Sorry the update took so long I have been rather distracted by the harshness of reality but thanks all who have read and reviewed this as well as my other fics and I hope to get back to regular updates soon. ~Saiyazon
If anyone is wondering this takes place just after Yuuki learns about Zero's condition. So yes she at least knows about him.
Chapter 3
Kaname watched the whole spectacle with a smirk still firmly in place. After the first few moments of shock wore off for the night class. Ruka was the first to recover and stepped forward. "Kaname-sama!" She called out desperately.
The pure blood's smirk vanished as his eyes fell on her.
"Who…who was that?" Was all Ruka could manage to stutter out. There were so many questions running through her mind and yet the obvious one was the only to escape.
Kaname nodded simply. "Come inside and I will explain."
He walked back inside the Moon Dorm and Ichijou gave the rest of the Night Class a wide eyed look indicating even he was not sure of his lord's motives, before they all hurried to follow their lord all eager to hear about the strange visitors.
They all settled in the sitting room around Kaname as he sat languidly on a couch before them.
"To answer your question Ruka, she, is her highness Queen Maia de Lupo of the werewolf kingdom. I asked her here to allow me the honor of courting her."
There were a few gasps and a lot of looks of shock and confusion on the faces of all present.
"Why would you court a werewolf?" Rima asked deadpan in her same old nonchalant voice.
"Mating with Lady Maia could bring help to our cause and peace to our people. She is the perfect candidate." Kaname answered analytically.
"But…But she is not a pureblood…she is not even a vampire?" Aidou stuttered out shock and indignance overcoming him.
Kaname stared at him intensely as though to punish him with his stare alone for his outburst and judgments.
"There are no rules barring whom I mate with. Besides she is of a higher social ranking then even myself, I hardly believe that can be frowned upon. I will be going to visit her soon and she will be returning to see me in the coming weeks and I expect you all to show her the respect she deserves as a Queen and if not at least out of respect for me as she is my chosen companion."
His words seem to kowtow the room and all the vampires replied with nods and "Yes my lords."
"Good, you are dismissed." Most of them moved off to do their own thing, but a few remained fixing their lord with worried, confused, or irritated glances. Kaname ignored them all and moved to go to his study. Ichijou followed.
"My lord, forgive my forwardness, but what effect will this truly have on our relationship with the humans? The werewolves are more secretive about their existence then us and surely the werewolf council will not be amiable to this or our own for that matter."
Ichijou made many valid points, but Kaname already knew all the risks, he had weighed them in his mind and made calculations. He was sick of the bluff game with the politicians and they had now forced his hand, and he was sure that he would come out holding the full house.
"Don't worry Takuma. I have it under control. Maia and I realize the risks we are taking, but I am sick of waiting for the other shoe to drop."
"Yes My Lord." Takuma nodded in agreement, internally he was proud that his lord had finally found a motivation. A beautiful and charming motivaton…
Maia and her entourage arrived back at the mansion in good time by around 8 am. As soon as they shifted back into their human forms her bodyguards voiced their concerns about what they too had seen.
"WHAT do YOU THINK you were doing?" The shorter of her guardians, bellowed. Although short for a man he was by no means meek and more intimidating then most.
"I'm sure I have no idea what you mean?" She said evasively trying to lead the fuming man to the door whilst the other stood stalk still and silent..
"Don't try and pull that crap with me Maia." The man shot back.
"Why did you kiss that vampire?" The taller man finally spoke in an even, but confused tone, his face betraying nothing.
Maia closed her eyes for a moment to compose herself. She wanted to have her head on straight for all the explanations she knew were to come. "Can we talk about this inside?" She asked opening the back door to her mansion and motioning them in. She was suspicious of the open air.
They went inside and up to her study. As the door clicked closed behind them she began to speak. "Kaname sent an emissary to me the other day to request this meeting so that we might discuss the merits of a courtship."
She sat down in her chair to face her two friends.
"Merits of courtship…." The rougher of the two known to the world as Tane, repeated in a dumbstruck even tone.
"My lady entering into a courtship with a vampire is ill advised. To do so with a pureblood is increasingly more dangerous." The taller of the two spoke his urgency rising.
"How could you even consider courtship with a vampire after all they've done to you? Your family?" Tane's temper rose and his words stung Maia even through the mask she had managed to forge against that pain.
"That has nothing to do with this. He is not responsible for what happened." She defended, her brow furrowed in determination and growing impatience.
"Maia, this will not endear you to the assembly."
"Edwin I cannot do any worse with the assembly." Maia said making light of the remarks of her tall inquisitive advisor.
She leaned back in her chair and pushed her hair back out of her face. "Kaname and I have discussed the political ramifications at length and have decided that the reward outweighs the risks. You said yourself he is a pureblood, my courtship with him will tie the hands of the vampire council keeping us out of a war."
"How can you be sure his motives are pure? You can't trust him!" Tane spat, as Maia had spoken he had begun a short angry pace back and forth in place.
"I have known Kaname for longer than I have even known either of you. I trust him with my life as well as the fate of my people. Don't concern yourself with the how." A scowl had once again lighted itself on her features. She grew tired of lecturing. "Don't you wonder why we met him at a human school? It is one of his projects to integrate vampires into human society. Every vampire you saw there does not drink human blood while at the school."
"Even Kaname?" Tane asked skeptically.
"If you wish to interrogate him you will get your chance in two weeks when he comes to visit to make our courtship public. I will allow you both some time to talk with him then."
She paused waiting for another rebuttal, but it seems all had been exhausted by her fervor and by the late hour.
"Now go get some rest and I trust that this meeting and all its contents will remain a secret."
Both men nodded and bowed at the waist. "Goodnight my lady." They chorused before leaving the study. Not long after Maia too left the study and went down the hall two doors past the drawing room to her own.
Her room was done in maroon with gold accents, a four poster bed with maroon sheets and gossamer gold bed curtains surrounding the whole of it.
Donning a white nightgown Maia crawled into bed the curtains closing behind her. She reached beneath her pillow as she lay down to feel the cold comforting steel of her custom made revolver and stake combo pack weapon. When she had first received the gun she had thought it was silly to keep such a thing in her room, but her brother and her guards insisted upon it. Now, older and wiser she had it modified to include the stake and kept it under her pillow as her 'security blanket'.
She ran her hand back and forth over the weapon the coolness lulling her into sleep, her thoughts still focused on the events of the night, specifically the passionate kiss she had shared with Kaname….
Her dreams took her back, back into her memories. A memory of her first kiss…
It was summer and the sun had already begun to set behind the horizon leaving the world in a pale pink and red glow. The day was ending for some but for her and Kaname's kind it was just beginning. Werewolves could go out in day or night but because of what many considered as a frightening mutation or evil they preferred the cover of darkness. It was one of the last times that she and her brothers had spent happy hours with the Kuran family. It was the first summer of her adolescence and she, her brothers, and Kaname were all outside the Kuran mansion. Her brothers and Kaname were playing a rowdy game of keep away. She however was not in the mood. She sat nearby on a garden bench staring off into the sunset sky.
It was unusual for her not to join in their games and Kaname seemed to be the only one who noticed.
"Maia…." He queried carefully. She didn't respond right away but let out a long sigh. "What's the matter?" He asked sitting down beside her.
She turned to him with a crest fallen look on her face. "It's probably not anything you want to hear…"
Kaname didn't say anything, he simply reached out to touch her arm comfortingly and waited patiently for her to speak.
She gave him a small sad smile. "Well…one of the boys in the village. Recently I have become very fond of him and he seemed to notice my attention and I thought he returned it. I wanted to do something nice for him to show him that I liked him. So I…I…took a rose from my mother's garden. I know it was wrong and that those roses were gift from your mother to mine, but I thought that if I took just one…I mean they were so precious to my mother. They are the most beautiful flower in her garden. I just thought that he would see how I felt."
She paused to bite her lip nervously.
"But…when I gave it to him…he sneered at me and said 'how dare I insult him with such an insignificant gift.' Then…." Maia reached into her pocket and removed a handful of rose petals. "He stomped on it as if it were trash." Maia's eyes had begun to water slightly in anger and sorrow. "How could he do that? We have played together since we were little. I don't understand. I'm just so angry, and heartbroken. I feel awful for stealing the rose just for it to be destroyed."
Kaname looked from her to the petals in her hand and then carefully placed his hand over the petals his energy pulsated out and a few seconds later the petals had reformed into a perfect new rose. Maia gasped at the feat and Kaname finally spoke. "There that should rid you of your guilt at least. Tell your mother I gave you the rose and it will not be a lie." She beamed at him thankfully.
"As for your other emotions, don't waste them on him. He isn't worthy." As Maia listened to him speak wise beyond his years his voice began to change and upon second glance she was not seated beside a fully grown Kaname the same as he was the night before. She too was grown but they still sat on the garden bench of her past. "You deserve someone better Maia. You are more than a princess you are a wonderful person and if he can't see that then he is not worth seeing."
Those had been Kaname's exact words that day so long ago.
She gazed up into those comforting and strong crimson eyes and whispered. "Thank you Kaname. You always know just what to say."
Then the two leaned closer to one another until their lips touched in a tender kiss that soon turned passionate and she found strong hands grasping her arms and pulling her close and her hands returned the favor by running up his chest. When their kiss broke they simply stared at each other. Each a small smile upon their features as they held one another. Maia longed to capture his lips again but as she reached up to pull his head back down to hers she felt herself being drawn once again into the waking world.
By now it was a little after midday and her dream had her staring at the ceiling unblinkingly for a few moments. Confusion flashed through her mind but the memory was so sweet she couldn't help the large grin that she sported. "This game will be more fun than I thought." She mused happily before rising to meet the day. She was finishing dressing when there was a knock on the door. She looked at the clock and new exactly who would call on her.
"Come in Olivia." She called cinching up the tie at the front of her dress and fluffing her hair out. An elegantly dressed dark haired woman with olive skin and red eyes entered.
"Good day, my lady." She greeted formally. Maia smiled and shook her head. "Good morning Olivia could you have Tane and Edwin meet us in the solarium for a late lunch please?"
"Of course my lady."
"Olivia…" She said as the woman turned to leave. "Have you been briefed on what I'm sure will be viewed as my shortcomings of last night?"
Olivia smiled for the first time since entering. "Yes, Tane made it his personal business to come and alert me as soon as you arrived back last night."
"Doesn't anyone understand orders anymore?" Maia said with an exaggerated sigh.
Olivia chuckled softly and Maia sat down in the chair before her mirror looking back at Olivia. "What do you have to say?" She asked.
"I must say that courting a vampire is on my top ten list of things most likely to get you killed, but I am less concerned for you physically because I know that the boys and I would rip apart anything that tried to harm you. I am however worried about what this will do to you….as a friend…is this really a good idea?" Olivia counseled.
Maia sighed and leaned back and stayed silent for a moment thinking before looking up into Olivia's eyes through the mirror.
"You know what Olivia…I think for the first time in my life I actually do know exactly what I'm doing."
Olivia smiled at her friend's reflection. "If that's good enough for you It's good enough for me."
Maia chuckled and stood to embrace her friend. "Thanks Olivia, you're the best. Now if only I can convince the boys." She said as they headed out towards the solarium.
Lunch was filled with the boys trying everything in their power to convince her it was a bad idea. She fielded their criticism better after a good night's sleep and laughed off their worries harmlessly.
When they realized their serious attempts were futile Tane changed tactics. "Well Maia at the very least consider your children." He said leaning back and crossing his arms behind his head.
"My what?" She questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Whose to say vampires and werewolves can even have children together? And if you did well no offense to you but those would be some pretty ugly children." He quipped with a smirk.
Maia gave him an unimpressed look before chuckling. "Well personally I find Kaname rather handsome."
"Ok that tactic backfired." Tane said making a gagging motion.
Edwin chuckled lightly and Olivia shook her head at their childish banter.
"Give it up Tane." Maia said with a sigh. "I grow weary of your attempts. Even Edwin has silenced his objections."
"Only for the moment till I come up with a more stirring argument." He said from over his tea cup rim.
Maia gave him a smirk and shook her head. "On to business for once shall we. The reason I called you here is because I need to arrange a meeting of the werewolf assembly. I want to tell them the news in person."
The three advisors exchanged weary looks, but seeing the resolve in their Queen's eyes they nodded and in chorus answered. "Yes my lady."
"We will be assembled by dawn day after tomorrow." Edwin added as they all stood and bowed off to do her bidding.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes my source is reliable. Kaname intends to court the werewolf queen." Asato Takuma answered his fellow councilmen as they met in a dark secluded library at his estate.
"This is unacceptable." Another shouted enraged. "A pureblood tainting his line with the blood of those vermin!"
"You said Kuran would be easy to control but, so far he has done nothing more than aggravate." Another said coldly from the corner.
"Calm yourself brother, so far Kaname has been nothing but a passive threat and we are not yet prepared to take him on outright."
"But we cannot let this foolishness go on. It is high time we rid ourselves of those furry nuisances."
"We've been picking off the royal family for years. I was sure that the girl would be no trouble." Asato growled as he continued to stare out the window, his mind whirring trying to find a solution to this predicament. "Wait a minute…." He whispered. His instantly calm new demeanor caused all in the room to sit up and listen close. He turned to face the assembled vampires.
"This is quite perfect. With all we have done thus far to alienate the werewolves, their council cannot possibly agree to this arrangement. They will lose confidence in her once and for all and she will be replaced. Then what kind of match could she possibly me for Kuran-sama?"
"You think the situation will resolve itself?" An older dapper gentleman commented dryly.
"I do."
The sun rose orange in the Eastern sky turning the pale morning bright as Maia marched confidently to the amphitheater. The amphitheater was specially constructed so it was indoors making it ideal for both the assembly meetings and for training purposes. Dressed in a short sleeve, boat neck, burgundy floor length gown, formal attire necessary for these affairs, she was a vision of power and sophistication flanked by her three advisors, all wearing blank determined looks.
All the werewolf chieftains were assembled. Each werewolf village, the world over, had its own leader/representative and all were in attendance.
"Her royal highness Queen Maia de Lupo." As she entered the amphitheater all the chieftains rose to bow to her and she nodded respectfully back. She took her place at the opening of the circle of benches and placing her hands together began, "Honored assembly. I welcome you all here today for a most important announcement. One that I hope in time will bring as much joy to the werewolf kingdom as it has me. I want you all to be the first to know I have finally entered into a courtship."
There was a rolling murmur throughout the colossal room. Several of the elders shouted. "About time!" Congratulations!" "This is a fortuitous event." All of them were passingly acknowledged with a nod. However a few still remained suspicious and silent.
A middle aged chieftain from one of the prominent Western villages, named Claudius Cane stood up. A tall broad shouldered man with brown whiskers he was, bowed slightly and said. "May I inquire who the lucky young man is to have gained your favor?"
Many of the assembly suspected it to be one of her long time advisors since she was rarely seen with any other men.
She grinned. "I am glad you asked Brother Cane. I was approached by Lord Kaname Kuran, whom asked me for my companionship and I accepted." She kept smiling even though she knew the shit was about to hit the fan.
Many of the council leaped up from the chairs shouting in outrage, others sat shocked at her disclosure.
"The vampire lord?... Have you lost your mind?" Claudius asked his facial muscles twitching and clenching in a spasm to contain his outrage.
"I think it's a marvelous idea." She defended. "With the ear of the vampire lord I can stop their attacks on our borders far easier than any petition or diplomatic missive can." She reasoned with a confident sway and gesture. Knowing exactly how to spin the story to her advantage she continued. "Think of it as creative diplomacy…" She said with a provocative smile. "And industrious fact gathering…." She let that hang for a moment before one of the lords piped up.
"Fact gathering?"
"What better way to preempt their attacks then to mix with vampire society and find them out before they happen. It make take some time to accurately infiltrate and uncover their plans, but as I said in the meantime I can charm their lord into a peace agreement." Confident in her air more than she was inside as she thanked any god who would listen that they didn't know the truth of Kaname's station.
"Do you think it's possible?" Another asked timid and disbelieving.
"My lords, you underestimate me too much. As a woman I already come more prepared for this than any male leader ever could. This would never be possibly without my feminine charms…" She said with a grin and shift of her hips to show the room her profile. Maia had worked hard to make herself into the confident leader she was now and if that meant using her sex appeal to manipulate men then so be it. She promised herself long ago she would do anything to keep her family name intact.
Claudius was not as convinced, he had high aspirations for himself and as he saw it Maia was in the way, but the way he saw it this new plan of hers would be her own undoing, it would surely backfire and force the assembly to take action. All he had to do was wait, and that was a game he had become very good at….
After more chatter and reassurances the assembly meeting came to an end with all complaints silence for the time being and for the next week Maia buried herself in work continuing her official role with the same flawless drive and determination as she always had. Her thoughts however were still occupied with excitement at Kaname's impending visit. She couldn't stop the giddy feeling that accompanied thoughts of seeing Kaname again. She had missed him terribly these last 9 years and was grateful to have her best friend back. She felt like a kid again and along with that feeling came a sense of security and freedom she had not felt since the death of her parents.
Sufficiently distracted, Maia decided to write Kaname a letter. She would be careful in her writing so as not to reveal their 'secret' for she was not fool enough to believe that Kaname might be the only one to read it.
So she sat down and began to pen her missive, when she finished she called Olivia to her study.
"You called my lady?" Olivia entered formally.
"Ah yes Olivia. Do you know the way to Cross Academy in the Norhern Quadrant?"
"Yes I do." Olivia answered.
"Good I would like you to deliver this missive to Lord Kaname." She said handing Olivia the envelope with Kaname's name written in decorative script on the front.
Olivia raised a slight eyebrow at her request. "You're sending him a love letter?" She questioned curiously.
"What? I'm allowed." Maia defended with a sarcastic smirk.
Olivia shook her head, but bowed. "As you wish my lady."
That evening at Cross Academy as the sun dipped below the horizon the Night Class came out in their usual show of beauty and superiority with their usual entourage of Day Class student fans standing around watching. There was one face however which was out of place amongst the seemingly endless throng of admirers. Olivia stood back to the tree line, her long black hair pulled back wearing what appeared to be an silver and white English riding suit. Kaname was the first to spot her and veered from his usual course to meet her. "Kaname-sama?" She questioned with a bow.
"Yes?" He replied passively. "I have a missive from my Lady." She held out the letter to him and he took it glancing at it suspiciously. "And what is the nature of the missive?" He asked.
"Personal, my lord. I have not read it." She assured him firmly.
"Shall I await a reply?"
The two seemed to not notice that they were being watched now by not only the day class, but the night class, and the prefects as well. When Takuma realized his friend's untoward departure he followed him. As he walked up to the two of them Kaname answered. "Yes, Takuma could you inform our professors that I will be a little late to class? No more than an hour hopefully."
"Certainly Kaname." Takuma readily agreed before Kaname turned motioning Olivia to follow. "This way please." He said as they headed back to the moon dorm.
As the exchange was carried out none of them realized they had an avid audience. All the students watched curiously including two suspicious prefects. "Who's that?" A few day students murmured. "Is that Kaname-senpai's girlfriend?" The girls whispered.
Yuuki couldn't help over hearing and stared at the exotic beauty speaking to Kaname, she didn't appear to be a vampire but she was beautiful and Yuuki was hardly an expert, but the mention of Kaname's girlfriend had her slightly saddened.
In response to their queries, Ruka snorted. "Hardly."
Hearing her response the girls seemed to all relax at that knowledge even Yuuki. "Kaname-senpai is not worthy of such mediocre attentions." Ruca continued bitter and haughty.
However the relief the girls felt was short lived due to a tightlipped quip from Rima. "Besides his girlfriend is much prettier…"
Many girls gasped and Yuuki simply stared in disbelief before turning to Zero who glared at Rima hard. Trying to discern the truth to her words. "Should we tell Head Master Cross about this?" Yuuki finally stuttered out breaking Zero's death glare. He looked down at her concernedly and turned away. "Perhaps…" He whispered.
Olivia waited outside his study as Kaname read Maia's letter…
Dear Kaname,
I know it has only been a week since I last saw you, but I miss you already. I cannot imagine how I got by so long without you. Aside from telling you how much I miss you I also wanted to tell you that I have already met with the assembly regarding our status and although they are not partial to the idea they seem to understand our situation…
I can hardly wait for your arrival. We have so much to talk about. Give my regards to everyone. Know I would wait forever to be with you, but as a gentleman I know you won't make me wait that long.
Yours Maia
Kaname found himself smirking just a little at her letter.
It took him back to their youth when they got to see each other even more rarely. The whole time they were apart Maia would write him a letter every week, but since there was no way to get them to him she would wait until the end of their next visit and give him all the letters and tell him to read only one a week until she saw him again so that they would never be truly apart.
Now she continued that connection and it made him even more glad to have found her.
He read between the lines of her writing perfectly discerning her concerns about where their plan stood with the assembly (understand our situation) and her want for him to watch over Yuuki (Give my regards to everyone.).
With these thoughts in mind he sat down and wrote his own love letter in response.
Dearest Maia,
I find you letter warms my long cold heart more than you can possibly imagine. I too long for your company, but we must carry on until the end of the week. I know it is difficult, but there is nothing you cannot do my darling.
As to the assembly I am glad to hear that they were so amiable. I look forward to perhaps meeting some of them on my visit if that is applicable to your schedule?
I shall have nothing stand in the way of my affections for you and if their approval I need their approval I will get.
But in the mean time we must be strong dearest, I will give my regards to those here at the academy, whom are all eager to meet you. Until later, my lady.
Kaname Kuran.
After he penned his letter and sealed the back with his own wax stamp he went out into the hall and handed it to Olivia. "Of a personal nature." He repeated back to her.
"I understand." She said with a formal bow before turning and heading out.
Later that night Olivia arrived back with her delivery to find Maia still up, in her study burning the candle wick low, working hard on reports.
She could see Maia was tired and so lightened her approach. "Don't you sleep?" Olivia asked teasingly as she closed the door.
Maia looked up and chuckled. "Not so much these days."
"I have something for you." Olivia teased walking around the desk waving the letter around.
Maia reached for it and Olivia kept it away. "Uh Uh! You only get the letter from your lover boy if you promise to get some sleep afterwards. As your friend and advisor I cannot allow my Queen to fall into ill health."
Maia made a sour face before sighing. "Fine, I'll sleep. Now give me the letter." She stared hard and Olivia gave in with a smirk. She stepped back around the table as Maia quickly ripped it open and read the even script. Olivia didn't miss the whimsical smile on Maia's face as she read. She still wasn't certain about the vampire lord, but anybody who put that kind of a smile back on her best friend's face deserved a chance.
"Thank you Olivia." Maia finally responded looking up gratefully at her.
Olivia gave a playful bow and smile. "My pleasure my lady. Goodnight." She emphasized as she opened the door.
"Goodnight." Maia replied with a playful grin.
As the door closed Maia contemplated Kaname's words and dreamt about his arrival. If anyone could turn this all around he could.