A/N I don't own Vampire Knight nor do I make any profit from it

Chapter 23 - Unfortunate Happenings

As Elizabeth packed her small suitcase, Kuro helped her by handing her small objects such as her hair brush and other essential accessories.

"Oh, Kuro-kun, I'm engaged," Elizabeth sighed wistfully, "I'm so happy."

Kuro leapt onto her lap as Elizabeth sat on the plush carpet after packing her things. Kuro nuzzled her neck, "If you're happy, Riji-sama, I'm happy."

Elizabeth looked down at him and nodded, "That's good," Elizabeth commented. She stroked his soft fur, losing herself in thought, "Kaname has been to the council to finalise our engagement."

"I see."

"Kuro-kun, can you sense a…change in me?"

"If you mean you're vampire status…then yes…you are no longer a Level C…you're a Level A…a Pureblood."

"That scares me," Elizabeth whispered, "I thought that it was just a dream…but if it's truly who I am…then I have no choice but to face it."

Kuro gulped. Elizabeth was head over heels in love with Kaname and now it was clearly apparent that Kaname returned those feelings. Kuro thought that he might have been content to be loved as a cat, but he was wrong. He needed Elizabeth and he couldn't wait to be back in his true form.

Elizabeth stood up after a while and grabbed her coat, "Well, Kuro-kun, you'd better get in my bag," Elizabeth said, unzipping her large hand bag.

"I hate getting in that bag," Kuro grumbled.

"Suck it up," Elizabeth said in a deadpan voice. Kuro grumbled about being confined in small spaces and about Elizabeth being cruel to him before leaping gracefully into the bag. Elizabeth then zipped it up but left a small gap to allow Kuro to breathe. She picked up her suitcase and walked from her room.

On her way down, she saw Ruka, Aidou and Kain walking ahead of her. Ruka turned her head and faced Elizabeth, "I bet you're happy."

"Happy," Elizabeth asked, "I'm more than happy. Do you want to know why? Probably not but I'm going to tell you anyway. Because I'm in love with Kaname and you cannot do a thing about it. Kaname would kill you of anything happened to me."

Ruka glared at her but Kain placed a hand on her shoulder and shook his head, "She's right, Ruka. Erisabesu-sama is Kaname-sama's fiancée."

"'Erisabesu-sama'," Elizabeth questioned quizzically. Kain looked up at her.

"Yes, Erisabesu-sama," Kain said, "Kaname-sama has ordered that must call you this."

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. This was news to her. She smiled softly before walking past them with her head held high. Elizabeth walked down the stairs to meet her friends downstairs. Kisetsu and Takuma were waiting for her while Kaname turned to her and gave her a small smile.

"Riji," he walked over to her and kissed her forehead, "How are you?"

"I'm fine, thank you," Elizabeth leaned into his touch. Kisetsu sighed softly as she watched the couple have a very cute moment. Elizabeth broke away from Kaname with a small smile. She turned her head towards Shiki. He was sitting on the sofa casually. Rima was casting disapproving looks in is direction.

"What is it, Rima-san," Elizabeth asked. Rima looked up at her.

"Shiki isn't coming with us, Erisabesu-sama," Rima sighed sadly.

"Ah, I see," Elizabeth said as she linked arms with Kaname. Rima threw a box of chocolate pocky at Shiki, telling him to be careful. As everyone soon made it down to the foyer, they left the Moon Dormitory for the summer holidays.

As they walked down the path leading to the front gate, Yuuki and Zero were waiting to wave them off. Yuuki eyed Kaname and Elizabeth with sad eyes. Elizabeth had no sympathy for her. In her opinion, Yuuki was a stupid little girl who puts 2+2 together and makes 5.

Kaname handed Yuuki the key to the Moon Dormitory and told Zero to keep an eye on Yuuki while he was away. With that said and done, Kaname and Elizabeth followed the rest of the Night Class. They walked in silence towards the limousine, but Kaname held Elizabeth's hand tightly, letting her know that he was still there.

As they drove towards the train station, Elizabeth gazed out of the window. Kaname was silent throughout their journey, only taking the time to gaze at his fiancée once in a while. Everyone noticed the change in Elizabeth's aura and presence. Her true pureblood self was showing through and people were starting to fear her, especially Ruka and Aidou. Kisetsu was happy that Kaname had finally made his move to claim Elizabeth as his in front of the aristocrats at the ball a couple of days before. Elizabeth would be happy no one could take that away from her.

There was also the other unmentionable thing that couples did that Kisetsu worried about and that was intercourse. Elizabeth was innocent to a fault. Would she be able to take being able to do this act of love with Kaname? Not only is it much more intense but it formed the bond between the male and female. She would almost certainly become pregnant on the first time as well. What if Kaname chose to take Elizabeth during the holiday? Elizabeth wouldn't be able to hide a potential pregnancy from her fellow classmates even only after fertilization. They were already pretty intimate with each other and there wasn't much to stop them going the whole way.

A few hours later, as they stepped off the train, the Night Class noticed that the humans were staring at them. No prizes for guessing why.

"Kaname-sama, we should have gone the whole way in the car…even if it would have been a longer journey…" Aidou complained. Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

"Oh, Aidou, is it because we're being stared at? I thought you liked being in the centre of attention," Elizabeth giggled and this earned a glare from Aidou but Kain placed a hand on his arm to stop him from doing anything that he would regret later.

"They're just looking at us Aidou, no need to worry," Kaname said blandly.

"The Day Class just started out staring at us too…" Ruka said worriedly.

"Now that I think about it," Takuma started, "The Day Class girls still only watch Kaname from a distance. Maybe their maidenly instincts tell them that an evil hides behind that beautiful skin."

"Takuma…." Ruka, Kisetsu and Elizabeth said with worried expressions and thoroughly freaked out.

"An evil being," Rima mused.

"Kaname-sama, did you hear what Ichijo just called you," Aidou whined. Kaname smirked.

"Actually, he's right on the mark," Kaname said flippantly, "Oh and, Aidou, we're on vacation so there's no need for you to be so formal."

He smiled a little before turning to Elizabeth, who looked a little fatigued, "Not long to go now, Riji-koi. It's just one more train ride."

He kissed her cheek before taking her hand in his. He heard soft swoons from human girls watching them from afar. He smirked before pulling Elizabeth to the front of the group with Aidou. Aidou led the group to a private railway belonging to his family and it led to couple of different mansions belonging to the Aidou family.

They were met by an older man, wrapped in a cloak. It was clearly cold here and Elizabeth had been told that because it was that far away from the academy, it had a different climate; almost as if it was in a different country. They were taken down a long path towards a large, gothic mansion. The man was the butler and he carried a lantern to light their way.

Once they entered the mansion, servants took their luggage and were shown to their rooms. Kaname expressly wished for Elizabeth's room not to be too far from his and it was so. Elizabeth's room was only next door to his.

That night, Kaname and Elizabeth sat in front of the fire place in Kaname's room. They sat on the plush rug in front of the fire. Kaname's arms were wrapped around her, keeping her close to his chest. He ran a hand through her hair, loving how soft it was.

"Erisabesu, can you answer me one question," Kaname whispered. Elizabeth nodded against his chest.

"Anything, my love," Elizabeth whispered back.

"Who bit you?"

"What do you mean by that," Elizabeth asked.

"I mean who was the one who turned you into a vampire in the first place?"

"I cannot say."

"You said that you would answer me."

"You'd hate me."

"I could never hate you, my love," Kaname answered. Elizabeth sniffed softly but nodded. She pushed herself away in order to look at his face.

"My master is…Rido Kuran."

She saw the colour drain from his face although nothing else changed, "It couldn't be…he's dead," Kaname whispered.

"It's true…he doesn't come to me much anymore, but he used to drink from me and it always made me feel afraid…wishing that it were your fangs buried deep into my neck. He treated me as if I was a vending machine for blood; except he didn't have to pay…he just took and never gave me anything in return."

Kaname closed his eyes for a moment, "I killed Rido little over ten years ago…it couldn't have been him…"

"You killed him? Why?"

Kaname wouldn't meet her gaze, "He killed my adoptive father, Haruka Kuran, with an anti-vampire sword."

"Your adoptive father," Elizabeth said, clearly confused, "I thought that he was father."

"No, his real son was killed by Rido in order to raise me from the dead," He then brought himself closer to her, "You do know who I actually am, right?"

Elizabeth nodded without hesitation, "You're the progenitor of the Kuran family and I am the lover who gave birth to the first Kuran heirs…Naomi Kuran…"

"Yes…"

"Do you love me because of that reason…or do you love me….as Elizabeth…"

Kaname grabbed her arms and pulled her to his chest.

"You once uttered that name to me…at the school ball…" Elizabeth whispered, "Do you love me for the woman I am today? Or the woman I was 10,000 years ago?"

Kaname placed a finger underneath Elizabeth's chin, forcing her to look up at him, "Forgive me, Riji-chan," he whispered, "I have not discussed this with you. I love you for the woman you are today. Naomi is still a part of you and that will always remain that way."

"But, you didn't even look at me once until you knew who I was. What's changed?"

"It's not that I didn't look at you, I did, I just couldn't bring myself to…I was still infatuated with Yuuki and I didn't want to believe that I could ever love you…but here I am. The fact that you're my original lover is just an added bonus. I love you and I love no other."

"Eh…? Really," Elizabeth said with beaming smile, "I love you too….I feel exactly the same as you do."

They closed in on one another and they kissed each other gently. Kaname pushed her back onto the rug with an arm around her waist. Kaname groaned when Elizabeth placed a hand on his cheek. Elizabeth broke the kiss and gazed at him for a moment, "Kaname, did we do this when I was alive back then?"

"Yes and we did much more than this…I assure you," He seductively whispered into her ear. Elizabeth blushed heavily.

"Did we…? It must have been wonderful…" Elizabeth whispered. "But I want you to wait until I'm ready…because…I don't want to get pregnant and neither do I want to explain why I'm pregnant to my parents, who you have yet to meet."

"I have no intention of getting you pregnant, Riji-chan," Kaname said with a smirk, "But a female vampire cannot get pregnant until she comes of age."

"You mean…I cannot get pregnant? How come?"

"Your whole biological make up has changed."

"Ah so…how old is 'coming of age'?"

"When you stop aging…and that's around about about…25 years of age," Kaname said with a smirk.

"Even so, I'd like to wait….at least until I've told my parents about us," Elizabeth said with a smirk equalling Kaname's, "And let's leave out that part where we're fiancées…I think my parents would freak out. I'm only 16 after all."

"All right," he said, "I'm willing to wait…I'm very good at it."

Elizabeth smiled and hugged Kaname with the all the strength she could muster, "It's good to be with you again."

"I know," Kaname whispered, "Will you stay with me tonight? I promise that nothing will happen."

Elizabeth looked hesitant for a moment before nodding. She almost looked afraid. Kaname noticed her nervousness, "You don't have to if you don't want to."

Elizabeth looked up at him, "No, I'll stay…"

Kaname nodded and smiled when Elizabeth let him bring her to his chest, "Don't worry…" he cradled her as she sat across Kaname's crossed legs. He felt her body relax into his until Elizabeth fell asleep. Kaname gently kissed her forehead. After a while, Kaname felt himself falling asleep and he wanted to go to bed. He moved an arm underneath her legs and the other arm around her back, lifting her as he stood up and walked over to the bed. He gingerly moved the covers back and placed the sleeping girl under the covers. He kissed her forehead before walking to the other side of the bed. He climbed under the covers and gave her hand a little squeeze before closing his eyes and letting sleep taking him from the world of reality.

The next night, Elizabeth found herself playing cards with Rima, Kisetsu and Takuma. Rima constantly complained about not having Shiki around. Elizabeth wondered if this was the first time that they had truly been apart from each other. Obviously, this was the case. The butler had brought in some rose tea and some rose jam and biscuits.

"I wonder if the rose jam will make the rose tea taste any stronger," Takuma said as he spooned a spoonful of rose jam into his tea.

"I prefer jam on biscuits and not in my tea."

"He's being adventurous, Rima, leave him alone," Kisetsu said with a small smirk. Elizabeth sighed softly as she sipped her tea. Kuro sat on her lap, purring happily. Kaname was standing outside without a coat, gazing out into the night. Placing Kuro on the floor (to his dismay), Elizabeth walked over to Kaname and tugged on his shirt sleeve.

"Aren't you cold?"

Kaname turned his head to look at her, "I'm not, no," He pulled her into his arms, "Well, not now anyway."

Elizabeth smiled softly, but the frowned, "Kaname, what if Rido comes back? Who have I been seeing if Rido is dead?"

"It could have been him…then again…it could have been a blood servant with his consciousness. Rido might still be regenerating. Purebloods have many powers that are known to them."

Elizabeth sighed, "I'm scared."

"Don't be."

"I cannot help it."

Kaname kissed her forehead, "I will protect you. I swear to you I will."

Meanwhile, Senri stepped out of the limousine his great-uncle had sent for him. He was standing outside the council building and he took a deep breath before walking up towards the door that opened automatically for him by two lower class vampires. Senri walked inside the dark building and met his great-uncle, Lord Shiki, in the parlour.

"Hello, Senri," Lord Shiki greeted.

"Good to see you again, uncle," Senri said, "So, what have I been called here for?"

"You have been charged with a very special job, Senri, as you are not a child anymore," Lord Shiki said, "Come with me."

Senri nodded and followed his great uncle down to a dark staircase. They walked for some time until they reached an arched, wooden door. Senri's uncle unlocked it and opened the door. Senri looked initially hesitant but he walked in anyway. As he did so, the smell of blood hit him like a brick wall.

"What is this place, Great-uncle," Senri asked. His great uncle smirked.

"This…, nephew, is where you will fulfil your duty to the family."

Senri narrowed his blues eyes a little, "What do you mean," Senri asked, "And what's that?"

He pointed over at a large bath/coffin that had a container full of blood hanging over the top that dripped blood into the casket, "This, Senri, is your father," His great uncle said with pure admiration. Senri frowned, "Rido Kuran."

"But my father's dead…"

Suddenly, a voice came out of nowhere that sounded like a little boy, "Aw, Senri, that's a horrible thing to say about your father!"

The little boy walked out of the shadows. He was the boy who had drained Yuuki of her energy the day of the ball at the Aidou mansion. His eyes were mismatched and he had a smile that didn't belong on his face. Senri gulped and he took a step back. Suddenly, the little boy collapsed and a hand shot out of the casket of blood. It was mangled and had no skin covering the bone and muscle.

The rest of the man sat up. Senri gasped and gagged as he saw the monstrous sight, "Senri, how good it is to see you again…" Rido smiled devilishly. Senri stood, frozen to the spot. He couldn't move; he couldn't run…he could do nothing as his father's mutilated hand reached for him, "I'm in need of your body, Senri…be good boy and give it to me."

Rido's consciousness moved from the mutilated body before Senri could even blink. Rido took a while to get used to his body, but it didn't take long. A smirk, uncharacteristic of Senri, curved at his lips. He inspected his son's body with pride.

"Well…he didn't shape up too badly did he," He said with a sadistic laugh, "I wonder how my little Riji-chan will react."

"Erisabesu-sama is your nephew's fiancée," Senri's great-uncle said, "You will have to approach her with caution."

Rido scoffed, "I do not fear Kaname. He is the false heir."

"True, that's true,"

"Well, my servant will get the shock of her life when I return to take what's mine."

"What has the lady go to do with this?"

"I never told her this, but I always knew that she was the ancestor's lover. To have both ancestors as my slaves…I will be the most powerful vampire in all of existence and everything is falling into place quite nicely."

"Very good, Sir," Lord Shiki said respectfully.

"Now, retrieve the Ichijo boy…he can be my servant for the time being."

"Yes, my lord," Lord Shiki said.

"Beware, Riji-chan, I'm coming to get you," Rido thought before following Lord Shiki out.

Please Review!

A/N Hey, well this was a quick update. It was also to tell you that there is a poll on my profile and it's concerning this story. Please do vote because I need the go ahead to do what I want to do. I don't want to offend anyone.