The town's streets and people passed by in flashes by my car, and I sat with a hand supporting my head as I stared out the window, lost in all my thoughts. Thoughts like how Kaname refused my offer to drive them to the estate I knew he was headed to. Part of me knew and understood why he refused so easily, there were eyes all around, and eyes that would watch before reporting what they saw. Yuki was a target, and yet so was I, the rare pure blood Princess of Ravens. The same one who had been in hiding until she was hunted. I was the same as before, and yet I wasn't. She was newly born, and I was newly reintroduced to the public. He can only protect one, but I didn't need his protection. He spoke of having to lead her on his own, but he would contact me when they were safe. He certainly knew how to contact me, it wasn't hard.
When we reached my c, I had insisted they join me until the location, but Kaname wouldn't take it, he had a way already. My driver was holding the door open for me, and while I understood what he meant, I still felt hurt for a moment. Before leaving them truly alone in the moment, I remember waving to the new couple as I got into my car, and that is how I got to where I am now. With only a promise and a hope that he would contact me again, we drove to the Misora estate and through the large, standing, intricate wrought iron gates. They were heavily inspired by the Victorian gates that were so popular, but with ravens protecting the edge, and in the middle of each wewasmpty spots where the crest would usually be, the only thing that stood in their places was my last name with a raven intertwined. Three thousand years ago was the last time the crest stood on them. I truly just want those back to feel whole, as if my parents were still protecting me. As we drove through, I couldn't help but notice that since being here last, they've tended to the grounds and the outer shell of the mansion. You could just barely see the gold accents on the window sills and the front doors. I couldn't help the smile I felt at seeing my old home feel like new again. As we pulled up to the front door and I was helped out of the car, I walked through those doors and into my home. I ascended the grand spiral staircase up to my room and ran a hand over my desk before settling down in my desk chair. "Now is the time to set a plan in motion. I simply cannot wait for Kaname to help me find Takuma, and I cannot wait forever for him to come back to me on his own. I must start this on my own." I said as I pulled out a notebook and a pen to jot down my beginning thoughts of what I knew and what I would have to ultimately choose to do. I was going to make a promise to myself, 'I will never stop looking for Takuma until he returns to me.'
Over the next weeks to early months, I sent out my raven familiars to soar and search for him, nowhere was too small or insignificant. Every town, city, abandoned building, mountain, or anywhere else, the first ravens started from the collapse of the Senate and expanded from there. Every full moon, I would send an unkindness of ravens out to look where I could not.
I had yet to hear from Kaname until one night when I was out on my balcony at night, admiring the moonlight and the light breeze that swirled through my hair and swept against my skin. It had been around five or six months since I had last seen them both, but a collection of bats swooped and swirled around me as I straightened up to get a look at them. The twisted and joined together to form a wolf on my balcony. I tilted my head at the wolf and knelt down before him and patted his head, "What a way to appear before me." I said before standing and walking back towards the railing, "A knock at the door was never your way, was it…" I spoke softly before turning around to see a new form before me, an old friend of mine. "...Kaname Kuran." I had a light smile dancing on my lips at seeing him again, but this time, not for how I had seen him before; this time, he was just a friend. And one I certainly needed.
"This is certainly a welcome surprise, Kaname," I said. He straightened up and looked at me with his seemingly tired figure. "Suki, I apologize for the months without a word. Yuki hasn't been settling easily into her new life. Could we sit and talk for a little bit?" He asked, and I couldn't help but nod, leading him into my room and to a seating area before taking a seat. "I can only expect that the transition hasn't been the easiest on her or you, as you're her caretaker now. But you certainly took your time, so I assume that you've come bearing good news for me as well?" I asked, tilting my head and looking him over.
He nodded and offered an invitation to me.. I promptly took it and read it over. "You are formally invited to the Kuran Estate to help guide Yuki with weekly tea times to socialize with her better." He explained. It was a clever way to invite me over to see her again and talk with her as a guiding mentor. "Will you be sitting in, or will I be left to my own devices with her?" I asked. "At times I may be there, but for the most part, you will be alone with him, so please don't talk to her about crude topics, please?" He asked so politely. I nodded to him. "You have my word." Not long after the words had left my lips, I saw him fade back into bats, and I could hear him say, "You begin next week." 'Typical Kaname', I thought as I got up and walked over to my desk to set the invitation down, "I suppose it can't be helped, but now neither of us will be truly alone." I said with a light sigh before moving to lie down on my bed for the night.
As it would be for the following months, at least twice a week, I would go and spend a few hours with Yuki. It gave us both something to do and someone to talk to, I would get the chance to tell stories about Kaname from when she was far too little, but when he would visit me during his outings. Mostly,y they were funny tales that helped her see the fun side of her brother. I kept to my promise to him, though, and sometimes I would teach her manners that many purebloods were expected to know and how to behave in some scenarios. It wasn't long before I would see Aido around helping to tutor her as well. He was a fairly good tutor for her, but the moment he tried to correct me or lecture me, I always came back stronger on him, and he got an earful of the full lecture from me. Though sometimes Yuki did try to stop us when we got a bit too intense but it never got quite so bad.
One of the days that I was visiting, Kaname asked to speak to me alone and away from Yuki. I agreed and followed him to his office, where he shut the door behind us and led me to a seat, where I sat down. He sat down as well and looked at me, "Suki, have your ravens found anything about Takuma?" He asked, though it didn't surprise me that he knew. "Nothing that tells me his exact location, but I won't stop looking for him. However, I have a theory." He leaned back and nodded. "I believe that one of our kind has him, so that narrows the field, but I'm not positive which one. I can't go after any of them otherwise it would be war, but it's the only possible reason. He's alive, I just know it." I said as I looked back at him, I could never tell what he was thinking. He simply nodded, "Perhaps for now it's best to not do anything that would cause such a war." He said, "But Suki, while I have you here, there is something I wanted to ask of you if that's alright?" He asked.
I nodded, "I suppose, what do you have on your mind, Kaname?" I asked as he leaned forward a tad as if preparing to ask a life-or-death question, though I doubt it was that serious. "Lady Suki Misora, I ask for an alliance between our families that would last us through anything our world may throw our way." He said far too seriously, I straightened up and looked him in his eyes, "Kaname Kuran, our parents put that in place long ago between our families, or have you forgotten?" I asked. He nodded, "I didn't forget, but I believe a new one is needed at this point. Almost consider it to be a renewal of the old one, and there I will give you the crest. Vampires are spreading thin, and our families are at the top. At the coming soirée in about a month, will you join me for that renewal?" I heard him out and nodded. "I will, Lord Kaname Kuran." I replied to him just as he had asked me.
A week later, I received my invitation to the soiree, and I knew that the dress I wore would have to show my power as a pureblood. My maids spent the week getting samples and choices together before I decided on an off-the-shoulder, floor-length red formal gown with gold accents that adorned the sleeves and upper area of the bodice. I was to wear red short heels and gold jewelry, including a small ruby-encrusted headband with gold piecing with a gold woven shoulder bag. Red and gold were how my family showed we were purebloods, and this was the role I had to keep showing.
Before I knew it, the day had come, and I wasn't attending alone; that wouldn't be proper. I would be escorted by an old friend of my family renewed in someone I had reconnected with last year. As the car door opened, a hand held out for me, and I took it. I stepped out in pure blood fashion and looked to my escort, who held my hand in his, and I smiled softly, "Co, Eisen, it's time for a new night." I said, and he nodded as he led me into the mansion, and as I entered, I instantly felt a familiar presence, but I couldn't place it among the sea of vampires before us. We glided into the ballroom and I led us more to the wall so we could be where Kaname asked me to wait for them. Eisen went to pick up a drink for me, and when he did, I heard a familiar voice., Turning around, I saw the man I thought was lost, but still alive. Takuma. Alive and seemingly well right before me. "T-Takuma?"