Blood Candy 1- Brother and Sister
"Mataku yo! Why do I have to come back home, Kaname?"
"Because I asked you to. And besides, it's mostly Kurosu."
"That's no reason for me to want to go back home, Kaname."
"Then think of it this way. Kiryu Zero is at the school." I hesitate, unsure of what to say.
"He survived?"
"Yes."
"Do you know if…?"
"As far as we know, no one except Zero survived. Hasn't Kurosu already contacted you about this?"
"No. He hasn't…fine. I'll come. But don't expect me to enjoy it or even attend classes. It's not like I need to study about anything."
"I knew you'd say that. I'll meet you at the airport then."
"No need for that. I'll come my own way. Let Kaien know that I'm coming."
"Okay. I'll be seeing you then, Onee-sama." I hang up the phone and start packing.
"Hana-sama, are you going somewhere?"
"Oh. Maru-chan. Yes, I am. Do you want to join me? I'm going to Kurosu Academy. I'm friends with the headmaster, so I can make arrangements for you." My servant, Maru curtsies deeply.
"If it's to serve you, Hana-sama, I will go." I smile.
"Thank you, Maru-chan." I touch her hair and brush it back from her neck. Maru tilts her head slightly, exposing her neck. I turn around and finish packing. "Prepare your things and get ready to leave. We're leaving immediately."
"Hai." Maru leaves the room and I touch my lips. I haven't had any blood in a while. Will I be able to bring both myself and Maru to the school like this? It takes a lot of energy to travel instantly. I straighten out my kimono and head to the door. The phone rings and I answer it.
"Hello?"
"Hana? This is Kaien."
"Oh. Hello, Kaien."
"Kaname said something about you having a servant."
"Oh, yes. Maru. She's coming with me, if that's okay. I'd like for her to be enrolled. Oh. As a warning, she's a former human…that won't be a problem will it?"
"Not at all. As long as you can guarantee it's safe."
"Of course. We're about to leave. I assume one of the guardians will greet us?"
"Yes. I'll make sure it's Yuki. Zero isn't very kind."
"Yuki?" I nearly dropped the phone just then.
"I'll explain in full when you arrive."
"You'd better have a good excuse for not calling me about Zero."
"Actually…you know what. I'll explain that while I'm explaining about Yuki."
"You'd better, Kaien. I'll see you shortly." I hang up the phone and notice that Maru is waiting at the door. "Ready?"
"Hai, Hana-sama." I nod and pick up my bag.
"Then let's go." Maru picks up her bag and I concentrate on the school. In a moment, we're at the front gate of the school. A girl waves.
"Hi. I'm Kurosu Yuki. The Chairman asked me to greet you." I set down my bag and Maru picks it up.
"I'm Kuran Hanami. And this is Minai Maru."
"Kuran? Are you…related to Kaname-sempai?" I smile and nod.
"Actually, I'm his older sister. Anno, Maru-chan?"
"Hai?" I glance at the gate and wink.
"Think you can go to the dorm and let Kaname-kun know that we're here?"
"Hai." Maru hurries to the gate and heads towards a dorm.
"I need to speak with the Chairman."
"Right. This way." I follow Yuki to the school building and notice that there are teachers packing up. There aren't any students around though. Classes must be over already. I sniff the air, trying to be inconspicuous. She smells the same as my little sister Yuki…but I thought that she had died with Hahaue and Chichiue. We get to a room labeled Chairman and Yuki knocks on the door.
"Come on in." We go into the room and I hurry to meet Kaien in the middle with a hug.
"It's been a while, Kaien."
"I see you're in a better mood?" I laugh and hit the top of his head.
"You're sadly mistaken if you think that! What the hell is your problem huh?! Did Kaname suggest it or did you come up with this on your own? Practically forcing me to come here when I didn't want to come home!"
"Actually…" I notice the other student in the room and squint.
"Zero-kun?" He looks shocked. I shove around Kaien and examine the guy closer up. "So Kaname-kun wasn't lying to me." I sniff, and nod when I recognize the scent. "Definitely."
"Um…"
"Oh right! You wouldn't remember me. I'm Kuran Hanami."
"Speaking of which, it's about time for the Night Class to be going back to their dorm. You two have patrols to finish." The two students leave and Kaien goes behind his desk.
"Your explanation? And why does Zero smell slightly like that woman? And why didn't I know that Yuki was still alive? Explain yourself, Kaien!"
"Calm down. Really. And I could never get a hold of you! You're always moving around and crap. I was surprised that Kaname was able to get a hold of you."
"I've been in the same place since Chichiue and Hahaue died. I haven't had the energy to move anymore after that. When I heard a rumor through the Hunter's Association about the Kiryu…and I researched it…I thought that even Zero was killed."
"No. He survived. Though he's in about the same shape as your servant that came with you." I stiffen and stare at Kaien.
"So that's why…"
"When he was found, he was covered in blood, but only had a single wound. On his neck. Fortunately, I was the one that found him and it healed before anyone else saw it."
"How dare she? It was Shizuka right?" Kaien nods and I clench my fist, trying not to hit anything or break anything.
"So, how did you come to break the taboo and create a vampire?"
"Oh, Maru? When I left before, I hired her and her mother as servants to assist me in my travels, take care of things while I was sleeping during the daylight hours and such. Maru's mother died in a car accident one day, while Maru was injured almost fatally. I had come to consider Maru as a close friend, almost family, so I decided to save her. Anyways. Yuki. Why is she here? Why didn't I know that my baby sister was still alive?"
"She doesn't remember anything before that day. When your parents died. Afterwards, she was found and attacked by a Level E. Kaname saved her and brought her to me. I adopted her and she's been here ever since."
"It's been ten years…I suppose Hahaue suppressed her vampire blood as well as her memories as her final act?"
"That's the only thing I can think happened. Kaname doesn't seem to know what happened except outside that night." I nod slowly and start to leave. "Oh! Here! Can't go around the school as a student without a uniform. I'll have one ready for Maru tomorrow night before classes." I nod and take the uniform from Kaien.
"I'll come by at dusk to get it then."
"Oh. The rules. Curfew is after classes are over. Because of the humans, we don't want to endanger them. And also, this won't apply to you, but for Maru, no one is allowed to leave campus without my permission. Though naturally, if you or Kaname instruct it, it will be fine. As long as no one gets hurt." I nod and leave the room, heading to the dorm. I get into the front room of the dorm and stare at all of the bowing students. I notice Kaname at the top of the stairs with Maru and glare at him. He shrugs and I sigh.
"Pardon me." I hurry up the stairs and touch Kaname's shoulder. "Kaname-kun." I squeeze and he flinches.
"Onee-sama." I let go of his shoulder and he leads me to a study. Maru is following me closely. "You've already talked to Kurosu?" I nod.
"Of course. I have a question for you. How can you survive with her this close but not touching her?"
"It's only a matter of time." I roll my eyes and catch myself on the desk.
"Hana-sama!"
"Onee-sama, are you okay?" I nod and touch my forehead.
"Yes. Just a little dizzy."
"Depriving yourself again?"
"Of course not! Oh dear." The dizziness gets worse and I nearly fall. Kaname catches me.
"Onee-sama. You shouldn't be so careless. Especially with humans around." I nod.
"I know that. I just need to sit down for a minute." Kaname helps me sit on the couch and I lean back, touching my forehead. "Maru-chan…"
"Hai? Anno, excuse me, Kaname-sama."
"Let's go to our room. I'll talk to you tomorrow, Kaname." I get up and Maru supports me. We head to a room and I sit on a bed.
"Hana-sama. Please." Maru moves her hair off of her neck and tilts her head, baring her throat. I nod.
"Thank you." I bite her neck.
