Author's note: I can't believe I started this fic three years ago, and it's been on the back of my mind ever since! Well, better late than never!
Anyway, if you read the first chapter before please note that I've re-written it. I've changed a lot as a writer, and I felt like I needed to start from scratch so that the change in writing wouldn't feel strange. That being said, the story remains the same, this is still an AU where Yuki didn't get turned into a human. This being said Yuki will be more independent, and much stronger than she is in canon, so she might feel a little OOC.
For those of you who are returning, and are still interested in the story, thank you for being so patient! I hope it was worth the wait.
Prologue
"Mommy! Himari!" Yuki screamed as hard as her little lungs allowed.
A familiar and comforting presence enveloped her from behind, arms wrapped protectively around her. Kaname, whose embrace was usually a source of solace and security, now held her with an uncharacteristic tension.
"Yuki!" her sister yelled, her tiny voice barely carrying through the screams outside.
Yuki stretched out her hand.
"Himari!"
"Yuki!" her sister's voice pierced through the cacophony of screams outside, barely audible in the chaos.
Desperation etched across Yuki's face as she extended her trembling hand.
"Himari!"
She didn't understand what was going on. One second, they were all happily gathered around the crackling fireplace, basking in its comforting warmth. Yuki, Kaname, and Himari sat on the plush carpet, their laughter filling the air as they played a lively hand game, created by her sister on the spot. Each time Kaname broke one of the ever-changing rules, her sister playfully scolded him, their banter echoing in the cozy room. The parents, sitting on the soft sofa, observed their children with a contented smile, their eyes reflecting pure joy. They were immersed in happiness. Then, suddenly, a piercing scream shattered their idyllic existence, sending shockwaves through the serene atmosphere.
Her young mind fought to grasp the sheer terror reflected in her mother's wide eyes, while her father's face burned with a furious intensity, emanating an ominous energy that crackled through the room like electric sparks. The last time she witnessed her father's power, it had been a joyful spectacle, as he summoned his familiar and filled the air with laughter. But now, the air felt heavy and charged, causing her hair to prickle with unease, as fear tightened its grip on her trembling heart.
Chaos erupted shortly afterwards. Suddenly, she found herself in Kaname's embrace, while their mother scooped up Himari, both of them watching their father vanish through the doors. Yuki cried back, struggling against Kaname's hold. But no matter how much she tried, he did not budge. His arms were steel as he kept her away from their sister by their mother's order.
Why was Himari being carried away? Didn't they understand they had to stay together? Why were there people screaming outside? Why did she smell blood?
She had so many questions, and she didn't have an answer to any of them.
As she opened the door, her mother finally came to a halt and glanced back. In that moment, it felt as though time had frozen.
Her mother's eyes shimmered in the light as tears streamed down her cheeks. Throughout her entire young life, she had never witnessed her mother shedding tears. The sheer surprise paralyzed her, causing her to become motionless.
"Yuki, Kaname," she lovingly called out their names, her eyes gently shifting from one to the other, "please protect Himari."
Yuki didn't even get a chance to cry out again or ask what she meant or what was happening. Before she could even blink, the door swiftly closed, leaving behind only a fleeting image: her sister's startled eyes and her mother's retreating figure.
Everything happened in a blur. Her mind grappled to comprehend the rapid sequence of events, unable to process it all at once. One instant, they were inside the grand mansion. The next, they found themselves outside, surrounded by snow blood stained snow. Then Kaname left her, and she thought he was abandoning her too, only to return a few minutes later, his clothes splattered with blood. Then—
"Those poor things, I can't even imagine what they must have endured," a female voice exclaimed, breaking Yuki out of her memories.
As she blinked a few times, she discovered herself in a room with marble floors, a dazzling chandelier, and a coffee table, completely devoid of any traces of blood or snow. It took her a second to remember where they were.
Kaname and Yuki sat shoulder to shoulder on a plush sofa, their bodies tense and their gazes piercing as they fixed their attention forward. The metallic scent permeated the air, as blood stained their clothes, saturating the once immaculate white fabric beneath them. Unfazed by the crimson stains, their grip on each other's hands remained unyielding, the only physical connection they allowed themselves.
They came here an hour ago. Yuki wasn't exactly sure where they were, having never seen this place. Her world before was surrounded by the same familiar windowless walls. And now she was surrounded by unfamiliar ones. Although Kaname had assured her that this would be a safe haven, his tight hold on her suggested a lingering anticipation of potential threats.
Yuki slowly turned her head to glance at the maids standing by the wall. They had their mouths covered with their hands as they spoke, completely ignoring her presence. One of them held a tray filled with untouched food.
"I heard the Kurans went insane and started killing everyone, including each other. It's a shame, really. I always saw them as the most peaceful and kind out of all the purebloods," one maid hushed.
The other maid nodded.
"Indeed, although one can truly know with a pureblood. One moment they're fine, and the next, they do something like this. I—" The woman shook her head. "All I'm saying is that it's a miracle the young Masters—"
A sharp shattering sound resonated through the room as the glass cups on the tray exploded. Both maids jumped and shrieked.
An ear-piercing, shattering sound reverberated violently across the room. The delicate glass cups, neatly arranged on the tray, erupted into a shower of sparkling shards. Startled, both maids instinctively leaped back and shrieked.
"Yuki," Kaname gently scolded, without the sternness her parents would typically use.
Yuki's gaze remained fixed on the maids, completely ignoring her brother. The two women, visibly shaken, returned her stare with wide, terrified eyes. In silence, they diligently tidied up the mess and hastily made their way out of the room.
"That wasn't very nice," Kaname sighed. "This is our home now. We need to be friendly to these people, okay?"
Yuki turned to look at him.
Home? This place wasn't their home. It felt unfamiliar, with an abundance of windows, bright lights, and peculiar smells. A wave of sadness engulfed her, causing her chest to tighten. All she longed for was to return to her true home.
As she parted her lips to speak, the doors swung open.
An icy breeze slithered through the room, causing her to inch closer to Kaname instinctively. The sound of footsteps echoed against the smooth marble tiles as an imposing man with lustrous blond hair and a meticulously groomed beard entered the room.
"I apologize for the extended wait, Lady and Lord Kuran," the man expressed, coming to a halt in front of them. "I was engaged in a council meeting when I received the distressing news, and I tried to arrive here promptly."
Her brother said something to the older vampire, but she did not listen as she stared at the stranger.
Confined to a section of the Kuran mansion, Yuki's interactions had been limited to her immediate family and the occasional rotation of maids who came and went during the night. Meeting new people was always a rarity for her. Typically, it was Himari who approached unfamiliar faces with caution, while Yuki maintained her natural curiosity. However, this time was different. Whether it was the subtle tightening of Kaname's grip on her hand or a tingling sensation at the back of her neck, something warned her not to trust this unfamiliar man.
Noticing her gaze, the man shifted his icy blue eyes towards her.
"I have had the pleasure of meeting Lord Kaname before, but I cannot recall ever having met you," he stated as he gracefully knelt in front of her and offered his hand. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Council Member Asato Ichijo. And what is your name, Lady Kuran?"
Yuki wrinkled her nose.
Lady Kuran? It took Yuki a while to realize he was talking to her. Throughout her life, Lady Kuran had always been her mother, and her father had always been Lord Kuran, not Kaname. So why was he using that title to refer to her?
Yuki instinctively leaned back, seeking refuge behind Kaname. She hadn't uttered a word since their arrival at the mansion, and now her own voice felt strangely distant.
'We need to be friendly to these people,' she suddenly recalled Kaname's words.
"Yuki," she mumbled.
Ichijo's expression didn't soften like her parents' would whenever she spoke, as it remained cold and distant. Even when he smiled, it lacked the warmth and welcoming nature of Kaname's or Himari's smiles. Instead, it triggered a strange and unfamiliar emotion within her, causing a crawling and itching sensation that she couldn't comprehend.
"There's no need to fear." He tilted his head, and the edge of his lip curled slightly, flashing his fangs a little. "This is your home now, and you're in safe hands, Lady Yuki."
~Y~
Ichijo took a seat on the sofa across from Kaname and engaged in a seemingly endless conversation. However, she paid no attention to their words, instead resting her head on Kaname's shoulder and closing her eyes. Exhaustion overwhelmed her, but sleep eluded her. Every time she shut her eyes, haunting memories of mutilated corpses and blood would flash through her mind.
"I'm sure we can talk further tomorrow evening, Lord Kaname," Ichijo stood up and gestured at the pair of maids that came into the room. "My maids have prepared your rooms next to my grandson, Takuma. I'm sure you remember him."
Kaname nodded, but Yuki did not recognize the name at all.
"Thank you for your hospitality, councillor Asato Ichijo."
"Just Ichio, please."
Once more, the man smiled, and an instinctive urge to hide washed over Yuki.
Yuki and Kaname trailed behind the maids, noting that they differed from the ones they had encountered earlier, yet they eyed them with a similar wariness.
The maids led them to their respective rooms. Initially, a sense of dread gripped Yuki when she heard they had different rooms, fearing she would have to sleep alone. However, that anxiety dissipated as Kaname guided her into his room, instantly calming her nerves.
Yuki sat on the bed, her eyes dull as she watched Kaname diligently prepare everything for their nighttime routine. He gently reminded her she needed to bathe, pointing out the dried blood still clinging to her clothes and hair. However, Yuki's attention was elsewhere, as a single question continuously plagued her thoughts since their arrival.
"When is Himari coming here?"
Her voice was a whisper, yet she knew he heard her as he suddenly froze.
Himari, their dear sister. Amidst all the turmoil, Yuki hadn't forgotten about her.
After their mother took Himari and they left the Kuran mansion, Yuki feared she might never see her sister again. Only she saw her again, and another vampire who was threatening to hurt her. Yuki knew vampires possessed incredible speed, having witnessed her brother and parents effortlessly traverse a room in the blink of an eye. However, she believed that speed was an ability she had yet to unlock. But in that crucial moment, she moved so swiftly that she barely registered it until she had Himari in her arms, shielding her while Kaname confronted and eliminated the vampire.
Normally, she would have revelled in her newfound ability, but joy was overshadowed by concern for her sister. As she tried to wake Himari, Yuki realized that something was amiss. Everything about her felt off—from her scent to the very essence of her being, as if some vital part had been dulled. The Himari in her arms wasn't the sister she knew.
Kaname didn't allow her to linger in shock as he gently took their sister from her and pressed on through the snow. In silence, they traversed the snowy landscape for what felt like an eternity. Despite the tumultuous events of the day, Yuki found solace because, at least for the moment, the three of them were together. However, the respite was short-lived.
Soon, they found themselves in front of an unfamiliar building. There, they encountered a man who introduced himself as Kaien Cross. His scent was peculiar, unlike anyone she had ever met, but at least he seemed amiable, unlike Ichijo. That perception changed abruptly when Cross took her sister from Kaname's arms, and realization dawned on her.
"Why did we leave her with that strange man?" She asked, glaring at her feet.
Despite her deep love for her sister, Yuki's affection for Kaname surpassed even that bond. While occasional bouts of jealousy arose towards Himari, who always seemed to command their parents' attention, Yuki's relationship with Kaname was distinctly different. From a young age, she felt an unspoken claim to Kaname. He treated her with a gentleness and kindness that surpassed his interactions with anyone else. This unique connection shielded him from her occasional sibling quarrels.
In their shared history, Yuki could recall being angry at Kaname only once—when he accidentally broke a present she had crafted for their mother. The details of that day were hazy, but the memory of her anger lingered. Yet, this current emotion was incomparable. It wasn't about a shattered piece of pottery, but a sister left behind.
As Kaname closed the dresser and turned to her, his brows slanted in a sorrowful expression that mirrored the heaviness in Yuki's heart.
"Himari isn't coming, Yuki," he said with a heavy sadness.
Yuki's eyes welled up, though tears refused to fall as she stood from the bed.
"Why not?"
It wasn't fair. Why did all of this have to happen? Just moments ago, they were a content family, and now her world lay shattered into a thousand pieces. Losing her parents was already a heavy burden, and now, to be separated from Himari, added an unbearable weight.
Kaname sighed, his fatigue clear. Walking up to her, he knelt in front of her. Despite his usual towering height, in that moment, he almost matched her eye level.
"I need you to listen to me carefully, okay, Yuki?" His voice lowered, ensuring only she could hear. "Himari is in a very delicate situation. For her safety, we had to leave her at that mansion. It's crucial that nobody else knows about her—only you and I."
Confusion etched across her face as she cocked her head.
"Why?"
"Because other people might want to hurt her," Kaname explained, his voice carrying a sombre weight.
The notion that someone might want to harm Himari perplexed Yuki. Her sister was small and defenseless—why would anyone wish her harm? Anxiety tightened in Yuki's chest. Was Himari in danger? Was she about to lose another loved one?
Yuki's eyes welled up further with tears.
"But why? I don't understand," she cried, a mix of frustration and anger colouring her voice. The barrage of unanswered questions echoed in her mind, intensifying her sense of confusion and loss.
Why were her parents taken away? Why did they have to abandon their home? Where was Himari? What was this place, and why did the blond man instil such fear in her? And why did she keep seeing red every time she closed her eyes? The same questions circled relentlessly in her mind, demanding answers that were elusive to her.
Tears streamed down Yuki's face, unrestrained, as the dam broke inside her.
She longed for the familiar comfort of home, for things to revert to the way they were. Her heart ached for her mommy, daddy, and sister to be returned to her.
Amid her anguish, Kaname didn't utter a word. Instead, he enveloped her in his arms. Yuki clung to his shirt, tears soaking the fabric as she cried into his shoulder. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until her sobs transformed into hiccups, and her eyes dried, incapable of shedding more tears. Even with tear stains on his shirt, Kaname didn't push her away. He continued to stroke her hair, offering a silent solace, until the tiny sniffles signalled it was time to gently pull her back.
"Do you remember what Mom said to us?" Kaname asked.
Everything seemed to halt for the second time that day as her mother's last words echoed in her mind. Yuki nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes.
Kaname continued to stroke her hair, offering a gentle smile. "You want to protect her, don't you?"
Her lower lip trembled with the aftermath of her crying, but a determined nod conveyed her unspoken commitment.
The desire to shield her sister burned within Yuki, but doubt crept in. How could she protect Himari when she felt so small and weak herself? All she seemed capable of doing was crying. She wasn't like Kaname, who radiated strength and bravery. Meanwhile, she hadn't even grown her fangs yet. How could she fulfil her mother's plea to protect her sister? Yet, despite her doubts, the weight of those words felt etched into the core of her being.
Yuki rubbed away the last remnants of her tears.
"Y-yes," she answered hoarsely. "I want to protect Himari."
His smile widened.
"Then we'll just have to get stronger to protect her," Kaname declared, placing his hand on her cheek and gently wiping away the lingering tears from her eyes. "This is only the beginning, Yuki. You are a Kuran as much as I am, and one day you'll make people think twice before hurting Himari."
A newfound determination flickered in Yuki's eyes, and a smile graced her lips for the first time as she found echoes of her father in Kaname's words.
'There's no need to fear the dark, Yuki. So long as the blood of the Kuran family flows through you, there will be no need to fear anything.'
Kaname was right. Her mother never cowered in fear, and her father held his head high until the end. She was a Kuran, and one day she would find the strength to protect Himari.
Kaname leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers. Yuki often found her brother's eyes captivating and peaceful, like sweet chocolate. Yet, as she gazed into his eyes now, she witnessed a transformation. Kaname's eyes were no longer soft; instead, a mighty flame burned in his brown irises, captivating her with a newfound intensity.
"We'll take it all back one day, Yuki. Our lives, our home, Himari—" Kaname's hand cupped her cheek, and a dark resolve settled across his face. "We'll have our revenge, I promise."
Revenge was a concept Yuki hadn't been intimately familiar with, the word never having found a place in her vocabulary. Yet, as Kaname spoke it, she realized that was exactly what she desired. It encapsulated the dark, bitter yearning that had churned in the pit of her stomach throughout the day. Back then, she hadn't known what to call it, but now she understood.
Revenge—she would seek it one day. And when the time came, she pledged to help him reclaim everything that had been taken from them.
