Chapter 14
"I thought I wasn't wanted, so why are you all here?" she said blinking.
Yes, everyone else had entered, when they heard that Hio Shizuka had arrived.
"You are wanted here," said Kaname, his voice cracking.
"Not by you," Kaetsukikko whispered.
The nobles gasped, they had not known of the ex-human hunter, who was really the pureblood heir to the monarchy's relationship with Kuran Kaname. They were now getting a glimpse of it.
"Leave," said Kain. "You have no business here. You will be notified if anything goes wrong."
"But…" said a Shirabuki Sara. She wanted to get her hands on as much dirt as she could, so that she could gossip with friends that were not present, those who had gone home after the failed ball and revelation.
"Get out," snarled Hanabusa.
"Hai." None dared to oppose the blonde boy. He was dangerous. "That's better," he sighed.
"It will not be for long because he comes," said Shizuka darkly. "Hime-sama, I am sorry for all I have done to you and your family. I know there is nothing I can do to make you forgive me, but let me fight by your side because Kuran Rido has risen again."
At this the blood drained from Kaname's face, but he was already very pale due to grief and guilt.
"Hime-sama!" cried a guard. "Something terrible is coming from the North blotting out all light.
"He is here," said Kaetsukikko. "Get ready all of you!" It was an order that none could disobey. She got off the bed and stumbled. With a burst of speed beyond his normal capacities, he caught just before she fell onto the floor. Her breath caught, when she looked into his eyes. Red-brown met mercury. She blushed and turned away. He was not her man, anymore. It was inappropriate to blush for him. But…
"Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww," said everyone. "How cute."
"I wonder how long it will last this time," said Hanabusa sarcastically.
"That is uncalled for Hanabusa," said Ruka shaking a finger at him.
"What I was just saying what everyone's thinking," said Hanabusa innocently.
"Shut up!" said Shizuka. "You are ruining a moment." She got all starry in the eye.
Kaname turned Kaetsukikko's face towards his. "I'm sorry," he said, kissing her on the lips, or at least tried to, but she blocked him with a hand.
"Put me down," said Kaetsukikko.
"No," said Kaname. "No until you hear me out."
"Kaname, do you think we have time for such illogicality?" said Kaetsukikko her voice dripping with acid.
Kuran Kaname winced. She was right. She always was. Even then…He said, "Very well, when this is over, I will be waiting."
"That's a promise," she gave him her pinkie. "If all of us survive, I will give you one more chance. Pinkie swear?"
His smiled and crossed his pinkie with hers.
"To battle!" cried Kaetsukikko. "Yuki get over here! We took him down once, we will do it again.
Outside, Kuran Rido and his army of resurrected level E's, plus the Vampire Council were marching for revenge. They razed villages, towns and cities, all the way toward the castle. Those who were weak-minded and afraid to die joined their ranks.
The darkness seemed to get more oppressing, even though the storm had long stopped, since Kaetsukikko woke from her self-imposed sleep.
Kaetsukikko-hime lead her forces with Kuran Yuki and Tsukiru Shiroi flanked by Akatsuki Kain and Aido Hanabusa. Her maids Boa, Meiyu, Uruki and Xiao Mei were on either side of her. Boa and Meiyu were beside Yuki, Uruki and Xiao Mei were beside Hanabusa. Kaname was leading Ichijou Takuma, Senri Shiki, Seiren and Souen Ruka.
"Where are you aiming?" laughed a level E with flaming red hair maniacally, when bullets from Boa's minigun missed their target.
"Damn he's fast," muttered Boa.
"You need help Boa-chan?" asked Meiyu.
"No," said Boa.
"Whatever," said Uruki. "Over here crap-face!"
"Now's your chance," said Meiyu.
"Thanks," said Boa reluctantly. She pulled the trigger and emptied several rounds into the level E's back. When he finally kicked the bucket, she sighed. Thousand or more to go. Yay!
The millions were reduced by one thousandth by the burning and freezing of Kain and Hanabusa, who were standing back to back.
"Oh shit, where's hime-sama?" cried Xiao Mei, she held her Kwan Dao in a horizontal position, with the blade in front. They had gotten separated from her. Xiao Mei ducked and swung her Kwan Dao around with both hands, in a spinning motion. Three Level Es that were closing in on her were executed by decapitation.
"Over there!" cried Boa. She pointed at the flash of metal and blurs of white, black and red.
Kaetsukikko was the flash of white, still in her nightgown; Yuki was the flash of red, in one of her gowns and Kuran Rido was in his black suit and cape. The flash of metal was Yuki's scythe-Artemis Rod and Kaetsukikko's "Bloody Rose", now a silver rifle.
"We can't get close," cried Uruki. "It's too dangerous," added Meiyu, she and her sister sheathed their sai.
"How irresponsible," said Tsukiru Shiroi. "Our job is to protect our Queen."
By then all the level E had been taken care of and all had turned their attention to watch Kaetsukikko and Yuki. And they were not faring well. They had not landed any blows on Kuran Rido yet, and it had already been three hours, since they had been locked in combat with him. Kuran Rido did not show signs of tiring, but Kaetsukikko and Yuki did. They were both panting. Kaetsukikko was feeling strain from reigning in his powers. Should I use my powers? She and Yuki looked at each other, then…
"Are you up to it?" said Yuki. Tsukiyou.
"Are you challenging me?" asked Kaetsukikko. Tsukikuro.
Kuran Rido was confused for a second, but then he attacked anyway, while both girls were distracted. He ran Yuki's stomach through with his arm. She was stunned, but then she coughed up blood. Blood was dripping from the corner of her mouth and from the wound in her abdominal area, when Kuran Rido pulled out his arm. Yuki's body was immediately encased in ice by Kaetsukikko, so that she would survive until she was ready to be treated, which meant that Rido had to be defeated first. Rido marched toward Kaetsukikko.
"Why did you save the girl that betrayed you?" rasped Rido.
"She is my friend," said Kaetsukikko simply. She was backing away from him.
"Do I scare you?" asked Rido.
"No," said Kaetsukikko. "I am simply looking for an area that will work to my advantage, but sadly there seems to be no such area here." She sighed. "I suppose we have to do this the hard way." She snapped her fingers and rose vines began shooting out of the ground, binding Kuran Rido in place. She cocked her rifle, the Bloody Rose and pulled the trigger. She aimed at his heart. The bullet went through the target spraying blood over the battle field. The bullet finally stopped, when it hit a tree. Unfortunately, Kuran Rido wanted a new vessel. This time, he was targeting poor Kaetsukikko. She knew a split second before he entered her mind, what his purpose was.
Kaetsukikko was sitting on a bed in a clearing in the middle of a forest. The landscape in her mind had become more peaceful since her encounter with Yuki there. The sun was shining, as was the moon and the stars were out. The sound of water trickling resounded as did the roaring of a fire and there was a summer breeze. There were plenty of roses growing in this clearing, surrounding the bed.
Darkness came from the North. Kaetsukikko shivered. What is this feeling? It seems my power is dying. No, it is being corrupted. She pulled her knees to her chest. That was when she saw him, with dual-colours in his eyes. That man, he is a threat, why can't I remember why? What is this feeling in my chest?
Kuran Rido said 'My dear, revive my body and you will have what you heart desires.'
'No!' cried Kaetsukikko. 'I may not remember who you are, but I will not do that for you. Your presence reeks of darkness. I will not bend to your wicked mind.'
'No?' said Kuran Rido. 'Then my dear, I will have to use force.' He crossed the clearing. As he did the rose wilted. The sound of water and fire faded into a cacophony of screams and shrieks. Kaetsukikko shivered. What was left of her power protected her by creating a barrier of ice, rose vines and thorns, a ring of fire and wind began blowing.
In the real world, Kaetsukikko opened her eyes. Dual-tone eyes and twisted smirk made those Kaetsukikko's followers shiver with fear. Oh shit. What happened to the Queen? How could she give in so easily? But then again the lady's mental and emotional health was weak, but not awry. There was nothing they could do, but pray that their lady could hear them and wake up or that God would hear them and save them.
Doomedpassion: Gotta love these dialogue lines: "Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww," said everyone. "How cute." and "I wonder how long it will last this time," said Hanabusa sarcastically."