Here we are at Chapter 23. Now that the battle's over, it's time for the aftermath and what comes next. I do not own Code Vein. They belong to Bandai Namco. I only own my OCs. Here's chapter 23. Enjoy.

Chapter 23: To the Second Home

After the chaos from the rescue operation, Yuki was finally brought back home to Crystalglove city. Since the school is under repairs, classes are canceled for the time being. Thus, she was brought back home instead. Everyone came with her since they were all still worried about her. To their surprise, they find Fuyumi, Elane, May, and Yukari there waiting for them along with Emilia. Emilia had sent a letter to Fuyumi's party. As soon as she got the news, Fuyumi used her power to transport her group back to the city, but by the time she got back, Hiei and the others had already rescued her daughter. She was relieved that Yuki was okay and back home, but it still made her feel like garbage knowing her daughter was in danger and she wasn't there to protect her. Her group was surprised to learn about Veronica and all that she knew about their enemies, but that did help them in a way. They originally left to find out about Yukitsuki's origins, and now they know.

In her room, Yuki sleeps soundly while Fuyumi and Emilia watch over her.

"I should've been here. I should've been nearby to protect her," Fuyumi laments.

"Don't blame yourself. We all agreed to that mission to find out about Yukitsuki's past. None of us could've foresaw what would've happened, nor the reach our foes had in this kingdom. I thought after the war, we would no longer have to worry about the church and their schemes. I was wrong," Emilia holds her arm.

Fuyumi sighs, "I'll be talking to the king soon. I'm going to tell him that I'm not going to be going out on any missions for the royal family for some time," she leans down to stroke Yuki's cheek. "For now, I just want to be with my family and be a better parent,"

"I doubt he'd say no. And even if he did, you wouldn't listen to him anyway. But you're right, we could all use a break. Maybe we should all go somewhere. As a family. A little vacation," Emilia suggests.

"That sounds like a good idea," Fuyumi nods.

Emilia rests her head on Fuyumi's shoulder, who pulls her in closer. For now, they just bask in the fact that their daughter is safe again.

...

The next day, Yukitsuki had regained more of her strength and was awake again. Everyone was there to greet her except for Sophia who was called back home by her father. Though, she did leave a letter giving Yuki her best wishes and that she hopes to see her again soon. After Yuki was well again, everyone got together to discuss what transpired during the rescue operation. The one's who spoke the most were Yuki, Hiei, and Veronica.

"So, you have a magic stone in your heart which amplifies your ice magic?" Emilia asks.

"Yes. He tried to put other stones into my heart. I think he cast some kind of spell on them as well. When they were forced into my body... I've never felt such pain before," Yuki holds a hand over her chest.

Hiei wraps an arm around her shoulders, "I'm sorry you had to go through that, Yuki,"

"I'm sorry about attacking you. I had no control over my body. I was so frightened that I might've killed you," Yuki says.

"That wasn't your fault, Yukitsuki. That man, Jorus, was controlling you. He is to blame for all of this,"

"What matters now is that your safe and home, Yukitsuki. However, we shouldn't completely let our guard down. That man, Jorus, and his servants are still out there. Until we capture them, we can't let our guard down completely. However, we have no idea where he went," Iris notes.

"Jorus will lay low for a while. He lost many people and his hideout in that last battle. He's a cautious sort most of the time. I didn't know him long in our short time together, but that's the impression that I got," Veronica says.

"Lady Veronica, while we are grateful to you for saving our daughter, we want an explanation. Hiei said that you were able to save Yukitsuki from her dire circumstances, but you didn't let them see what happened. Only the aftermath. Can you tell us exactly what happened?" Yukari asks.

"Of course. To put it basically, those idiots performed a ritual on her based upon my research. However, just like before, they failed to fully understand my research and got it wrong, miserably so. Because of that, her soul was damaged," Veronica explains.

"Her soul... was damaged?" Hana asks, confused.

"It's not as complicated as it sounds. The strain they put on her body was so intense that it reached her very soul and damaged it. That's why she started bleeding everywhere. She was basically falling apart from the inside," Veronica says.

"From the inside? I remember that pain... I never want to feel that again," Yuki mutters, making Hiei hold her in her warm embrace.

"But, if that's what happened, how exactly did you save her?" Fuyumi asks.

"Well, I gave her a part of my soul," Veronica said offhandedly.

"You what?" Anelia didn't get it.

"I meant exactly as I said. I gave Yuki a piece of my own soul. As such, our two souls are now connected. We can sense each other's presence when we're close enough as well. I never thought I'd actually do something like that, but if it meant saving Yuki, then the price was well worth it," Veronica explains.

"Price? Wait, if you gave her a piece of your soul, what will that do to you?" Anelia asks.

"Demon souls are far stronger than human souls, so I'm not in any immediate danger. However, if I'm too far away from her, my strength will start to decline. The more important part is that even if I'm close to her, my magic power will still weaken as well. There is one way to fix that. Any form of physical contact with Yukitsuki will allow my magic power to replenish itself. Some forms of physical contact work better than others though," Veronica says.

"That explains one thing. I felt something different inside of me. Like a piece was missing, and then something else took its place. It felt weird at first, but now it feels... nice," Yuki touches the place where her heart is on her chest.

"That's my piece of my soul, though I suppose it's your piece now. Either way, that means we are bound together now. As an added bonus for you, because you have a piece of my soul now, your lifespan has increased. Now, you won't live for centuries like a normal demon, but you will live longer than a normal human," Veronica says.

"Hmm, well even if she outlives her human parents, she'll still have Fuyumi, Yukari, Yukio, and Elane with her," Emilia notes.

"Yes, now then, we still have our deal. I helped you out with rescuing Yukitsuki, so now... I get to become her mistress!" Veronica cheers.

Hiei groans, "I was hoping she would forget about that,"

"My mistress?" Yuki cocks her head.

"Yes. It would be strange if you were to marry a demon princess, but I can always mask my appearance with magic or even say that I'm a dragonewt from the Dragon Alliance. I look similar enough after all. And I fell for you at first sight when you grew up. I could just eat you up. Besides, our souls are bound to one another, so you're stuck with me either way," the demon princess smiles.

"But what about the royal family? What if they say otherwise and decide to have you arrested or killed?" Anelia asks.

"Please, as if I care about the opinions of mere mortals who will die long before I do. I do what I want, when I want, and where I want. Simple as that," Veronica waves it off, which only makes the others more nervous.

"Okay, but what about the other nobles? If enough high-ranking nobles speak out about it, it could cause problems for our family. It's nothing personal against you, Lady Veronica. But, even if the war with the demons was so long ago, humans will still be wary of them. Perhaps I can speak with the royal family on what to do about this," Emilia says.

"I'm sure they'll help out. They helped out with Fuyumi after all," Veronica smirks at Fuyumi.

Fuyumi didn't let it show on her face, but she was stunned. It's quite possible that Veronica knows she's a revenant. Or, at least she knows that Fuyumi is not human. It seems shell have to be a little more cautious with this one. But, her affection for Yukitsuki seems genuine enough at least. Hiei and Hana look confused, but don't speak on it. Not surprising since they don't know about Fuyumi's true origins.

"Okay, but what should we do now? The school is still under repair and classes were canceled for the time being. We could look for Jorus, but we have no leads. And honestly, after everything, I just want to relax for a little while," Yuki asks.

"In that case, I may have an idea," Yukari speaks up.

"Yukari? What do you mean?" Fuyumi asks.

"Well, I wanted to suggest that you all come and spend a little vacation in the Dragon Alliance. I was already planning on inviting you all to my home once Yuki was on break from school. It came a little earlier than originally planned, but now seems like a good time for a trip back home. Besides, Jorus had some influence here because of the church, but it's unlikely he'll have as much influence in the Dragon Alliance, since the church didn't have much power there. This way, you all can relax for a little while. My family is hoping to see Yuki as well. She's part of the family, so she'll be treated as an imperial princess, just like me," Yukari says.

"Hmm, that could work. Besides, one of your months is coming up anyway. I plan on taking time off from missions, and Emilia hasn't been there in quite some time," Fuyumi likes the idea.

"I like it. If I'm going to marry Hiei, I'll have to move to the Dragon Alliance, so it'll be nice to get more familiar with the place," Yuki agrees as well.

"Then it's settled. We'll prepare and head out there in a few days' time," Fuyumi says.

With that plan settled, everyone prepares to leave the room. However, Yukari stops Emilia and Fuyumi before they leave.

"Emilia, Fuyumi, a word, please," Yukari says.

"Yukari, is something the matter?" Emilia asks.

Yukari sighs, "Possibly. It involves my family back home. And Yuki..."

...

Meanwhile, Sophia is called in to speak to her father regarding the mission to rescue Yukitsuki.

"So, you rescued Yukitsuki from the kidnappers. While I did not give your permission to partake in such a reckless mission, you succeeded nonetheless. This would put you in the Crystalglove family's good graces and gain their trust. So, did you learn exactly who those kidnappers were and why they were after the Lady Crystalglove?" her father asks.

Sophia hesitates for a moment before replying," They were remnants of the old church of the goddess from the war. They wanted revenge against the Crystalglove family for being a major part in losing most of their power during the war. They knew they couldn't go after Fuyumi since she's too strong, so they went after her daughter instead while she was away on a mission for the royal family,"

Duke Ramona hums, "Hmm, I see. Anything else that might be important?"

Sophia shakes her head, "No, that was all there was to it,"

"I see. Very well. Not exactly what we were hoping for, but at least it was somewhat beneficial to your mission. Continue to get closer with Lady Yukitsuki and gain a hold on her. Do so, no matter what it takes. Remember what will happen to you if you fail," Duke Ramona says.

"I understand, Father. I'll be going now," Sophia bows her head and takes her leave. As soon as she leaves her father's office and is certain she's alone, Sophia lets out a heavy sigh. "I can't believe I actually lied to him like that."

She told him a lot of truths, but not the whole truth. She withheld the truth about Yuki's origins. If her father ever found out about that, who knows what he would do with it. Or worse, what he might do to Yuki with it. Sophia, deep down, couldn't let that happen. Once again, she is forced to confront the fact that she has fallen in love with Yukitsuki.

...

A few days have passed and everyone is packed up and ready for their little vacation to the Dragon Alliance. They don't want to take too long, so they'll fly there on Yukari's back. That'll save a lot of time and potential trouble than travelling on the road. They leave in the morning and arrive a few hours later at the imperial capital, Ryuuguu. The place is just as beautiful as the first time Fuyumi came here. Looking down, they see the people in the streets, looking as lively as ever.

"It's been so long since my last visit. I wonder what kinds of new products the local shops have," Emilia wonders with anticipation.

"I'm more interested in trying the new food," Fuyumi says.

"Can we land now, please!" And Elane still hasn't gotten over her fear of heights or flying.

"Oh, don't be such a wuss. Flying is so much fun!" Veronica says, flying beside Yukari.

"Try doing that without wings and see how you like it!" Elane complains.

They approach the imperial palace, where guards in the sky converge on them. Dragons with soldiers riding their backs.

"Your Highness, we received word of your arrival. We shall escort you to the landing zone," one soldier says.

"Excellent, I've brought my family with me, including my daughter Yukitsuki. I trust a warm welcome awaits us," Yukari replies.

"Yes, everything was completed as you instructed, Your Highness," the soldier says.

They fly down to the landing zone outside the castle where an assortment of guards stand at attention for their arrival. But they aren't the only ones. Standing in front of them is Yukari's mother, the former empress Suijin Akatsuki.

"Mother, I wasn't expecting you to come out and greet us. You didn't have to come out yourself," Yukari greets her after changing back into her second form.

"Oh, it's no trouble at all, Yukari. After stepping down as the empress, I've had a lot of free time on my hands. Honestly, sometimes it's troubling trying to find ways to pass the time. A pleasure to you see you again, Lady Emilia," Suijin greets the noble lady.

Emilia curtsies, "The pleasure is all mine, Your Majesty,"

"Oh come now, we're family are we not? You may address me as Suijin or even 'Mother' if you like. I'd prefer the latter, actually," Sujin giggles. Her eyes then drift to Veronica. "Hmmm, it's surprising to see a demon among your ranks," she says, causing some of the guards to tense up.

"She's with us. Don't worry, she's not a threat, as long as no harm comes to Yukitsuki, that is," Fuyumi says.

"I see. Well, there will be more time for that later. This is supposed to be a nice reunion and time for some family bonding. I don't want to spoil it," Suijin lets it pass for now.

Yukitsuki steps forth, "Grandmother, it is a pleasure to see you again," she curtsies.

"Yukitsuki, always happy to see my beloved granddaughter. My, your hair really did become all white. Though, it suits you just as much as your old black hair did. It's wonderful to see you again, and to see how much you've grown. You're even more beautiful than the last time I saw you," Sujin coos.

"You are too kind, Grandmother. I still can't compare to you or to my mothers," Yuki replies.

This is normal for the two of them. When Yuki first met her grandparents as a child, Suijin immediately took a liking to her. She was hoping to have a granddaughter.

"Come, we can catch up later. Let us rest inside and have something to eat. The rest of the family will want to see you soon. Follow me," Suijin turns and leads the way.

As the group follow her, guards, servants, and others in the palace stop to bow their heads to the members of the imperial family in the group. Suijin leads them to a large room. Everyone takes seats around a large table while servants take care of their belongings. Hiei and Hana left for another room with some servants.

"Yukitsuki, if you would come with me for a quick moment," Suijin says.

Yukitsuki follows her into another room where a few servants are waiting for them.

"Your Majesty. Your Highness," the servants bow to them.

"Think of this as a little gift for you. Alright ladies, let's get to work," Suijin claps her hands.

In the other room, the rest relax as servants prepare them some tea and snacks.

"My home is free to all of you. Please, relax at your leisure. Some clothes will be prepared for you all while you're here. I have a few ideas on how we can spend our little vacation here," Yukari suggests.

"While that is a nice idea, Yukari, I think you should tell the others what you told Emilia and I before we came here," Fuyumi says.

"Told you? What's going on?" Anelia asks.

Yukari sighs, "The truth is my brother, the current emperor Kagero, wanted us to come for more than just a little vacation. This has to do with Yukitsuki and Hiei's engagement,"

"What about their engagement?" Iris asks.

Before Yukari can answer, the door opens in in walks Hiei and Hana. Hiei is wearing a black and red hakama with her sword on her hip and her hair up in a ponytail. Meanwhile, Hana is wearing a purple top modeled after a kimono, with flowing sleeves and a few pins in her hair.

"Well, you two certainly freshen up with you can," Emilia notes.

"It feels nice to be back in my normal clothes. That uniform back in Anatolia isn't what I'm used to," Hiei says.

"That's because you're not as feminine as most other girls," Hana teases her.

"I hope we didn't keep you long. Looks like Yuki hasn't returned. I hope Her Majesty will go easy on her," Hiei says.

"I'm sure she'll be fine. If anything were to happen to her, I would know about it," Veronica says.

"Well, she's a princess here, so I doubt anything bad would happen," Hiei says, but that only makes Yukari look more worried.

Just then, the doors open again and in walks Yuki. Hiei, Hana, and even Veronica freeze upon seeing her. Yuki is wearing a white kimono with light blue petals on the skirt and kimono sleeves. Her hair is done up in a bun with braids on the sides. A silver snowflake hair pendant is fixed into her hair.

"So, um, how do I look?" Yuki asks.

"You look marvelous, dear. Oh, I haven't had this much fun since Yukari was little," Suijin coos.

"Mother, now is not the time!" Yukari blushes, embarrassed.

"You're right about that. Come, my son has summoned you. He wishes to speak with you all," Suijin says.

Wondering what this could be about, the gang leave to meet with the emperor in the audience chamber. There they find Emperor Kagero sitting where his father once sat. Next to him is another dragon in human form, only this one wears primarily green robes, a pair of curved horns on the sides of her head, and short hair with blue eyes. His wife, Empress Yuka Akatsuki.

Everyone bow their heads, curtsy, or kneel before the emperor. Suijin takes her seat off to the side along with Yukari.

"Your Majesty, it is an honor to be in your presence," Emilia speaks for the group.

"Well met, Lady Emilia. I am glad you all made it here without any issue. I heard about recent events from Yukari. It brings me relief to see you safe and unharmed, Yukitsuki," Emperor Kagero says.

"You are too kind, Your Majesty," Yuki replies, bowing her head.

"There is no need for that, Yukitsuki. You are a part of the imperial family; my niece," Kagero says.

"Brother, enough with the preamble. You wanted to speak to us about Yuki and Hiei's engagement," Yukari barks off.

"Huh?" Yuki and Hiei appear confused.

"Ahem. Yes. I know you all came here for a little vacation, but I do have something important to discuss with you. It's about your engagement. The root of the matter is... I intend to call off your engagement," Kagero says, shocking everyone in the room.

"...What?" Yuki and Hiei mumble together.

And that's the chapter. Yuki and her family take a trip to the Dragon Alliance for a vacation, but it seems relaxation will have to wait. Will Yuki and Hiei get past this new challenge to their love? Until then, please Read and Review.