Chapter 19

A few nights later, all the preparations were done and the castle was fully renovated. Bathing suits were pulled out because Kaetsukikko wanted to go swimming. Only Ruka did not know how swim; she settled for moon bathing. Despite having an aversion to water, Kain was forced to swim by his shorter blonde mate.

They entered greenhouse, which was divided into two rooms-one that housed plants and the other housed the pool. Upon entering the room with the pool, Kaetsukikko jumped into the pool. Her back arched; she entered the pool gracefully and she swam like a dolphin back to the surface. She broke to the surface and saw their astounded faces.

"Where did you learn to do that?" asked Hanabusa.

"Hunter training," said Kaetsukikko, as if waving it off. "We had to learn to fight on land in the water. They taught us to swim. I haven't done this in a while, but it seems I'm not rusty at all. C'mon in." She was becoming more relaxed around them and dropped formality, which she deemed was troublesome. Splash! She got them all wet. And yes, she cheated by manipulating the water. She laughed as Hanabusa jumped in with a splash, spraying her. "Let's get them!" she said.

"Yea," said Hanabusa.

They manipulated the water, to pull them all into the water.

"Now that we are all, let's play water volleyball," said Hanabusa. "Let's divvy up into teams!"

They played water volleyball for four hours before they got bored. Besides they were hungry. Luckily, they had brought blood tablets and potable water with them so there was no need to dry off then put on the discarded clothes then head back to the castle. After, they ate-drank the blood tablets, they swam for real and had a competition to see who was the fastest and no surprise, when Hanabusa, Kaetsukikko and Kaname tied for first place. The big surprise was that Kain got in second. When the competition ended, they dried off using Kain's fire, which exhausted him, after swimming and playing water volleyball, so he leaned on Hanabusa when they walked back. Kaetsukikko stayed in the greenhouse, planting roses. Instead of watering them with water, she watered them with her own blood. The roses were breeds that she created that need blood as nourishment. They were black, purple pink, orange, red, white or silver. They glowed in the moonlight.

"My blood children," she murmured smiling.

"Hey," said Kaname. "You look a bit pale." He had caught the scent of her blood and he could recognize it anywhere.

She turned and smiled at him. He heard the sound of blood dripping onto the ground. He grabbed the hand that she was hiding from her. It was dripping blood and his was smeared in blood. "What are you doing?"

"Giving my roses the nourishment they need," she murmured, before she slumped into his shoulder feeling faint.

"You shouldn't do this," he said. What am I going to do with you, if you keep doing this.

As if sensing his thought, she protested, "They look better than normal rose and are stronger too."

"Yes, but they are vampire roses," he said.

"Well, yes…still, they are beautiful aren't they?" said Kaetsukikko.

"How can they be killed?" said Kaname.

"Why?" cried Kaetsukikko horrified.

"They are draining your blood. They are harming you health. I can't watch you do this to yourself," said Kaname.

"But…" seeing the worried the look in his eyes, she relented and said, "They are weak against sunlight. I was going to cover them with that cloth. Let me guess, you won't let me."

"That's right," replied Kaname. "I never want to see you hurt again."

"That's sweet of you," said Kaetsukikko, as Kaname pulled her hand upward then pressed the wound to his lips. He licked away the blood as it healed. "Thank you." She smiled brightly at him.

"I don't mind having to save you," said Kaname. "But it hurts to see you create the danger yourself."

"Gomen," she said looking at the ground.

"It's okay. I've got you," said Kaname. He pulled her chin up and saw that her lips were drawn in a pout. "You're so beautiful." He said, as he captured her lips with his own. Her now healed hand was wrapped in his. Her other hand was on his shoulder. His other hand was at the small of her back, supporting her. She pulled away and laughed. The sound of her laughter was a tinkle of bells, running water and bird song. He smiled at her then picked her up, bridle style back into the castle, where they returned to their rooms. Facing the door was the original portrait of Kuran Ryuuken and Shichiyou Tsukiyou was proudly displayed next to one of Kuran Kaname and Shichiyou Kaetsukikko. They looked at the portraits then shared a smile. Kaetsukikko could have sworn that Tsukiyou winked at her through the painting. The sun was just rising and the light shone into the building. After watching the sun rise fully, with her husband, Kaetsukikko closed the blinds.

"I love you," said Kaetsukikko.

"I love you, too," said Kaname, his arms around her and his face buried in her long silver hair. He pulled her toward the bed. She laughed when they fell on it.

"We still have to change," she said pouting. "You got the sheets dirty!" she scolded.

"Hai, hai, you win," said Kaname getting off the bed.

"That's better," she said happily. She helped him unbutton his shirt. One of her creamy white hand lingered on his shoulder, as she helped him take it off. He pulled her flush into his sculpted chest. She gasped, blushing.

"You're cute when you blush," he said kissing her.

"…" Her blush deepened. She looked into his eyes and saw desire and love in them. Her lips parted. Despite having their first blood bond, long ago, before it was severed, they never consummated the bond or their love, as they were both deeply in denial.

"Ahem!" coughed Kain. "I am sorry to disturb you, but Kurosu Kaien Rijichi is here to see you, Kaname-sama and you too, Kaetsukikko-hime."

"I'm coming! Geez! Can't the jiji (grandpa) just contact us some other time, when it is more convenient?!" cried Kaetsukikko.

Kain face faulted and sweat dropped. He had forgotten how Zero used to disrespect his adoptive father and had not expected Kaetsukikko to do the same since Zero/Kaetsukikko had changed since the seal broke. The door slammed in his face.

"Here," said Kaetsukikko as she threw something decent at Kaname, but it just smacked him in the face because he was shocked by the turn of events and was disappointed that he wouldn't be getting some tonight. "Hey!" She waved a hand in front of his face. "Whatever." She walked into the bathroom, leaving door slightly ajar on purpose. Kaname snapped out of his blank state, when he heard the water running. He knocked on the door, but succeeded only to push it open more. A pair of mercury eyes blinked at him innocently. She pushed her body lower into the tub, so that she was covered in soap from neck down. Her hair was wet. "The shower's over there," she said nodding her head towards the left. Her bathtub was situated next to the shower stall. She had put the screen between the tub and shower stall, so that when they got out nude, they wouldn't see each other. She was wise to his intentions.

"There isn't time for that," she said. "Hurry up, if you want to be clean, when we see jiji."

"Aish," said Kaname. She saw right through me.

"What are you still standing there for, geez!" cried Kaetsukikko. "Lock the door and get in the shower!"

He didn't answer. He just locked the door and got into the shower. When he finished, she was sitting on the bed, waiting for him. Her hair was tied up in a Heidi braid, then spun into a bun at the nape of her neck. There were white ribbons spun into her hair as well.

"How did you finish so fast?" asked Kaname.

"I had help from Meiyu and Uruki," said Kaetsukikko simply. "If you need, I can get Kain to help you."

"No, that is fine," said Kaname, putting on a black shirt and white pants.

She handed him a white tie, but he declined and just pulled her up then gave her a kiss filled with passion. She pulled away before the kiss could become anymore heated.

She glared at him saying, "Didn't I say we had no time for that?" Each word was accentuated by a finger poking him in the chest.

When Kaname and Kaetsukikko reached the drawing room…

"Zero!!!" cried Kurosu Kaien, pulling his adoptive 'son' into a hug.

"What the hell jiji?!" shouted Kaetsukikko. "A little help here," she said looking at the occupants of the room desperately. To that they shook their heads. "Wonderful. Just wonderful," she muttered. "I wonder who's going to get…"

Kaien let go immediately, as if burned. "That worked nicely!" said Kaetsukikko brightly. "Now to business, what made you come at such an inconvenient time?"

"Well…you see there are going to be some few new students entering the Night Class and the Day Class. A few students in particular, I must talk to you of…" said Kaien. "I do not know where to start."

"Well," said Kaetsukikko testily. "Go on, or I might have to make you leave because my patience is running thin."