Hello everyone! I'm back with a new version of the second chapter, hoping that I won't have any more issues with resemblance to another one, which, again, was not my intention at all. I hope this version will please you, and the second part of Aya's childhood, up until the death of her parents, will be coming soon

Happy reading everyone!

Chapter 2:

Aya had tried. She really tried.

But whether unconsciously or because she made the mistake of adhering to Kaname's pace of development, Aya was unfortunately perceived as a little prodigy.

If only she had remembered that, according to her former sister, even though Kaname had not yet regained his memories, he was, and would always be viewed as a genius.

She was deceived. Once again. As the twin sister of the ancestor of the Kuran family, she could be killed at any moment if he realized that she was nothing but an imposter in this world- an imposter that could threaten the safety of her future little sister, Yuki. Worse still, an intelligent imposter.

Kaname might see in her presumed genius intelligence a threat to Yuki.

She wouldn't survive until she was at least fifteen; that was for sure.

Her first steps were memorable for both her and her parents. At that time, Kaname had already managed to take his first steps a few weeks earlier. The scene unfolded in the manor's inner garden, where their young vampire skin was protected from the sun's rays by a glass roof designed to block UV rays.

Aya was having fun rolling in the grass, displaying all the grace and coordination expected of a seven-month-old baby. She loved the feeling of the grass blades gently tickling her skin; it was a completely different sensation from anything she had experienced in her previous life. Most importantly, as she rolled, Aya was building muscle. Any repeated movements that challenged her body helped tone her little frame and prepare her to stand up.

Despite her attempts to go unnoticed—as any baby with a perfectly normal disposition might—her ego was piqued by seeing Kaname's prowess. The young girl in her couldn't just let that slide. She knew it was ridiculous, but she couldn't help it. After witnessing her twin brother take his first steps, Aya intensified her efforts to strengthen her legs and abs, secretly training herself to stand and walk whenever she was unsupervised. Until that moment, she could only manage to stand for a few seconds on her trembling legs.

Juri giggled at her daughter's antics, her eyes filled with tenderness as she cradled Aya in the arms of her brother and husband, Haruka.

The sound of Juri's enchanting laughter caught Aya's attention, pulling her away from her exercise obsession. She sat up to observe her mother and realized she might have overdone it a bit. Feeling her father's curious gaze on her, Aya giggled and smiled as innocently as a baby could. Kaname, who had been busy playing with blocks nearby, paused to look at her. He seemed captivated by the sound of her laughter and the warmth of her smile.

"Come here, Aya," her father called, holding out his hand. He was a good fifty meters away from her with her mother.

Aya had an idea. The distance wasn't so far that she would hurt herself if she fell. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she pushed on her little legs. A small, mischievous smile appeared on her lips when she heard her mother gasp in surprise.

A flash of astonishment crossed Haruka's face, but he quickly regained his composure and knelt to her height, extending his arms.

"Oh my god, Haruka, she's standing up!" Juri exclaimed.

"I see it, my love. It's wonderful, Aya! Keep it up!" he encouraged.

Emboldened by the pride and love radiating from her parents, Aya began to put one foot in front of the other. On her third step, feeling more confident from their encouragement and lucky not to have fallen yet, she slightly picked up the pace. Just a few meters away from her father's outstretched hands, she felt quite accomplished.

Suddenly, a gust of wind appeared out of nowhere, catching her off guard and causing her to lose her balance. She fell backward, letting out a shrill scream. Luckily, her father caught her just in time and held her in his arms for a few seconds before gently setting her back down on the grass.

Her mother greeted her with a kiss on the cheek, but Aya noticed a funny look exchanged between her parents. The wind's unexpected presence wasn't merely a product of her imagination caused by fear; it was something far more peculiar.

If she didn't know anything about this world, perhaps she could have dismissed her anxiety. But it was impossible to ignore. Aya was aware that she wasn't just another vampire; she was a pureblood. Purebloods possessed certain magical abilities. Judging by her parents' reactions, it wasn't normal for a seven-month-old baby to cause a breeze to appear.

Aya had unknowingly awakened the beginnings of her magic, and this reality worried her. She had just added another reason for Kaname to be wary of her in the future.

After this event, his parents made her wear a necklace with a silver pendant that resembled a snowflake. Aya didn't understand its purpose, but she sensed it was anything but normal. Her concern deepened.

Aya was three years old when a new event marked her family. Everyone in the manor brushed aside the incident that occurred in the inner garden, labeling it a mistake. Perhaps her parents could have foreseen what was going to happen.

At just three years old, the twins were already young prodigies, well ahead in their studies and performing at a level equivalent to middle school students. Aya never thought this was possible, but perhaps it was normal for geniuses? Maybe vampire brains were simply more developed than those of humans, and their intelligence was directly tied to their vampiric nature.

Despite being so young, the twins were constantly competing for first place in their subjects. Thanks to their advanced studies, Aya felt she didn't have to hold back to keep up with Kaname, her twin brother. In her short three years of life, she already had fifteen years of school experience.

That day, Aya was hiding in the wardrobe of Annabelle, a servant in the manor who had taken a liking to her. Annabelle often covered for Aya when she decided to take a break. Lately, Aya had been hiding more often. Her senses were still developing, and while she managed to cope with the changes and even appreciated her heightened sensations, one sense remained problematic: her hearing.

The slightest noise could hurt her eardrums. This became especially challenging during her dance classes. So, as was often the case, she sought refuge, hoping to escape. But she underestimated Kaname's determination; he made it his mission to find her and bring her back to class. And he always succeeded.

Kaname's heightened senses made it easier for him to locate her. He had adapted quickly, perhaps because he had already gone through similar developments, even if subconsciously. Aya suspected his body must have remembered that experience for him. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for her.

The scent of cinnamon and a warm fireplace flooded Aya's nostrils. She sighed loudly, realizing there was no point in hiding anymore; Kaname had found her once again.

When the closet door opened, Kaname was greeted by Aya's glare, darkened slightly by the flickering candlelight in Annabelle's room.

"Aya-ch—"

"Why do you always have to find me?" she interrupted.

"Because otherwise it's no fun," he replied teasingly, holding out his hand to help her jump out of the wardrobe.

"Pff!"

"We should hurry up and get to class. I wasted a lot of time looking for you."

"You could have just gone without me…" Aya pouted.

"But we're a team, and I'd never abandon you. It's never one without the other, right?"

Aya felt her annoyance fade at the prospect of attending yet another dance class, especially when Kaname said things like that. For her, these words meant much more than the simple promises typically exchanged between children; they were commitments she cherished deeply.

So, despite herself, a smile appeared on her lips.

"Never one without the other," she agreed, nestling herself in his arms to give him a hug, inhaling the sweet, familiar, and reassuring scent from the corner of his neck.

Kaname wrapped his arms around her like a comforting vice.

"Let's go, Aya-chan," Kaname whispered softly after a minute.

His sister pulled away from him and nodded. On the way to the ballroom, Aya and Kaname silently held hands. Part of Aya was certain he was doing it to prevent her from escaping again, but another part knew it was also to support her and silently give her courage.

Their dance teacher did not comment on their lateness. Aya was grateful for her pureblood status, as she could see it in the teacher's eyes; only their lineage had spared them from a harsh remark.

Disaster struck nearly an hour into the class. They had only thirty minutes left, and it had already been ten minutes since Aya had endured the pain in her eardrums at the slightest sound of music. Hot flashes and a headache were quickly setting in, and it certainly didn't help that they were working on pirouettes that day.

The world around her began to spin, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead—something that was far from common for a vampire. Aya knew something was wrong, but she held on. She didn't want to worry her brother, nor did she want to give satisfaction to the old owl who served as their teacher whenever she almost lost her balance.

Inevitably, it happened, but not in the way Aya had imagined. The young vampire had just completed five perfect pirouettes under the admiring gaze of her brother and the disappointed look of the old teacher.

Her throat aching, she tried to cross the room to reach a round mahogany table where tea was served. However, halfway there, a violent headache struck her, forcing her to stop and hold her head in her hands to prevent herself from collapsing.

"Aya-chan, is everything okay?" Kaname asked, looking worried at her condition.

Aya wanted to turn around to smile and reassure him, but as she turned to face him, another violent headache pierced through her, and her body collapsed instantly. The last thing she heard before falling into darkness was her name being shouted by Kaname.

When she opened her eyes again, her whole world had changed. Nothing was the same.

The first thing she learned was that she had fallen into a coma. The second was the length of this coma: six months. She had been in a coma for six months. The third and final thing she learned was the cause of this coma. She wasn't in bad health; quite the opposite—she was in too good health. She had too much vampiric energy circulating in her body. Her vampiric energy flowed as if she were fifteen years old, but her body was only four years old.

Unlike her parents, Aya understood immediately. She had died at fifteen and was reborn into this world with the consciousness of a fifteen-year-old girl. Her vampiric energy matched her mental age, and it probably didn't help that she had previously been human. Maybe that's why Kaname would never face that problem. He had forgotten his past and his identity, and he hadn't changed his nature, unlike her.

She learned that at seven months old, the breeze of wind she felt was indeed coming from her. Her vampiric energy was already beginning to build up, and it could have killed her body if her parents hadn't taken the initiative to make her wear a collar. The collar controlled, or at least limited, her vampiric energy to a lesser extent. But it was only a temporary solution.

Aya would have to live with this necklace for the rest of her days to prevent another surge of energy that her father's intervention had only helped to regulate. Although his health had surprised her parents, they weren't overwhelmed. Their mother, Aya's grandmother, had faced the same problem for different reasons. She too had possessed excessive vampiric energy. This explained why Aya's parents had such a necklace. Her grandmother had used it until her death, and now Aya would face the same fate.

So, as long as she wore this necklace and never took it off, Aya could live without too much trouble. However, things would certainly become more complicated when she reached the age of learning to control her magical abilities. With the substantial vampiric energy that could only be stabilized with the collar, her abilities, when the time came, would be very powerful but difficult to control. One mistake could be fatal. Aya knew she wasn't very lucky, but this incurable illness added to her list of potential reasons for death before her fifteenth birthday. However, she wasn't completely defeatist; as long as she kept that necklace, everything would be fine. As long as she had Kaname, everything would be fine. Despite the power of her vampiric energy, it probably couldn't compete with Kaname's, so she was counting on him to help channel it.

After this episode, her parents and the servants were much more attentive and alert than before. Kaname had been aware of this only because everything had unfolded before his eyes. If he had often been with her before, now he was always by her side—even helping her change books. His constant presence sometimes exasperated Aya. Although she could understand his feelings, she felt suffocated.

One evening, while the whole family was spending time together in the living room—her parents comfortably seated on the sofa, lost in each other's eyes, and the twins reading in their respective little armchairs—Aya imagined her future. More accurately, she feared the unknown. Anxiety washed over her as she contemplated what might happen in a few years. Her parents wouldn't live much longer; Kaname would be busy with Yuki; and what about her? Would she be left trying not to die? It felt bleak.

Her gaze fell on her parents' clasped hands. They loved each other; it was undeniable. They were meant to be together. Initially, it had bothered her to accept that they were not just husband and wife, but also brother and sister, but that discomfort had long since faded. In this world, such relationships were common among vampires, even if they often preferred political alliances to those of the heart.

Then her eyes shifted to Kaname. He too was destined for someone—someone he would sacrifice everything to protect, even his own happiness. That someone was Yuki, and no one else. But who would be meant for her? Soon enough, she would find herself all alone. Kaname would be there, of course, but it wouldn't be the same as a real romantic connection. Could she allow herself to love? Was falling in love even an option for her? She hoped so; she didn't want to end up alone.

"Aya? What's wrong, darling?" her mother asked, noticing her daughter staring into space instead of focusing on the book in her hands. At this question, the young vampire blinked her wet eyes, returning to reality. Maybe her parents could reassure her. When she hesitated, her father encouraged her with a gentle smile.

Aya opened her mouth to speak but closed it again, ultimately deciding that confiding in someone might ease her worries.

"Okaasan, Otôsan, will I eventually fall in love with someone who loves me back? Will I be able to love and be loved like both of you?"

The question caught everyone in the living room off guard. Juri's smile vanished, Haruka's eyes widened, Kaname popped his head up from his reading, and the few servants still in the room froze for a moment before returning to their duties as if nothing had happened. A heavy silence fell over the small pure-blood family, and Aya began to regret asking the question when a small laugh suddenly escaped her mother's throat.

"Oh, of course you will!" Juri reassured her, exchanging a glance with her husband. "You'll see, when you least expect it, love will come knocking at your door, just like it did for us."

"When you're older, obviously," Haruka added quickly.

Aya responded with a simple nod, subconsciously turning her head toward Kaname, who was watching her intently. "You know, we didn't expect to have twins, just a little boy. Maybe it was fate that we brought you into this world together?" her mother continued, noticing her daughter's reaction.

Kaname stirred at this; it was the first time he had heard this information, and he seemed eagerly awaiting Aya's opinion on the matter. She didn't know what to say. While she understood her mother's viewpoint, she knew that Yuki was destined to be Kaname's wife, not her. She had no problem with that, but her anxiety about being alone hadn't calmed down. Now, Kaname was watching her closely, which made her feel strangely uncomfortable.

"Kaname is my twin brother and a part of me; we will always be together and there for each other," the little girl replied, choosing to embrace her innocence.

Her parents chuckled softly at her response, and Kaname smiled brightly at her, squeezing her left hand. Aya smiled at them all more to reassure them, but her heart wasn't in it.

Aya stood on the roof of the mansion, enjoying the peace and quiet of nature and the landscape unfolding before her. She was hiding once more to avoid another dance class. While she had finally gotten used to her vampiric senses, she had not yet adapted to a new, unsettling feeling that emerged every time she had to dance in front of their new dance teacher: shyness. It was something she thought she would never have to face again in this life, yet it had returned to stay.

Part of her felt ashamed for acting so immaturely, and yet, by pretending to be a child, she had inadvertently developed a childlike mind that was as calm as it was mischievous, capricious, and deceptive. This side of her emerged when she was tired or simply overwhelmed by the effort to play the perfect little girl, which happened quite often.

A sweet smell of cinnamon and burning wood filled the air as Kaname carefully sat down beside her.

"You are here," he observed.

"Mmh."

"You seem to be coming here more often… One day you'll give poor Annabelle-kun a heart attack. She was completely white when I asked her if you were here."

Aya smiled, amused at the mention of the maid. "She really doesn't know how to keep a secret…"

"I'm not sure that was the only thing she was worried about, Aya."

"What? I'm not going to fall. I'm a pureblood. I have very good reflexes."

Kaname arched an eyebrow at her. Aya had surprisingly developed a certain clumsiness in recent weeks.

"And I like being here. I feel good here," Aya continued, preempting her brother from speaking further.

"Better than when you're with me?"

"When I'm here and with you, it's even better," the vampire confessed with a soft smile before finally resting her head on Kaname's shoulder.

They sat in silence, observing the landscape below for several long minutes before Kaname broke the quiet.

"Why are you hiding? I thought you liked to dance."

A mysterious smile crossed his face as he added, "I've seen you dance a thousand times. When you dance, your eyes sparkle with joy, and a dazzling smile adorns your face. So what's happening to you?"

Aya didn't answer. She didn't dare admit it out loud, even though she knew Kaname understood what it was. He just wanted her to accept it.

"Say it."

"What?"

"Don't play innocent, say it."

"I don't know what you're talking about..."

"Aya-chan..."

"Kaname-chan..."

They looked at each other, exasperated yet amused.

Kaname tenderly stroked his sister's cheek before whispering, "Say it."

As Aya was about to continue feigning innocence, Kaname's gaze stopped her, and she sighed in defeat.

"I can't bring myself to dance in front of our new teacher. I don't understand why, but… I get so shy, and I don't dare do anything..."

Instantly, Kaname took her in his arms and began rocking her, trying to comfort her while promising to help her find a solution to overcome her shyness.

Aya discovered rather late in the day that she and Kaname hadn't taken dance lessons just for fun; they also had a duty as pure-blood vampires. Soon, they would be introduced to society, and their lives would be filled with social events where they needed to dance perfectly.

The little girl wasn't very excited about the idea of dancing in front of a crowd full of hypocrites who would be ready to criticize her for the slightest misstep, even as they pretended to kiss her feet to gain her favor. The only positive aspect she saw in this situation was that she wouldn't be alone—Kaname would be there with her.

Aya knew she would have to socialize with children her own age, and she dreaded this even more. While it was easy to interact with Kaname because he was not only her relative by blood but also older than she was, dealing with a real five-year-old would be far more complicated.

On the day of the ball, Aya and Kaname wore very sophisticated outfits that exuded wealth. However, Aya hated her dress. Although she looked lovely in her pale pink frilly dress, all she wanted was to tear it off and put on something more comfortable and more like herself.

"Everything will be fine, Aya," her mother declared, interrupting her analysis of her reflection in the mirror.

"It's not me," the young woman whispered, a wave of anguish sweeping through her body and settling in her throat and lungs.

"I know… but a young vampire's entry into society is a tradition that must be respected. No one can ignore it, not even purebloods, and not even our family. By presenting yourself like this for everyone to see, you can protect yourself. No one outside of our circle knows who you really are. By playing the role of this young girl, they will think you're easily manipulated, and they will let their guard down. But be careful; some are more suspicious than others, and rightly so. Deception is key to your survival. Always remember that, Aya."

Aya nodded as she caught sight of her mother's surprisingly serious expression in the mirror. It was rare to see her look this way; the last time had been the day Rido visited them. She had been just a few weeks old then, yet the memory was crystal clear.

"Promise," Aya felt compelled to add, given the importance her mother placed on the situation.

She turned around to face her mother and snuggled up to her. Juri wrapped her arms around Aya, and a small laugh escaped her lips.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine, Aya. I'm here; I'll always be here."

The young vampire nestled even closer to her, yearning for those reassuring words. If only that could truly be the case.

Aya took one last look at her reflection and took a deep breath before stepping out to join her brother and parents, who were waiting for her in the carriage that would take them to the ball.

It had become quite rare for vampires to use a carriage for transportation, as they now preferred cars, despite their obsession with traditions and customs. However, for special occasions like this, the old mode of transportation was making a comeback.

When Aya climbed into the carriage, Kaname couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of her outfit and the color of her dress. He knew that Aya hated pink more than anything else.

"Shut up," she grumbled, sitting down beside him to face their parents.

"Kaname, be nice to your sister," Haruka chided gently. "You're her brother and family. Today, more than any other day, you need to stick together."

"Yes, otô-san,"

The rest of the journey passed in silence. Aya watched the landscape through the window, one hand crumpling her dress in her fist while the other was trapped in her twin's grip. She was terrified. She understood that this event was very important and would determine many things for the future. But her parents' behavior made it clear that this was much bigger than anything she had ever imagined. By the end of the night, her fate and that of her brother would be decided.

At the end of the night, Aya would discover if she would live. Everyone would know if they could survive outside the safety of Kuran Mansion.

Aya was playing for her life.

The musical notes swirled through the ballroom, highlighting Aya and Kaname's first dance of the evening—a waltz. All eyes were on them, and the young vampire struggled to keep dancing in her brother's arms instead of fleeing from the scene. She despised the feeling of being a fragile insect under a microscope.

Kaname, of course, was acutely aware of her distress. Aya could see it clearly; he was doing everything he could to draw her attention solely to him. They both understood the power his eyes held over her. His gaze was mesmerizing, captivating, and comforting. In that moment, everything else around them faded away—time seemed to stand still, and nothing else existed.

It was just Aya and Kaname, nothing else.

Before she knew it, their dance had ended, and the polite applause brought her back to reality. They parted and bowed to the crowd. Soon, many vampires approached to introduce themselves and offer compliments. Aya smiled politely as she interacted with them, all the while feeling a wave of nausea at the insincerity of it all. Thankfully, Kaname was by her side.

Although they were both occupied with their guests, she felt Kaname's gaze linger on her for a few moments before he resumed his conversation.

"If you'll excuse us, my sister and I would like to get some refreshments after this first dance," Kaname said kindly as he took Aya's left hand in his own. "I hope you don't mind, and we'd be happy to continue our conversations a little later."

Aya was touched that he had noticed her exhaustion, though she didn't show it. Instead, she nodded in response to her brother's words, offering a sweet smile as she waved goodbye to the vampires, who graciously let them pass to the candy table.