the veil over her hair. She wrapped her arms around him. She pulled him into seated position on her lap.
"Child, what bothers you?" asked Kaetsukikko.
"She wants Kain!" wailed Aido.
"Kain loves you. He adores you. Why would he betray you? You are impulsive and brash, but delicate. It makes people want to protect you. You are caring and loyal. Then tell, why Kain would betray you. I am sure it is just a misunderstanding."
"I-I used to flirt with all the ladies even…after…we…" said Aido. He helped her put her veil and mask back on.
The door opened with a bang. "Hana!" Kain was using the nickname he always used to call Aido. He practically crossed the room in four steps. He knelt in front of the mother and child. "Forgive me. I gave you the wrong impression." He reached for Aido's hand and caught it in his own. He kissed the back of the boy's hand and looked up. Aido's lips were fixed in a cute little pout. He took this as an invitation to sweep Aido off his mother's lap and pull him into a chaste kiss. "Ready to forgive me now?" he asked.
"No," said Aido pouting still.
"And now?" He twirled around the boy around then pulled the boy down into a dip.
"Yes," laughed Aido breathlessly.
The Queen clapped her hands. "Very good," she said laughing. "I never knew you would do something so drastic to regain my baby's favour."
Kain flushed with pride. He had made his sad and lonely mistress laugh. It was an enormous feat because she had never laughed ever, especially when she was still Zero Kiryu. He released Aido's waist, then intertwined their fingers. They looked each other deep in the eyes smiling.
"Thank you," he said. They bowed together.
It caused the Queen to laugh again. It was a beautiful sound, like bells chiming.
Standing outside, listening through the open door was Seiren. She knocked the door to announce her presence. She walked in, her head held high, until she reached Aido and Kain. She bowed her head. "I am sorry if I had caused you sadness, otome-sama (prince)."
She walked a little further, curtsied to the Queen. "I am sorry for hurting your son, Kaetsukikko-hime (princess). Please forgive me."
The Queen touched her head with her hand. "You are forgiven," said the Queen. "But it means nothing, coming from me. What do you say, Aido?"
"I-I…I can't forgive you. You came to spy for Kuran-san! You are lucky Seiren. I will not kill you for old time's sake. If I or Kain finds out you have been giving information to him, I will personally kill you, even if hahaoya says no. Even if…even if it means war!"
"Do not say things you will regret!" snapped the Queen. "I do not want you to have to pay for it." Her voice softened considerably. "You are the most precious person in my life now. I will not survive if you are killed."
"Seiren, come with me. Let us leave them for now, until they both cool down," said Kain.
"…" Seiren said nothing. She certainly had not come here to cause pain to blossom in the heart of the Vampire Queen. "It seems I can not do the job that Kaname-sama has given me. I can give him the information I already have but no more. It is better that I leave."
"No," said Kain. "Stay here for the month. There are things that need to be done. But first tell me how Kuran-san is and how is his wife."
"Kaname-sama and Yuki-hime are doing fine. Kaname-sama is still searching for the whereabouts of Kiryu Zero. So that he can be executed before our race can be."
"And?" Snicker. If only those fools knew. Oh they will and it will pretty amusing to see. Ah, there might be blood, but with me and Aido guarding our Queen, to hide the true capacity of her strength, there will not be that much blood. They would not know what hit them.
"His scent and all traces of him disappeared, not far from here. At the old Kiryu manor, but it had been burned down. The villagers said that they spotted a lithe young man dressed in black from head to toe light a torch. They tried to catch this man, but when they caught up. They caught sight of this young man's face. They said that he was a vampire because of his fangs and his red eyes. All traces of that man's scent are gone."
"Ah." Fools that was me.
"Were you even listening?" asked Seiren angrily.
"Yes. I was."
"You never change do you? Always as emotionless and I can never get a reaction from you," she said sighing.
"Anything else, you must tell me about Kiryu?"
"No."
"Then about how Kuran-san and his wife?"
"I told you they are fine," snapped Seiren. "How many times must I answer?"
"Very good, I was not listening when you said that the first time," he said. "Your first job is to get this invitation to Kuran-san and to convince him to come. Do you like the seal? The roses and vines are symbolic of our Queen. The other monarchs each have a different personalization of their own on their seals," said Kain.