It of course came as no shock to her as she stood amongst the anxious faces and apprehensive stares of her parents… well… one whom she thought was her parent and the other which she had always known as that loving, understanding governess from her childhood. This was simply a family matter and no one outside of her grandparents, Hanabusa, Lilith, and Yori were present at the time Lord Aidou revealed the long held secret that had plagued him since the moment he saw his granddaughter. It was as if the entire room inhaled and held its breath, waiting for the young half-vampire to react, but then there was nothing. No reaction, no wailing, no cries of joy or anger; she stood still as if someone had told her it was going to rain that evening. Lord Aidou couldn't seem to handle the strain of the moment and cleared his throat, circling his way so that he stood directly in front of Aria. He gently placed his hands upon her shoulders, lightly, but firmly.

"Did you hear what I said Aria?" She nodded absently. His gaze grew even wearier. "And?" he said half-expectantly.

"And what?"

"Don't you have anything to say?" Aria let her eyes wander slowly over the faces. Lilith's complexion had grown paler than usual as Yori was wringing her hands together by her side and Hanabusa stood rod straight behind the two women.

"Does it change anything?" Aria finally replied. Her question only seemed to confuse the others even more. One by one, they all shook their heads slowly.

"Then there is no need for a dramatic reaction, is there?" The others took another moment to absorb this response before looking at one another pleadingly to do or say something. "Now, if all of you don't mind, I would like to retire. I am quite worn from this evening," Aria said faintly as she drifted smoothly to the door, not showing any of the turmoil that was winding its way through her mind. She smiled wanly before letting the door click shut, leaving the room in silence.

The room broke out into a complete ruckus as everyone debated on the effects of the news on the young woman. She was in shock, no she was just acting mature as was her habit, no she was planning something. All agreed upon one thing: someone had to go and talk to her. Drawing straws it seemed that Hanabusa was left to this undesirable responsibility.

Hanabusa knocked lightly on the door, calling out Aria's name before opening it up to find her splayed out on her bed, face down. She knew he was there, of that he was certain and cautiously, as if waiting for a lioness to spring to life, he approached the bed to timidly sit at the edge. He hesitated and cleared his throat several times.

"That story that you told me when I was a little girl," Aria suddenly mumbled into her pillow. Hanabusa jumped slightly before relaxing a little, knowing she had mercifully taken the task of speaking first.

"Which one?" he said, not quite honing in on what she was implying.

"The one about the hero and the one he fell in love with, the one he couldn't control." Hanabusa was immediately on his guard. His silence confirmed her inquiry. "That was about you and… her, wasn't it?" Once again his silence answered for him. Sitting up slightly on her elbows, Aria stared over her pillow out the window at the clear night. Not a cloud in the sky, a perfect night for her coming of age ceremony. She wanted to scoff, but knew for some reason that it would hurt her father's feelings at that very moment, so she held it in firmly.

"Do you love her?" When he was stubbornly quiet she turned her piercing gaze upon him. Hanabusa had to look away and stumble to find the words.

"Even before you were born, she would always try to get me to say those words, but I was too full of pride. Even now it is very difficult for me to bring myself to saying them." Taking a deep breath he turned and returned her gaze just as intensely. "Yes, I love her." Aria's face did not betray the small feeling of shock at seeing her father's face so adamant, so full of conviction. It was a face she had never seen before this night. It helped her to form her next thought.

"Then you should be with her." Hanabusa blinked in shock a few times and Aria cut off whatever it was that he was intending on saying. "I've watched you and mother for quite some time. I know that you do not love each other, at least it's not a mutual feeling. I can see that you care for one another, but not the way that you do about Yori and her you. I think it would be for the best."

"Aria…"

"I suppose I've known it all along, but did not get the confirmation until tonight." Aria smiled though she felt that the corners were if anything a bit wobbly. "I want you to be happy Papa." Hanabusa raised his hand and gently brushed his fingers across her cheek, pushing away stray strands.

"And what about you, Aria? Are you happy?" Aria's cheeks reddened as briefly she remembered Zero's arms around her waist. She ducked her head quickly, as if the hem of her dress was the most interesting thing in the world.

"Yes, Papa. I'm happy." Hanabusa stared at her for a long moment and nodded his head almost wisely, something that did not come as often to his youthful face.

"I'm glad to hear that." Slowly he began to stand before Aria's voice stopped him. He flinched, hearing in her tone the other shoe he was waiting to drop.

"I want to leave the Aidou estate." Hanabusa looked at her cautiously.

"You are still young and…"

"You left when you were young as well."

"That is different."

"That's not different!"

"You would be unprotected." Aria planted her feet on the floor as she sat staring down her father.

"I can take care of myself and besides, if you really wish for me to be protected you could always send someone with me?"

"Like who? Ace?" Hanabusa scowled and for a moment Aria could see the black thoughts in her precious father's head. She shook her head quickly.

"Where would you go?" he pressed.

"To the north. I wish to see these blood factories myself. Ace told me that they were manufacturing the half-breeds' blood there and I can't stand that thought." Hanabusa sat down hard on the bed, not gently as he did before.

"So you did know," he grumbled as he placed his face in his hands. He knew how stubborn this girl could be, something that was probably doubled with his genes and that of her mother's.

"Please Papa. You've taught me well in defense and Vaugt has also given me extra lessons." Hanabusa glared at her directly. She was well aware of the fact that she had deliberately disobeyed orders by her father and grandfather not to partake in hand-to-hand combat, but with much hounding and blackmailing, she had successfully managed to get the gentle giant to teach her quite well. In fact, Vaugt had commented that she was getting almost beyond him.

"I would never allow you anywhere near danger. It would tear us all apart," said Hanabusa firmly.

"If you don't let me go I'll simply run away."

"And I would bring you back."

"You can't keep me locked up forever."

"Yes I can, I have all the time in the world."

"And so do I." Aria glared at her father menacingly filled with promise. Hanabusa rolled his eyes to the heavens and cursed heavily. Aria was almost taken aback if she weren't so amused by the sight of her father's inner turmoil.

"Why do you bring this down on my head?" he finally let out.

"Because it amuses me," she said innocently as she smiled at him brightly. Hanabusa felt his heart clench at the sight and he knew he could not refuse his daughter anything.

"Your mother is going to kill me," he grumbled as he stalked out the door.

"Which one?" Aria called haughtily. She chuckled as she heard her father's frustrated cry from down the hall.

-----------------------------------------------

The proposal was met, as to be expected, with much vehemence and resistance. Lilith started by screeching, howling and wailing only to be reduced to quiet sobs as she saw that Aria was not to be shaken from her decision. The young woman refused to be accompanied by anyone except for Vaugt, the only one she claimed she would trust. She knew that her parents would too trust the life their daughter in his hands. She was not sure of the details, but she was positive that Vaugt had played a large role in Yori's existence to that day. She played on that as much as possible.

Lord Aidou refused to say anything for a long time, making her very anxious. Out of all of them, she had expected the most violent of reactions, but instead he stood quietly in the corner, contemplating her request. Finally, after all had been said and done, he turned and ordered that his pet crow was to accompany her as well. This she could not refuse because she did actually like the bird quite a lot and it would not be nearly as cumbersome as another companion. As if knowing that the he was to take part in an unfolding plot, the bird hopped from his perch and onto Aria's shoulder, nuzzling her gently on the cheek. She smiled as she reached up and scratched him lightly on the neck, his favorite spot.

"And what do you think you'll do once you get there?" questioned Yori, furious at Hanabusa for allowing Aria even the slightest hope of this ludicrous act. Aria looked at her coolly.

"Put a stop to it of course."

"That was not part of the agreement," growled Hanabusa, leaping into action.

"Listen to you father, please Aria," bemoaned Lilith from her place on a chair nearby. Aria's eyes softened slightly, but she held firm.

"I will send word once I have found the location," she relented, but that did not mean that she would wait passively or help to arrive. The very thought that someone out there was exploiting innocent people, people like her, infuriated her beyond words. Over the months she had grown more and more uncomfortable with the thought of being hooked up to a machine of some kind meant simply to slowly sap away life. She had managed to get all of the details from Ace and with every passing image he presented she grew more determined to stop this horrendous act.

"I want to leave as soon as possible," she said without hesitation or doubt, though her mind was filled with unsure feelings and thoughts. She had never ventured so far from the estate and this would be her first time going anywhere unescorted by her parents' watchful eyes, with the exception of her occasional wanderings into the village.

"How soon would that be?" said Yori, still not giving an inch in her reproach towards Hanabusa. He felt it like a mallet and almost cringed. Aria was once again amused by how quickly the women in her father's life could reduce him to such a state.

"Tomorrow."