Chapter II when the snow melts
A sharp cry cut through the stillness of the house; Haruka slowly blinked his eyes open. He frowned as his sharp senses picked up another cry coming from his sister's nursery. He quickly rubbed the sleep from his eyes, rushing outside to check on her.
Sakura's nursery was located close to their parents' room as their mother desired to be the first to reach the child in case of distress. However, today their parents have been called away for a meeting with the Aido family.
Haruka's eyes grew worried when he noticed the absence of Sakura's nanny in the room.
Another loud wail made him wince as he moved further into the nursery, quickly shrinking the distance that separated him from the crib.
His sister's little face was all scrunched up in discomfort, her little hands were fisted tightly, and she was moving restlessly in her blankets.
"Sakura-chan, hush now. big brother is here with you." He softly whispered to the baby, picking her from the cot, " Did you have a bad dream, Kura? Don't worry, big brother is here now." He started to hum a lullaby, cradling the baby close, a familiar rhythm that their mother would sing to comfort them.
Slowly, Sakura's cries decreased to soft hiccups, the child made a cute sneeze prompting Haruka's lips to curl into a smile. "You're so cute, Imouto." He said, as to acknowledge her brother's words, Sakura locked her glossy eyes on Haruka, and the boy's attention was instantly captured by their pink hue.
It was a surprise for everyone when Sakura's baby blue eyes turned pink, their parents jested that she was indeed their spring child: even her pointed ears and fair skin gave her the semblance of a spring fairy, the ones that would live in the stories that Ayame would tell them in the family's parlor.
Haruka's gaze sharpened when he heard some hesitating footsteps approaching the nursery.
"Mirai-san, come in." He commanded.
the young woman seemed to stumble into the room, shying away from his cold stare. "Haruka-sama…" she bowed her head.
"You weren't in the nursery." he interrupted her before she could say more, " Sakura was alone, defenseless, with my parents away you are her shield. Did you forget your obligation to look after her?"
Mirai resisted to the urge of shrunk back as the temperature in the room became colder. "Where were you? I want the truth."
Mirai closed her eyes in shame. "Haruka-sama...I-I was with Takeo. I apologize, I thought that I would be done before Sakura-sama woke up from her nap. Please, forgive me..."
Mirai could feel her heart pounding against her ribs, she tried to normalize her shakily breaths, but she failed as an invisible weight was choking her air flow.
A whimper cut across the stifling air. "Imouto!" Haruka tempered his power when Sakura left out another whimper. "I'm sorry, Sakura-chan. I didn't mean to scare you." He apologized kissing the crown of his baby sister head.
Mirai gasped, welcoming back the air in her lungs. "Mirai-san."
The vampire forced herself to meet the Kuran boy's red eyes. "My parents will be informed, now leave us. I will take care of Sakura."
Mirai bowed low to the Kuran boy "Y-Yes, Kuran-sama."
When she disappeared, Haruka looked down to his sister, the reddish tint in his garnet eyes started to recede. "I'm sorry Imouto, I didn't mean to scare you before." he apologized. Sakura gurgled as she lifted her small hand to grasp a strand of his raven hair, eliciting a smile from her brother.
"Are you forgiving me, Sakura-chan?" He chuckled when another unintelligible sound was his only answer. "It will be just you and me for a while, Sakura-chan. Kaa-chan said that the meeting will last throughout the night." He informed the child, tickling her sides making Sakura squeal in delight.
Haruka wrinkled his nose in disgust when, suddenly, a strong smell invaded his senses, he checked his sister diaper only to find it full. "Maybe I spoke too soon." He sighed as Sakura gifted him with a gummy smile. "You are so lucky that you are cute, Imouto." He said, preparing himself for a long night.
"Sakura-chan, say Mama." Ayame implored the child who was seated in the highchair. Her shoulders slumping in defeat at Sakura's blank stare.
"Sakura-chan, if you say Mama, I will give you another chocolate pudding." Ayame tried to bribe her, only to sweatdrop when her daughter's pink eyes zeroed in on her with an uncanny focus.
'So, she is listening after all' she thought.
"Ayame, you can't bribe your daughter with pudding." Ayame pouted, recognizing the poorly masked laughter in her husband's voice, turning herself to watch the man who was observing them leaned on the parlor's door.
"You're saying that only because she calls you Papa."
As if on cue Sakura started to babble happily at her father's presence, outstretching her hands towards his direction, causing Takeshi to scoop her up.
"She loves you more than me" Ayame grumbled, dramatically throwing herself on the chair, but her gaze softens at the sight of her daughter's excitement.
These past months, Takashi has been frequently away from home to meet the President of the Hunter association, to discuss the concerning number of human disappearances. Ayame knew that he was trying to avoid an escalation of violence between vampires and hunters.
Her forehead creased as she recalled her husband recent confession when the children were tucked in their bed on how the hunters suspected the hand of a Pureblood behind this disaster. And, despite the royal status of the Kuran line, Ayame knew well that all the pureblood vampires were revered in their society. Hence. the possible killing of one pureblood would have dire consequences on their trembling peace with the hunters, forcing her husband to intervene.
Takeshi shook his head at his wife antics. " Sakura-chan loves you a lot." Takeshi said, snapping Ayame out of her thoughts.
"Really?" Ayame's glossy eyes stared at him with a hopeful glint.
'What a dramatic woman' Takeshi thought, suppressing a smile.
"Of course, She always calms down with your presence. And she constantly searches for you when you're not around." he said, stroking her hair in a consoling manner, while adjusting his hold on Sakura. Said child, started to copy her father motions, clumsy petting Ayame's hair.
" Don't be sad mama."
Ayame frozen, blinking her eyes bewildered, before she seemed to take in her daughter's words. "My baby, you called me mamma. I'm so happy!" Ayame stole her from Takeshi's arms, pulling her close in her arms.
"Mama..."
Ayame sighed happily hearing her daughter sweet voice calling her mama for a second time. "Yes, my child?"
Sakura looked her with expectant eyes." My pudding?" she wondered.
Takeshi rumbling laugh was her only answer.
"Happy birthday Sakura-chan!" a plurality of voices chanted to the smiling child who was trying to grab the strawberry cake in front of her, only to be stopped every time by Ayame.
"You have to blow out your candles Sakura-chan and express a desire." Reminded her, Haruka.
Sakura took a deep breath before blowing out the candles. when an auburn bundle of excitement cornered her in a hug. "Happy birthday, Imouto!" screamed Juri, few centimeters by Sakura's ear, placing a sloppy kiss on her cheek.
"Juri, be careful with your sister" Ayame softly chided the six years old, who gave her little sister a guilty smile.
"Now, everyone we're going to wait for your father before opening the presents but, in the meanwhile, we can eat the cake." Said Ayame, giving her youngest daughter an indulging smile when her disappointed look cleared up in a smile.
"Then we will wait forever… father will not come." Ayame gazed sadly at her oldest son.
"Of course, he will. It's Sakura's birthday! Father would never miss it." Protested hotly Juri, but her brother scoffed derisively at her words.
"Well, he did miss yours!" He retorted.
"Rido, enough!" Said Ayame, rising her voice, Rido's eyes widen in surprise at his mother rare harsh tone, and a hot wave of shame swallowed him when he took a glimpse of his sister's crestfallen expression.
Ayame pinched the bridge of her nose, flickering her eyes between her children. "Rido, your father loves you and there's nothing that he would like more than be here to celebrate with us. And I'm sure of this because he told me so..." she started, shutting down with an admonishing glare her son who looked ready to rebut.
"You can refuse to believe me now, but your father only desire is to keep you safe, all of you. I know that his absence is painful to bare…" Ayame's eyes glistened for a moment, "But he's trying to protect us by the bad people who want to cause us harm." Ayame said.
"The bad people?" Sakura asked.
Ayame shifted her gaze to her youngest's confused face. she knit her brows with a pensive expression, before coming to a decision. "Sakura-chan, you're four now. Soon, you will start your lessons like your siblings did at your age." She briefly smiled at her daughter horrifying face.
"Will I have to dance?" Sakura gasped; Haruka laughed beside her.
"Yes, my love. However, dancing will be only one of your subjects. Among different courses, you will be taught the history of vampires, our social hierarchy and, the duties that came with bearing the name Kuran." Her children quietened down at her words; she carefully looked at every one of them.
"In our world, Purebloods are on the top of the social hierarchy, revered and respected for our unlimited powers and lack of human blood in our veins by the other vampires. We can live eternally, as you will learn when you reach your early twenties in vampire years, you will stop aging.
Under the pureblood, we've the aristocrats who based on their household are gifted with a special talent; every member of the Aido family can manipulate the ice, while their close relatives, the Kain family, can subjugate the fire at their will. While powerful, the nobles have still a degree of diluted human blood in their bloodstream. Even though, they can live for centuries their lifespan will be eventually cut short.
The level C vampires don't possess any special power that distinguish them from a normal vampire. Among them, we also count the level D vampires, ex humans that were turned into vampires."
Sakura scrunched her nose at her mother explanation. "A human can become a vampire?" She asked.
Ayame nodded her head. " The absence of human blood allows Purebloods to transform humans into vampires. However, ex humans can only survive if they drink the blood of a pureblood." She answered.
"So, they have to drink my blood?" Sakura wondered innocently.
"No! no, no, no one will drink your blood, Sakura-chan!" Said resolutely Haruka, his cheeks flushing with indignation at his sister mere suggestion, Ayame smiled amusingly, observing his son shielding his sister with his body, looking ready to pounce on everyone who would take a step closer to Sakura.
Her daughter, Juri, rolled her eyes exasperated at her brother protectiveness, while Rido seemed fully intent to join Haruka in his crusade. Her youngest, looked even more confused by her brother behavior.
"No, my love. No one will drink your blood. This is another important lesson for you to remember, our blood as Purebloods is sacred. Only the people that you will love are allowed to drink it. And only with your permission." she stressed.
" While it is true that our blood set us apart from other vampires, we've also the responsibility to not abuse it by changing humans into vampires, unless we're ready to face the consequences of our actions..." She explained, "Humans are not toys that we can change for our amusement. Always remember that they weren't born as vampires and the transformation can have severe repercussions on their physical and mental psyche. Level Ds who didn't consume the blood of the Pureblood who changed them will gradually descend into madness. The blood of another Pureblood could help them but it's only the vampire who bit them that can save them from becoming a level E."
Ayame's mood darkened, thinking about her past encounters with level E vampires.
" Level E are ex humans who lost their sanity. They're not anymore able to control their thirst for human blood, they would attack their own family members to obtain a drop of blood… The thirst makes them uncapable to differentiate between friends and enemies."
Sakura gulped at her mother words, unconsciously clenching her little hand in the folds of Haruka's sweatshirt.
"There's not cure. The only mean to help them is to spare them from further sufferance by ending their lives." Ayame continued.
"What about father?" Rido asked, looking uneasy.
"These past two years, the number of level Es has increased, alarming not only us but the Hunter association, which decided to contact your father."
Her lips twisted, remembering the unwelcome visit of the hunters in their home. Fortunately, at the time, the children were engaged in their lessons, while Sakura was napping under the watch of a servant. "Your father is assisting them in containing the threat posed by the level Es, while he searched for the Pureblood who caused this disaster."
Juri bit down on her lips with a troubled expression. " What happens when they find the Pureblood who did this?" She asked.
Ayame's countenance seemed to darken even more. " If the hunters find the Pureblood before your father, they will kill him. " Her daughter blanched at her words.
"But Rukia-san told me that killing a Pureblood is forbidden!" Juri exclaimed, recalling her tutor's lesson on vampire law.
Ayame smiled sadly, " She is right. However, hunters are not held to abide our laws. Do you remember when I told you that as Kurans we've a responsibility?"
Ayame waited for her children to nod before continuing. " Many centuries ago, vampires and hunters were at war with each other. Many Purebloods turned humans into vampires to increase their numbers and exterminate the hunters…
Our ancestor, Kuran Kaname sacrificed himself to stop this war. His heart allowed the creation of anti-vampire weapons, turning the tide of the war: now, Hunters had the ability to kill a Pureblood, and this changed everything.
Our line forged a trembling peace with the hunters to avoid other vampire or human losses."
Ayame took a deep breath, gazing her children who were now huddled together, listening to her story. "As Kurans, we are the keepers of this peace. This means that if a vampire threats it, we must step on to preserve it. Even so, regardless of our status, the killing of a Pureblood remains a taboo in our world as Purebloods would rebel, supported by some aristocrats, provoking another war. Your father wants to avoid a useless bloodshed by finding the Pureblood before the Hunter association." She said.
" And if he cannot?" asked Haruka, who had been listening quietly, until that moment.
"Let's hope that I can." The children jolted in surprise at their father low voice.
Takeshi was leaned against the living room doorframe, Ayame frowned at his disheveled appearance.
"Papa!" Sakura shouted happily, giving the man a toothy smile. Takeshi reached her side, taking her from Haruka's arms, snorting at his son disgruntled expression.
"Happy birthday, baby girl." he said, as she beamed to him. He lowered himself to softly kiss Juri's forehead, lifting her up too.
"Did you catch the bad vampire, Papa?" his oldest daughter demanded, as soon as she was comfortable in his hold. Takeshi met his wife's eyes, Ayame stood her ground under her husband reproachful stare, until Juri commanded his attention on her by slightly pulling a lock of his raven hair.
Takeshi spare her a last meaningful glance, they will speak later, he thought.
" Well, right now… I caught two very bad little vampires and I'm really hungry." he said, lowering his voice, playfully flashing his red eyes to them.
Takeshi surprised his daughters by turning them upside down, swinging them from their ankles, the little girls released a scream at the abrupt change of position.
" Maybe, I will cook you in the oven? What do you think boys? they seem tasty enough." He asked to his sons who were eyeing the scene, ignoring their sisters' pleas to save them.
"Nooo, Papa, please don't eat us. We can eat the cake!" Sakura shouted between the laughs, Juri energetically nodded to her sister words.
The man pretended a thoughtful expression, " is it a strawberry cake?" Both his daughters squealed their yes, and he slowly put the laughing pair down.
"Well, I think that we can eat the cake, for this time." His eyes twinkled with adoration as he watched them run to reach the cake.
Author's note:
Hello guys, I want to thank you all of you who are following this story. I hope you will enjoy the new chapter!
My updates will start to be more regular after exam session, thank you for your support, and to Ari for being my first review.