Title: Visitors from the Future
Genre: General/Romance/Friendship
Rating: T
Pairings: Zero/Kaname
Disclaimer: No, I do not own Vampire Knights. It belongs to Hino Matsuri - I only borrow the characters from the series and use it in my own fic. However, I do own the three original characters & the Fujiwara Clan featured in this story.
Author's notes: So the twins' are playing match-makers for their Aunt Risa and Uncle Takuma… Kaname cannot keep his hands off his beautiful Zero XD Ichiru and Maria is getting engaged… what else is there…and warning in advance, the trio going back to future soon. Then it's time for sequel
Chapter 51 – Ichiru & Maria engagement and the preparation for the new school term…
The engagement party for Ichiru and Maria Kurenai was a small and cozy event, as compared to the party that Kaname had organized for the sake of introducing Yuuki into the night-society. The only pureblood family which the Kurenai had it in them to invite for the event was the Kuran's, and that was by Maria's insistence.
The rest of the guests were mainly business partners of the Kurenai and the Hiou, seeing as how the Kurenai was related to the Hiou – Shizuru was also present for the party. In fact, she was also representing the Fujiwara at the same time. Of course, by inviting the Kuran – it basically also means inviting the majority of the night-class members. Since neither of them were going to let the pureblood wander off without any escort, and since the invitation card specify the '& family' – Zero was automatically considered as part of it.
Zero arrived at the venue together with the night-class members, the twins have been left behind in the Kuran's estate with Akane and Sayori to look after them. Matsushita Ayano, on the other hand, arrived at the site together with Zero and the night-class members. Being the only human among the vampires, she definitely managed to gain more attention to herself than she desired.
"A-ra, Ayano-san… you are finally here. Ichiru was just asking about when you would be popping by, earlier on." The sound of Maria Kurenai rang out clearly, drawing every guest's attention towards her as she made a move to approach Ayano.
"Good evening, Maria-sama. I hoped I wasn't intruding?" Matsushita Ayano greeted the fifteen year old vampire female, politely.
"No… no, you are most definitely not intruding on us. In fact, I am quite glad that you can make it in time. The thing is, half the crowd here was waiting in line to speak to Ichiru about future collaboration works – and sad to say, I don't get the slightest hint of what exactly was being said and exchanged between both parties." Maria Kurenai responded, as she started to lead Ayano towards the place where Ichiru Kiryuu was stationed. After which, she came back to where Yuuki stood and chatted with the pureblood princess instead.
The engagement party lasted for a total of three hours, and 80% of the time were spend mingling and interacting with the guests present for the event. Kaname did some socializing on his part with Martin Kurenai and his wife, the former Masumi Hiou. However, it was the Kiryuu twins that ended up doing most of the socializing task that evening.
For the party, Yuuki stayed with Maria for most of the evening while Kaname Kuran goes around with Zero by his side mingling and interacting with guests and potential business partners. Ichiru, on the other hand, was mostly by the side of Martin Kurenai and meeting business partners discussing future possible collaboration work with Ayano in tow.
"I'm afraid you would need to consult my brother on this, I had no inkling as to the happenings in the cultural sector of the business." Zero told one of the guests who tried to strike up a conversation with him, politely while resisting his urge to put on his scowling look.
On the other side of the event hall, Ichijo Takuma – who was standing by the side engaging small conversation with his pals was suddenly approached by a middle-aged man. The man introduced himself as Shinomiya and claimed to say that he had a business idea to share with Ichijo Takuma, wishing to get some opinions from the said heir of Ichijo Enterprise.
"Shinomiya-san, I believed it would be best for you to share that idea of yours when you dropped by the company for a chat. Today's the engagement party of Maria Kurenai and Ichiru Kiryuu; I hardly think it's an occasion to bring up discussion of business ideas in detail." Risa Miyazaki cut in pointedly, as she handed a newly printed business card of the green eyed blond over to the man swiftly.
"Phew! Thank you." Ichijo Takuma whispered in relief, he was nearly stumped just now when the man bring up the business idea with the intention to chat about it, right there and then. He was still quite new with the business concepts and all, he hardly think he would be able to make any sense out of the business idea that man was talking about – and would no doubt make a fool of himself if Risa did not intervened in time.
"You're welcome…" Risa said in response, as she handed over a champagne flute filled with champagne to the blond to soothe his nerves.
Luckily, following the departure of that man – no one else in the party had the idea in mind to approach Ichijo Takuma for any form of business talk. Most of them had flocked over to the side of the Kurenai when the father of Maria Kurenai started to bring up the topic of how Ichiru was going to assist them in the managing of the family business in the Kurenai Clan now that the younger Kiryuu was engaged to Maria Kurenai.
On the way back to the Kuran's estate, Zero had a glum look on his features throughout the journey. He had never enjoy doing socializing work, but for tonight he had forced himself to reign in his temper as the number of guests tried to engage him in small talks and friendly conversation. All of these were done in consideration of his twin's plight.
"You know I was wondering about something." Ichijo Takuma suddenly spoke up, drawing both Kaname and Zero's attention to him.
"About what exactly?" Aidou Hanabusa prompted.
"How nobody had think it weird for Zero and Kaname to be sticking together throughout the party…" Ichijo Takuma responded, nonchalantly.
"…" Now that Ichijo had brought up the issue, the other three aristocrats' shifted their curious gaze upon their leader and the silver-haired guardian instantly.
"This is the engagement party of my brother, I'm bound to be here – no? As for me attending the event with the night-class in tow, I'm a guardian for Cross Academy – when the hell did you people attend a party without me in tow over the past few years?" Zero arched an eyebrow up in question, as he regarded the four aristocrats in front of him.
For tonight's event, only Ichijo Takuma; Aidou Hanabusa; Akatsuki Kain and Ruka Souen had come along with them. Shiki Senri and Touya Rima had a job in town, and were unable to make it. Seiren was sends out by Kaname to keep an eye on the council team, the restructuring process of the vampire council was finally starting and wanting to prevent any more hiccups during the grouping of the members' – the pureblood had send his most trusted subordinate out to act as a proxy. Therefore, Risa Miyazaki was taking up Seiren's role as Kaname's bodyguard for the day.
"Takuma, stop poking around for gossips and simply mind your own business – will you?" Kaname started, although he had been parading around the area with Zero nearly attached to his hips – hoping that someone would have it in mind to question them of their constant togetherness. Unfortunately, neither of them had it in them to ask or even hint about it. Most of the guests are more interested in inquiring him of the future prospects of Kuran Incorporation and not to forget dropping subtle hints on seeking a potential union with the Kuran Clan princess.
With that, the journey back to the Kuran's estate was back down in silence – no one dared to challenge the pureblood's orders after all.
Back in the Kurenai's estate, the moment the last guest departed and vanishes from sight – Ichiru Kiryuu's face took on the expression of lethargy. The last three hours was a torturing session for him to endure, because of his twin's presence – he had remained smiling throughout the whole party as he was introduced to those business partners of the Hiou and the Kurenai. He supposed he had Zero to thank for his plight; his twin had nearly sends every guest that is seeking information pertaining to future collaboration opportunity his way – instead of helping him fending off them.
"Tired…?" The sound of Maria Kurenai addressing him jarred him out from his thoughts as he shifted his eyes towards his little fiancée.
"I'm fine, how are you feeling?" Ichiru asked back in return, unlike him – Maria was just recovering from a serious case of influenza several days ago.
"I'm okay… all I've been doing was to chit-chat with the ladies tonight, you have it worst. Dad was adamant on having you meeting all his business partners, and company's workers for tonight." Maria responded softly as she averted her eyes from the silver-haired teen.
"Nevertheless, fending off the ladies' gossiping questions was not an easy task to perform from what I've known." Ichiru commented in a deadpanned manner, he was more than willing to bet that the ladies were grilling his fiancée for details of their 'romance' – not that there has been any.
"I simply told them I met you through a family friend, and have been smitten by you ever since then." Maria responded honestly, and so far only Yuuki knows the extent of how much truth was held in that sentence.
"Indeed…come on, let's get you settled down for the night first – I still have to see your father in the family's Study." Ichiru responded, giving Maria a small smile of encouragement.
The Kiryuu-Kurenai engagement was never a romance event; it was merely an arrangement of convenience. Martin Kurenai was looking for someone whom would be able to take over his business when the time comes for him to retire, and Maria obviously knows nothing about such matters and partly also because of her weak body constitutions. There is also a fact that the Kurenai valued their daughter's opinion above anything else – and they truly wanted Maria to be happy in life. Therefore, Ichiru was chosen among other potential suitors for the daughter of the Kurenai Clan.
Ichiru, himself had agreed to the idea because he wanted to do away with the hassle of finding him-self a bride when the time comes for it. Political union is common, especially in the upper class society – be it the humans or vampires world. With his 'hardly care less' attitude, there would be a day whereby he would be subjected to an arranged marriage in time to come. Since it was bound to happen eventually, he would definitely want to get someone who is not after the fortune behind his heritage or simply just wanted him for his looks. Therefore, when Martin Kurenai broached the topic of engaging Maria to him – he had agreed after taking a moment to think things over.
With Maria, things are easier to cope with – the girl was familiar enough with him and vice versa. The two of them had first known each other through Shizuka Hiou; and the four years that Shizuka had spend in hiding was actually within the Kurenai's estate. While the Kurenai couple had no idea that the 'mad blooming princess' was actually using their daughter's body as a host of sort – they had an idea about Shizuka Hiou dropping by while they were out to pay a visit to their daughter. Since that was practically when Ichiru had started to come and go easily on their estate grounds, they merely thought he was there acting as a messenger from the mad blooming princess then.
With the engagement party of the Kiryuu-Kurenai over – the month of May comes along soon enough. The majority of the students of Cross Academy had by then received the official notification for them to return to school by the 12th of May to prepare for the new school term.
The notification was handed over to the night-class members by Chairman Cross, himself as there are obviously new adjustments to be done to the night-class students' attendance list.
There are a total of three new transfer students into the night-class when the new term begins, among them included Yuuki who will be transferring from the day-class to the night-class, and two other students from Fujiwara Gakuen. Both of them of aristocrat status, and were both subordinates to the pureblood clan of Fujiwara.
Sakaki Miyako and Tachibana Kenjiro; both of them are sixteen years old in terms of vampire's age and were loyal to the Fujiwara since the very beginning. They were sends to the Cross Academy to guide Zero and to familiarize the silver-haired teen with the family businesses. At least, that was the reason provided to Chairman Cross when Fujiwara Yuka rang him up several days ago and faxed the list of transfers' students over to the Cross Academy.
"Zero, what do you know about them?" Kaname questioned, handing the profiles of the new transfer students of the night-class over to his lover for reference.
"Nothing much, except that they were very loyal to the Fujiwara since the Heian period. Funny that Yuka would send them over, they are kind of like Ichijo and Aidou to you … in a way. Well, either way I reckon I would need to speak with them before making any assumptions to the reason behind their transfer…" Zero shrugged as he handed the profile back to Kaname Kuran, while he took a seat next to the pureblood and waited for further topic of discussion to be brought up by Kaien Cross.
"Right, anyway – the school has decided to start a new system. It will take over the current guardian's system in place; it is called the Student's Council. What do you think about it?" Kaien Cross said then, glancing specifically at Zero while he did so.
"Student's Council … I'm okay with it, I assumed that was the Fujiwara's opinion on the school's management issues?" Zero questioned.
"Why, yes… they say it's better if we could have a whole team to handle vampires-humans relationship on campus rather than relying on simply two guardians to maintain peace and harmony on school grounds." The Chairman responded.
"Well, it could work – I'm assuming that those who kept their memories intact from the fiasco earlier on would be a part of the council?" Zero commented.
"Yes, that is what we are planning to do… but the overall in charge would be you and Wakaba Sayori – that's who I have in mind to take over Yuuki's position." The Chairman added towards the end of the statement.
"I'm alright with your choice of candidate if the person in question had no objections to it." Zero said, while he could simply order for the girl to take up the role – he wanted the girl to make her own decision in it instead.
"I'm okay with the arrangement, if that means I could keep my room free from the dormitory manager's inspection round." Wakaba Sayori hurried to interject.
"Ah… no need to worry, the members' of the student's council would be shifting into the newly built dormitory building so there would be no inspection checks then." The Chairman hurried to reassure.
"I see… if that's all – may I be excused?" Wakaba Sayori started then, she felt so uncomfortable being the only human saved from Chairman Cross within the pureblood's Study.
"Sure, go ahead but leave behind the analysis of the last quarter sales' record for Fujiwara Electronics behind – I would like to do a screen through later on." Zero instructed.
"Will do, if there's nothing else – I shall take my leave now." Sayori nodded, before making her polite exit from the Study within the Kuran's estate.
The next two weeks was spend packing up and readying themselves for the trip back to the academy grounds, Akane ended up having to help her cousin packed because Ichijo Takuma was too swamped with his inheritances matters that he did not have time for packing at all. Every morning from 6.a.m. to 8.a.m…he would be stuck in cram school with Zero doing business fundamentals modules; from 9.a.m. onwards till noon – he would need to be in the building of Ichijo Enterprise to familiarize himself with the company's work.
From the said blond arrived back from office, he was half-dead to the world – sleeping off in 'la-la-land'. By the time he woke, it was about late evening and he need to read up on books on business management and spend time over case study situations that he barely had time for his precious mangas.
Akane really pity Takuma for it, but she was in no position to help – rather, she cannot help because Zero forbidden her to do so. However, Zero sends Risa Miyazaki over to assist her dear cousin so as to minimize the stress level on the blond. Nevertheless, Ichijo Takuma still had to end up sorting through half the work by his own means without any assistance from outsiders.
"Zero… I don't understand; why do you keep on insisting that I do everything on my own?" Ichijo Takuma finally had it in him to ask – one day before they are scheduled to return to the academy grounds.
"Simple, this is your family business – you need to learn and make your own decision. I forbid Akane to help you in any sense because there might be a conflict of interest, I am certain that you know company's documents are kept confidential to an extent. Besides, the Ichijo Takuma from her time back then has no one to help him with the business so I don't see any reason why you should engage outsiders' assistance to do it. I'm already making an exception to allow Risa to assist you on the sorting of documents, filings and scheduling matters – anything else more than that extent are highly frown upon." Zero responded in a logical manner.
"But… but you have people helping you, isn't it?" The green eyed blond protested in a half-whine manner.
"True, but Sayori doesn't make any decision on my behalf saved for all the socializing trips. Any decision making task I have to handle it by myself, if I can't – I would seek others' opinions. However, those opinions came from the company's management team – I would suggest for you to do the same. But I know it's difficult for you to do so, unlike the Fujiwara – the management team members of the Ichijo Enterprise consist of your grandfather's supporters and it is hard to gain recognition from their part and therefore you have no one to rely upon."
"Exactly, so how should I go about it then?" Ichijo Takuma frowned, throwing a look of annoyance down at the folder he was scanning through. As much as he hated to admit it, he was stuck – and consulting Kaname was out of the question. The pureblood was equally busy with his family businesses to be any aid for his problems, besides the issues between Kuran's Incorporation and Ichijo Enterprise was messy enough – he does not want to mess it up further.
"Your grandfather's supporters have children or even grand-children – right?" Zero questioned.
"Well… yes…why did you ask?"
"The elderly members in the family would one of these days kicked the bucket, am I right to say that?" Zero asked again.
"Yes, that's an understatement – isn't it?"
"How close or rather are you on good terms with the younger generations of those members on your grandfather's company management team?" Zero asked next.
"Good enough, I supposed…" Ichijo Takuma answered, before a light of recognition dawns in on him. "So you want me to approach them for opinions?"
"Exactly, socializing is always a part of business deals and strengthening ties between partners in business. There is no way that the elder generations are going to agree to your opinions, so try to get your hands on the younger ones. Revamping and restructuring was never done in an instant, it usually takes years to establish the fact – my advices for you now were to lie low and then strike when the opportunity comes about." Zero responded, patting the green eyed blond in an encouraging gesture on the shoulders before he left the dining room.
"Bloody hell… how on earth did Zero manage to gets so familiar with business management this fast?" Takuma could not help but wondered aloud in disbelief.
"His knowledge was there before; just need some refreshing – that's all. His mother holds a degree in the fields of business management and a diploma in marketing. In fact, Fujiwara Yukari used to hold the position of operations manager in Fujiwara Electronics Private Limited prior to her marriage with Kiryuu Kaoru, it was only then that she converted to doing full-time hunting job." Risa Miyazaki supplied helpfully as she entered the dining room.
"How did you know that?" Ichijo Takuma questioned with an arch of the eyebrow.
"My late mother – Fujiwara Ami worked under Yukari-san for a period of ten years before my father had it in him to take her on as a mistress after turning her in his drunken state…" Risa responded wistfully, before steering the topic away from her parentage's issue.
Unlike Ichijo Takuma, Kaname Kuran had an easier time sifting through his family businesses matters. Although, this was nothing he was familiar with in his past life as the ancestor to the Kuran Clan – it was nothing exceptionally hard for him to grasp either. He supposed he had his high level of IQ to thank for.
Thankfully though, there were not really a lot of cases to be dealing with pertaining to the council's issues. Politics was never his favorite area to touch on, but it cannot be help seeing as he had slaughter off the majority of the council members' without having a good back-up plan in mind. Hence, he was stuck doing most if not all the more sensitive matters pertaining to the council as of current.
Yuuki was still the same carefree self, but Kaname was thinking of training Yuuki up to deal with the humans' related issues. Speaking of which, he needs to speak with his lover pertaining to the issue of making their relationship known to the public soon – he had had enough of those marriage proposals coming in from the aristocrats' already.
Pinching the bridge of his nose wearily, Kaname Kuran reclined back in his working chair behind his work desk and closed his eyes briefly to rest his weary sight. That was exactly the sight that met Zero's eyes when the said hunter entered the Study of the Kuran's estate.
The sudden feel of fingers massaging the sides of his temples caused the pureblood prince to snap his eyes open in surprise, before he relaxed himself and allowed a sigh of relief to escape from his lips.
"Don't press yourself too much, the workload would always be there – take your time with it." Zero advices.
"I know… I could say the same for you." Kaname murmured, taking Zero's hands in his as he pressed a light kiss upon the face of his lover's hands.
"I'm only at managerial level, unlike you and Ichijo – both of you are seated on the chair of managing director as of current. Whereas, for me and Ichiru – we are only required to work my way up slowly to say… and besides, I'm not being burdened with the whole Fujiwara Corporation as of yet. I'm only dealing with Fujiwara Electronics at this point of time." Zero commented, in a deadpanned manner.
"Well then, what do you suggest that we do to keep me away from these piles of work down here?" Kaname smirked, devilishly handsome as he pulled his lover down onto his lap and captured Zero in a possessive and bruising kiss.
"I'll say we sleep, by that I don't mean sex either." With that Zero dragged the pureblood off to their room, and settled the man down for bed.
"Zero…"
"No, when I say for you to sleep – I literally mean it. Now you have two choices, either I knocked you out cold by force or I would stuff sleeping pills down your throat. You are tired and the fatigue is taking its toll on you. There is no absolute way am I going to succumb to your seduction acts at this moment of time." Zero's voice was stern and firm, leaving Kaname with no room for further argument.
"…I'm not Akira, you know?" Kaname's voice was dry; sounding a little irritated by the way his lover was addressing him.
"I know, but with the way you are behaving these days – it's obvious that you are trying to let me think otherwise. If behaving like a kid is what you intend to do, treating you the way I'm treating Akira would be my solution to it." Zero responded his tone flat and with a glare of his.
"Okay… okay, you win – I'll do nothing but sleep." Kaname sighed, giving in eventually to his lover's request – as much as he hated to admit, he had to concede that his fatigue was making him behaving like a whiny kid in front of his lover.
"Good, see that you stick to your words. Now I am going to check on the twins, then I am going to come back in here to supervise you. If I found you to be still awake by the time I got back here, I would most definitely dose you with sleeping pills." Zero warned, before leaving the room to check on the twins'.
Ichijo Takuma was still in the dining room with Risa Miyazaki, probably still in the task of sorting through the pile of documents relating to the recent business reports from Ichijo Enterprise. Shiki Senri and Touya Rima were out for another photo-shoot job for the day and so were absent from the estate.
Ruka Souen was engage in a conversation with Akatsuki Kain on who knows what, Ayano and Sayori were nowhere in sight – Zero was willing to bet that they were both in their rooms resting by now. The twins were engaged in an intense game of chess, while Aidou was busy bickering with Akane over some random topics of discussion.
"Akane, get the boys down to bed after they finished this round of game." Zero instructed, bringing a cease fire to one of those routine bickering session between Aidou Hanabusa and the eldest of the future trio.
"Roger…" Akane does an act of a mock-salute to Zero, before turning back to Aidou Hanabusa and started bickering again.
Zero shakes his head at Akane's actions, not wanting to poke his nose into the bickering session again. He swore – Aidou Hanabusa brought out the worst in Akane at times, they fought over random things like which TV channels to watch, which book to read etc. The twins blamed it on the immature behavior of Aidou Hanabusa at this stage of time. Though, Zero believed that Akane just enjoyed 'baiting' Aidou like her cousin enjoys doing.
Date started: 28/1/2013
Date completed: 29/1/2013