Music of the Knight

[Saiyan Princess]

Yuki was left alone with Aido. It was all too easy! Hanabusa wouldn't be able to stop her with her newly found strength. "Sorry, I appreciate your concern, but I really have to see Zero. It's urgent." She turned back toward her father's home and sensed her old friend. "I won't take long. Kaname won't even know that I left." She ran as fast as she could and knocked on the door, opened it, and made her way down the hall, waving to Cross and knocking on Zero's door. "Zero, I'm here."


Takuma held his friend in his arms. "He's gone! Rido is gone! Tell Kaname to be careful! He's in danger!"

 

[Wishfully]

Click. Zero raised the Bloody Rose and pointed it at the door. What, did she really think that coming here now would make any difference? Yuki was the very thing he hated most of all. He trusted her. They were friends, they were practically family. But now... "Don't come any closer." Zero's voice was cold and unwelcoming. He hated that he had depended on her so much, and that he drank her blood. "On the other side of this door, I sense an arrogant pureblood who does nothing but toy with people," he hissed, still not permitting Yuki to enter.


Kaname was quick in his return, but he was surprised to see Ichijo's cousin out and about when she was supposed to be watching Yuki. "Maia, what are you doing here?" he asked sternly. "I-I'm sorry, Lord Kaname," Maia said with a quick bow. "It's just that I heard a scream and well...now it seems that Rido is gone. Takuma says you are in great danger." Kaname looked at the girl with a frown. "I know what I'm doing," he assured her. "I know that Rido is gone. He's probably off somewhere trying to regain his energy in some disgusting way. If everyone plays their part quickly enough, we might be able to end things with him before he has time to get his strength back. Now, I will go and see Yuki."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Zero, that's not true." Yuki wanted to cry. "I know you're angry, but, you have to trust that I won't be a danger to you." A tear trickled down her left cheek. "You're right about one thing. The Yuki you knew is gone. The human, Yuki Cross, was devoured by the vampire, Yuki Kuran." Her hand touched the knob. "I can still help you. My blood tastes the same." With a deep breath, she let go. "Don't be angry at me. Icouldn't stand it if you truly hated me. I know that you don't." The princess turned on her heel left the building. "I should get back before Kaname comes home." She attempted to sneak back inside, but saw Kaname talking to Maia. "Kaname, you're back!" She was utterly relieved to see him. In a matter of seconds, her arms were around his. "What did you do? Where did you go?" She acted like the child that she once was, then, her demeanor changed. "I want to save my home."

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname spotted Yuki. He didn't need to know where she had gone. Judging from the way she was acting, she had probably gone to see Zero already. At least he didn't smell fresh blood, so Zero hadn't dared to drink from her again. Kaname led Yuki back to her room and sat down on the bed with her. He dismissed Maia and Aido with a wave of his hand, leaving the two purebloods alone. "Yuki, do you remember everything now? Do you remember our parents and what happened that night?" he asked gently. "I understand you want to help the people you care about, but that is also what I want to do. I want to protect you, and it will make me worried if you go out there and try to fight. Don't you understand that there are very dangerous vampires who wish to harm you because of who you are?" Kaname's hand gently stroked her cheek as he spoke.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"I remember everything." Yuki whispered, leaning into his touch. "I know everything that happened. It was all because of me. I feel so guilty for it. I remember Father leaving that room. I remember Mother following then coming back minutes later and wiping my memory." She touched her head as if Juuri had done it again. "I remember a strange man. One blue eye, one red eye." She trembled, sensing the same fears of all that time ago. "They tried to save me. They died because I couldn't help them. Well, now, I'm going to repay them." She got up. "I've grown stronger by being human for so long. He won't find the scared little girl that was me when he came the first time." Her hand involuntarily traveled down to her Artemis rod. A surge of pain shot through his leg. She winced. "I-I have to make it work."

 

[Wishfully]

"No, Yuki...it wasn't your fault. There was no way you could have known. There was nothing you could have done to stop it from happening." Kaname admired her spirit, and he knew that no matter how much he tried to make her just stay put, she would end up doing things the way she wanted anyways. Yuki was not the child she used to be- she was a strong young woman who felt love and the desire to protect those she loved, just like Kaname did. Kaname sighed. "You can't even use Artemis right now..." he said. "If you must do something, then won't you at least aid your father in protecting the Day Class students and leave Rido to me?"

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"And wait inside and listen to you get killed? Kaname, I won't!" She stamped her foot. "You can't just go out there alone! You will die trying to prove a point, Kaname." Her anger subsided and she held the other's face between her delicate fingers. "How will I be able to live with myself if that happened. Kaien is a hunter. There is no way that he will stay inside with the humans." Placing a tender kiss on his forehead, she shut her eyes. "I love you. Just thinking about seeing you hurt is killing me. You yourself said that he will be stronger and that we should all stay together." She lowered her head to his neck, but didn't bite the flawless, slightly tanned flesh. She just held her nose to the comforting smell. "Kaname, let me come with you. You know that I'll just end up coming anyway. Have Maia stay inside. Takuma is worried about her and the Senate will probably come for her."

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname took her hand, but his grip tightened as Yuki protested. She was being obstinate as ever, but this was a serious matter. He felt as though he could cruelly demand her obedience- that if she loved him, she would listen this once. But maybe that's not what love was. Haruka and Juuri had both been willing to die for their love, and they had done it together. Kaname was certain that he wouldn't die, and there was no way he would allow it to happen to Yuki. He couldn't feel angry with her when she treated him so gently. Kaname would give her the world if he could. "Fine," he said. "We will go and face Rido together. I can't ask a member of the Night Class to stay inside with the humans, but I will deal with the Senate later. Does that sound fair?" Kaname's eyes widened just a little as he smelled new blood in the air. Yet, it was somehow familiar. It must have been the Kiryu twins, he decided. So, my pawn will finally be ready to serve his purpose...right on time, Zero.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

((I'm so sorry! I.totally forgot to respond!))


Yuki smelled Zero as well. As she breathed through her mouth, she nodded. "That's fair, Kaname, but, I am surprised that you aren't trying to protest anymore." She teased him. "Don't worry. I'll be safe. Meanwhile, the silver haired vampire was struggling to contain himself. "Y-Yuki!" He screamed and coughed at the top of his lungs. "Yuki, I'm begging you not to do this! Please! I am not going to let you do this!" He growled, holding his shoulder. Yuki turned to him with a look of shock on her face. "Zero, you aren't going to stop me. I am not going to stand by and watch everyone I care about fighting a battle that was mine in the first place!" When he saw Kaname, Zero's eyes glowed. "Hes cl-close." His shirt was drenched in blood.

 

[Wishfully]

"It was really my battle..." Kaname said quietly. However, he turned to Yuki and placed a hand on her shoulder. "But now it's ours- the two of us, together...just the way it should be." It felt a bit strange to be accepting what Yuki wanted to do instead of refusing to let her do things. Maybe he was feeling generous or perhaps exhausted. Maybe he wasn't thinking straight, or perhaps...love makes people do things they would't normally do. Kaname tensed when Zero addressed Yuki, and he took a step forward. If Zero was unable to contain his new power, there was no way Kaname would let anything happen to Yuki even if it was on accident. "Well then...let's go and finish this," Kaname said, taking Yuki's hand. "Be careful," he warned her. "If you can't use Artemis, you won't really have much protection. However, you should heal rather quickly now, and you will be stronger and faster."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Kan-a...Kana-me..." Zero gasped. "Kaname, y-you...can't be...serious!" Zero doubled over, his nails growing longer and digging into his shoulder. "Zero!" Yuki made a move toward him, but was stopped. "Not a closer, vampire!" Kiryu warned, his shoulder bulging and mutating. "Stay back...or I'll kill you!" His eyes turned a strange red color. Yuki stopped in her tracks, not because of Zero, but because she had sensed something awful. "Yuki, I'm back!" Senri jumped off of the roof, completely normal. "He's at the gate, Kaname!" He informed his superior as Takuma held him. "I told him not to overexert himself." The greeneyed vampire sighed. "Juuri...it's been a long time, my dear."

 

[Wishfully]

"Yuki, stay back," Kaname also told her as Zero shifted into a monstrous being. Things could get out of hand very quickly, Kaname realized. He noticed Senri and narrowed his eyes at the aristocrat before remembering that he was back to normal. "Rido...he's here," Kaname told Yuki. "Be very careful around him. He is quite powerful, and he is after you specifically." The pureblood could also sense the presence of many other vampires joining the party, and most of them were rather unfriendly. "Still gathering lower levels to do your dirty work, I see." Kaname's eyes glowed red as he easily shattered several Level E's that were rushing toward him.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Rido shrugged as he approached. "Why sully my hands with such a meaningless task as killing such pitiful children such as yourself?" The elder asked with a snort. "You aren't worth the effort on my part." He concluded while taking another step forward. Then, when his gaze traveled across the line of juveniles. "But, why deny my friends such a delicious opportunity when they've been starved of a good meal?" Yuki shivered visibly. "It isn't cold, Juuri." Rido murmured with a hint of laughter. "I'm not Juuri." Yuki spat at him. "You killed her! No matter what, whether they hated you or loved you, you killed them both!" Tears welled up in the princess's eyes. "All they were doing was protecting their family and you killed them for it!" Again, she moved to grab Artemis, but it was untouchable. "Stay back!"

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname frowned. There seemed to be no end to Rido's "friends". Kaname could barely see that monster through the swarms that attacked him. But Rido didn't matter...not as much as Yuki. She was the one Kaname couldn't afford to lose sight of. He saw flashes of angry electricity as Yuki tried to reach for Artemis. "It's a Hunter's weapon, Yuki...you can't expect to be able to use it," he told her with an apologetic frown. "Don't hurt yourself trying to use it." Kaname ripped through the soft flesh of pathetic vampires, their blood dripping from his fingers even as he reached for Yuki's hand. "Take my hand," he told her. "I promise, I won't let anything happen to you." Perhaps she would feel stronger if they were together, and maybe she could even use some of her newfound powers. "Lord Kaname!" The pureblood turned as he heard Aido calling his name. Kaname nodded at him and Akatsuki. "Thank you for coming," he told them. It seemed several of the Night Class members had come to help. "I'm sure they can take care of these useless beings," Kaname told Yuki. "Let's go take care of some family business."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Yuki winced. "I'm a Guardian of Cross Academy. I will protect my home no matter what." The new vampire took a deep breath, the iron smell of blood on Kaname's hand was so enticing that it was hard for her to control herself. The female reached for her mate's hand and smiled at the warmth that came off. "I know you, Kaname." Rido chuckled. "I saved you from the pit of hell and you have yet to thank me." He was now moving toward Yuki. "Now, it would be a shame to spill the blood that everyone so desires, so, why not just come with me right now and save the bloodshed to my friends?" Yuki scowled. "You're sick!" Soon, a blood whip was around her neck, strangling her. "Scream, Juuri." Rido looked into her eyes with malice. "Scream for Haru-no...you smell different. You are not Juuri, but Yuki, the child that I've been dying to meet! Scream for Kaname!" He barked, while Yuki struggled with her binds.

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname felt Yuki's hand slip from his grip almost the instant her fingers wrapped around his own. No. Kaname's heart sank as his lover was pulled from his reach. As he heard Rido speak about Haruka and Juuri, the pureblood could feel hatred bubbling inside of him. Though he had not been born the true brother to Yuki, Kaname felt as though he was truly her sibling that shared the same, caring parents. He would never think of Rido as someone to love or respect, even if the vampire did bring him back to life. "Well consider this my thanks to you," Kaname seethed as he rushed toward the man, claws and fangs readied and aimed. Kaname could feel Rido's nails digging into his flesh in their passing, but Kaname didn't bother to stop and inspect the wound. He knew he would heal in a matter of moments, and there was no time to waste. Kaname's eyes glowed as he shattered more of Rido's henchmen and charged at Rido again.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Ah, ah, Kaname, not so fast. We wouldn't want you to miss your target and scar Yuki's beauty, now, would we?" The elder laughed as his tongue slipped like a serpent's from his lips and onto Yuki's neck like some sort of radar as he searched for the perfect place to sink his teeth into. "Ah, I do believe I'll enjoy this." He stroked Yuki's hair, then pulled it back, away from her neck. "The time has come!" Before Yuki could protest, the two had disappeared, for just a moment, then reappeared on the roof of the main building. "It's about time you showed your ugly mug, Lord Kuran." Touga Yagari sneered with fake respect. "Don't mistake my assistance as being a changed man, Kaname. I still hate your kind, but, what bothers me is a seemingly deceased vampire being dumb enough to come here, when he's on my hitlist." Yuki screamed, but, Rido growled, though his shoulder was pierced, he still had a tight grip. "If you touch her, I'm firing!" Kaien spat at Rido. "I'LL KILL YOU IF YOU HURT HER!"

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname narrowed his eyes when Rido and Yuki disappeared. When he spotted them a few seconds later, he was prepared to reduce the entire building they stood on to ashes. That was, until he heard the Headmaster and Yagari join the party. Kaname realized that this was what Rido wanted- to make him upset so he would lose his focus and reveal some sort of weakness that Rido could use to destroy him. Yuki was his weakness, but she was the only one. Kaname calmed for a moment, knowing that impulsive actions were unlike himself and that he had plans for a reason. "But of course," Kaname chuckled at Yagari's remark. Once a Hunter, always a Hunter. At least, that's what it seemed like, even for someone like Zero- a Hunter turned vampire. "Yuki..." Kaname's eyes shifted as Zero Kiryu made his way to the scene, the Bloody Rose in hand and raised toward Rido.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Is the great hunter, Kaien Cross, giving me the option? You're backing out again, just like your first encounter with my family." Rido sneered. This intrigued Yuki. "What are you talking about?" "Why, my dear niece, did your father not tell you? Fifteen years ago, when Juuri was pregnant with you, she and Haruka were hunting, of course, Kaname was there. When Kaien spotted my precious little brother, he froze. He saw Kaname, then Juuri's belly and became a coward!" His gaze went to the hunters. "I couldn't kill them...because, they looked as frightened as I was." Kaien explained. That's when Zero came. "DAMMIT, ZERO!" Yagari scolded. "I told you to stay in my office!" Yuki continued to struggle. "Kaname! Kan-a-me..it..h-hurts.." Yuki whispered as she touched Artemis. It felt...different. It was glowing, changing. "I am a GUARDIAN!" Yuki repeated as she sliced her uncle's arm, thus freeing herself.

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname stepped forward, as if to defend the Headmaster. He would always be grateful to Kaien Cross for taking such good care of Yuki, for treating her as if she were his own flesh and blood. "Yuki!" Kaname called out when she struggled with Artemis. But then when the weapon transformed in her hand, he froze and stared at the glow. Everyone stopped to watch. It was...extraordinary, even indescribable. Kaname watched in admiration as the princess freed herself from the villain's grasp. "Yuki..." he said softly. "That...that was amazing." Kaname quickly seized the moment of awe to rush at Rido again, slicing his stomach open to create a large wound. Unfortunately, Kaname would not be able to complete finish him off, since the man had risen him from the grave. However, he hoped that the others would realize that now was the time to strike the final blows and end this madness. "Now!" Kaname commanded in a loud voice. They had the advantage in numbers, and most definitely in skill.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Both teachers ran at the elder. "YUKI, GET DOWN!" Cross commanded. Yuki was quick to obey. "Out of the way, Kaname!" He ordered the other. He sliced through Rido, who screamed even louder, but couldn't move. His eyes blazed, his nostrils flared, and he also started coughing up his own blood. "Kaname, you know you can't finish him!" Yuki cried. Zero's eyes did the same as Rido's at the sight of blood. "Kill him, Zero!" The princess pleaded while Rido tried to remain that proud Pureblood that he was, but his gaze never left Senri's. "Re-Release him!" He told his creations, who growled and let go. "Don't even think about it!" Zero shot him.

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname shielded his eyes as the bright light from Zero's Bloody Rose filled the sky. He could vaguely hear the shouts from the others, but most of it became a blur until the man opened his eyes. He sucked in a deep breath as all was still and his eyes fell upon only the wreckage that were the only signs of a battle. "It's over now," Kaname sighed with relief, letting a small smile ease onto his face. The first thing he did was go and put his arms around Yuki. "You're not hurt, are you?" he asked. His first concern was always Yuki's welfare, and though she had enhanced healing powers now, he still wanted to check on her. "I'll give you some blood once we're all finished here," he told her quietly, assuming she was probably very tired if anything.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Yuki nestled into Kaname at first, licking her lips at the sight of a vein in his neck, though she didn't go for it right away. "N-No. I'm fine. Stop worrying about me. I was worried that you were hurt!" She latched onto him, using her arms to hang onto his neck. "There's just something that I have to do, Kaname." She told him with a sigh. Zero gave her a bitter look. "You're no vampire. I don't believe it." Yuki just stood there. "What? Of course I am. You saw what Kaname did. Even if he didn't I am." Still, Zero wanted to deny it. "Show me, then." Yuki hesitated. "Not here." She pulled the silver haired vampire around the corner, where she bit him.

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname chuckled and held her tightly back. "No, I'm fine. I don't get injured so easily, but I always have to worry about you." His gaze shifted to Zero. Now that the vampire had served his purpose, Kaname couldn't deny the urge he had to simply kill the silver-haired guardian. However, that would be rather rude, considering the events that had just happened and the fact that Cross and Yagari were still nearby. "I guess you really are a vampire," he heard Zero say after Yuki bit him. "Yes indeed," Kaname said seriously. "In fact, I think it may be best for the two of us to leave Cross Academy now," he said. "Yuki, I cannot force you to leave your home and loved ones behind. It is truly your decision, but if you should choose to come with me, it would make me very happy."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Kaname, you cannot possibly expect me to want to stay now that I've found you again." Yuki smiled at her ancestor. "Even though I will miss everyone here, it's best if I leave. I'll be keeping Yori, Zero, Father, everyone safe." She distinctly heard Kaien gasp. "Father, I will miss you, but I have to go. Please." She hugged him tightly. Cross smiled at her. "I can't stop you. You were never my daughter in the first place, but.." he tilted her chin upward to look into his eyes, "you're my daughter no matter what." He held back tears. "I'm so proud of you, my daughter." Yuki felt tears coming and quickly and quietly wiped them. Finally, she let go. "Zero, uh, take care." She hugged her friend. "I'll miss you."