Music of the Knight

[Wishfully]

Zero hugged Yuki back for the last time. "Next time we meet, we'll be enemies. You know that, right?" he told her as he let go. Kaname shook Headmaster Cross's hand firmly, as one would do with a business parter. "I'm truly sorry that all of this happened here on school grounds. If there's anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate to ask. And feel free to visit Yuki anytime you like," Kaname said with a smile. "Don't worry, I'll protect her with my life." Even from you, Zero... Kaname turned to Yuki. "Well, how about you go and pack your things, and I'll come and meet you? I should tell the other Night Class students that they are dismissed and free to go. And after that...well, we can figure out where to go from there. As long as we're together, I don't need anything else."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"And, I'll be waiting for you, Zero." The brunette promised, releasing Zero's hand. "She's still here, somewhere. Remember that." Yuki then looked back to her mate. "I'll visit soon, if you plan on going where I believe you will." Cross smiled at his old friend. "It scares me how much you've grown, Kaname." He chuckles softly as Yuki speaks up. "Alright, Kaname, I will go pack." She gave everyone one last look as she shuffled her way back to her room. "As long as we're together, Kaname." She packed everything she had, even pictures of herself with Zero, which were now damp with tears. Wiping them, she sighed and closed her suitcase, leaving only her Guardian wristband behind.

 

[Wishfully]

"But Lord Kaname, I want to go with you!" Aido exclaimed after the pureblood told the aristocrats that they were free to do as they pleased from now on. "I appreciate your dedication, Aido. If you truly wish, you can travel with us for awhile. However, you do not need to accompany us to the home where I will be taking Yuki." With those words, Kaname turned to fetch his partner, not looking back to see who would follow them. "Come Yuki, let's go home," he told her. "Do you remember the house where we grew up? If not, I'm sure you'll like it there. It was very nice back in its glory days, and I'm sure we can liven the place up once more."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Yuki smiled at the other as she clutched her bag in front of her with both hands. "A little, just remember that I was young when I left. I can't remember a whole lot." She moved past him and into the hallway, heading for the exit. Takuma waited by the front gate as the Kurans emerged. "Lord Kaname, I wish to accompany you as well. Please, don't try to stop me. This was my fault as well. I should have stopped him when I had the chance. I wish for you to give me a chance to prove my loyalty to you." He bowed to Kaname. "Use me, please. You will need help defending your home now that Yuki has returned. My grandfather will not be pleased, but, I do not care. Please." Yuki nestled herself in Kaname's embrace as Ichijo spoke. "Come, Kaname. Let's hurry and get out before we're stopped." She joked, seeing not only Akatsuki, but Ruka come after them as well.

 

[Wishfully]

"Very well, I can't stop you anyways." Kaname didn't say anything else as he passed Takuma on his way to Yuki. In truth, he was touched by aristocrats' loyalty. "It seems we will be well protected on our way out," he told Yuki with a smile. "But yes, let's be on our way. We might be able to make it before nightfall." The journey began, and Kaname could already hear Ruka and Aido arguing somewhere behind them. He sighed but made no effort to control the quarrel. He wasn't their dorm president anymore, and other things were on his mind. It's not that the other vampires didn't matter to him, it was just that Yuki always mattered more. And now that they were together as they were destined to be, Kaname didn't have to hide the way he felt about her anymore. It was a liberating, comforting feeling.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

As they were leaving, Yuki could have sworn that she heard Cross return to his feminine demeanor. "Be careful! Stay together! I hope I'll see you soon! Send word as soon as you get there, safely!" It was somewhat annoying that Kaien was still doing this, but, Yuki knew that he wouldn't stop. As she waved to all of her friends, she spoke to Kaname. "Is it really that close that we'll be there before sunrise?" She tilted her head as she dropped her hand to her side. "Where are we going anyway?" She saw Takuma smile out of the corner of her eye. It was great to have everyone together at last. "I am definitely looking forward to your introduction, Princess." He told her. Yuki's face flushed. "There's no reason to call me that. My name is Yuki. That's it."

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname chuckled. "Well, maybe not. Perhaps if we ran, we could get there rather quickly. Or we could make Takuma carry us there," he joked. Kaname could also hear Kaien Cross in the distance and shook his head in disbelief. The Headmaster was definitely an interesting man. He didn't know if he could put up with having him for a father. "We're going back to the house where we stayed as children," Kaname told her. "The house where we lived with Father and Mother before...before that night. I think the estate could use some care. It would be nice to revive some of its glory and call the place our own once again." Kaname smiled at the fond memories he had of the house. Once they cleared away some of the dust, he was sure that some of the original beauty could still be seen.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Why not Akatsuki?" Takuma protested, knowing that Kaname was joking all along, but still thinking about leaving most of his friends, including Senri and Maia behind at the school. "No offense, but I doubt that I could lift you." He finally smiled. "Forget it, Takuma." Yuki laughed at her friend's reaction while squeezing Kaname's free hand and then speaking to him. "I can't wait to see what's happened to it since Mother wiped my memory. Is it the same? Well, I guess not. Uncle would have torn it apart fighting with our parents, especially Juuri when she wouldn't say where I was." She used her shoulder to wipe a falling tear.

 

[Wishfully]

"Oh...yes, I suppose you're right. Maybe I was a little too excited and forgot about what happened," Kaname admitted. "I fear you're right. Some of it may be a bit damaged, but I hope it should still be livable for us while we get it fixed up." Kaname squeezed Yuki's hand gently back. Like Takuma, he did think back to Cross Academy that they left behind and hoped that he remaining members of the Night Class would get along alright without him to watch their every move. But they still had Cross and Zero who would surely keep any unruly students in line. "Hm, I think it would be nice to get a chandelier. Is there anything in particular you'd like to have in our new home, Yuki?" Kaname asked.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Yuki thought about the question. "I just want anything that can be preserved to stay there. Ten years is a long time, but I'm sure some of my childhood is still in working condition." She too thought of Zero. "He has consumed the blood of not one, but two Purebloods and killed a third." She started off. "Is he still a Level E or will he be safe enough to continue life at school?" The thought scared her, she didn't want Zero to die without her blood if he truly needed it. "H-He killed Ichiru, didn't he?" Ruka came to that realization at last. "Yes, I think he had to, Ruka. The Hunter twins were destined to be this way from the beginning. It only took Zero becoming a vampire to actually fulfill it."

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname nodded. "That is correct," he said, confirming the statement about the twins' destiny. "I think Zero will be fine for quite some time because the blood from a Pureblood is more fulfilling than that of another vampire. He has received blood from two Purebloods, so his cravings should be more subdued for awhile. Plus, I'm sure the Headmaster and Mr. Yagari are looking out for him." Kaname knew that leaving Zero behind was difficult for Yuki and worried her. Still, he was jealous that Zero had gotten to spend those past several years beside Yuki when he had been forced to keep his distance. Kaname pushed that aside. That didn't matter anymore because he had won in the end, and Kaname would never let her go again.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Yuki honestly wanted to hurl at the moment. Ichiru...was gone? How was that possible? Zero surely wouldn't kill his own brother. His last living relative. She shivered visibly as the sights and sounds of the nearby woods came to her. "I know this place." She told them, receiving worried looks from their followers. "Lady Yuki, are you sure?" Akatsuki asked with a raised brow as he ran his fingers through his hair. Yuki nodded. "I do. Kaname killed a Level E here. It's not too far, really." She looked to her 'brother' for confirmation. "Home isn't much farther, is it?" She still felt that lurching feeling and bile build in her throat at the thought of Ichiru.

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname's eyes glanced back to Akatsuki at the mention of "Lady Yuki". It still sounded a bit strange to hear those words, even if Yuki had always been entitled to the noble prefix. A simple nod was the man's reply as he thought of what Yuki must have remembered about this place. Kaname put an arm around Yuki's shoulders and pulled her close to him. Then he stopped and lowered his gaze to her a bit worriedly. "Yuki, are you alright? You don't look so well," he said as he pressed the back of his hand to her forehead. "You don't seem to have a fever...but would it make you feel better to rest for awhile before continuing on?" he asked.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Yuki shook her head. "I'm not sick. Just a little creeped out still. Ten years and I still have those nightmares." She chuckled to herself and kept moving forward. "Come on. It's just a little further. You aren't truly going to send me off by myself because you want to rest, right?" She teased him just to show Kaname that she could take care of herself more than he thought she could. "We'll be there by daybreak if we keep going. I may not remember the journey to this spot because I was knocked out, but every Kuran in the world can find the manor."

 

[Wishfully]

To be honest, Kaname was a little unsure to react at Yuki's teasing. For a moment, he had to stop and consider her response before realizing that everything was so much more relaxed now. Other students and teachers weren't looking over their shoulders anymore, and they were allowed to...well...to be themselves for once. "Of course not. I don't get tired," Kaname chuckled. He nodded thoughtfully when she talked of being a Kuran. It did make sense that she should sense their original home, but he never really thought of that. "Alright then," he agreed. "If you say you're okay, then I don't have much choice to believe you anyways." Kaname smiled slightly when he heard whispering from the back of the group. "How much longer do you think it will be?" Aido sighed. "Stop complaining, Hanabusa. We'll get there when we get there," Akatsuki mumbled in return.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Ruka scowled at Aido. "Come on. We have to keep going. Now." She had turned out to be quite bossy since Yuki's return. It was enough to get on anyone's nerves, especially the two other boys. "Lady Yuki is correct, after all." Yuki heard that title that made her so very uncomfortable again. It's just Yuki. Titles don't appeal to me. She thought to herself as she disappeared through the trees, leaving the others behind. She could recall childhood games like this with Kaname, when she was three and four, but her toddler years were definitely a blur still. "Wait, Lady Yuki!" Kain called after her, but the brunette wasn't interested in hearing what he had to say, for she could sense her home and, before she knew it, the Kuran mansion was there! She stopped when she saw it. The princess had never seen the outside. Haruka and Juuri didn't even let her leave the room somewhere under the house. Moving hair from her face again, Yuki stood still, soaking up the memories. "I don't have to stay in that room anymore. I'm free."

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname could feel it, even before his eyes came to rest upon the once-glorious establishment. Some of his fondest memories were born right there, in that house. He visited on rare occasions, just to make sure nothing drastic had happened to it. Yet no one would dare to desecrate the property of a pureblood, especially not the Kuran home. Kaname found himself lost in nostalgia until he saw chocolate hair bobbing up and down a few paces ahead of the rest of them. That's right- all of his favorite memories here were with Yuki. How she always greeted him warmly, no matter if he had been gone for an hour or days...how she stopped everything to hear him speak, even if she didn't always understand every word...how she snuggled close to him with her soft laugh giggling in his ears. Kaname stopped beside Yuki and took her hand. "You're right," he said quietly. "You're not the same child you once were. You've grown up to be so beautiful. I have so many fond memories of this place. Even though you had to stay in hiding all your life, I can't blame Haruka and Juuri for wanting to protect you. I just hope we'll be able to make new memories here together, maybe even a family of our own someday."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Yuki, once so sad and pathetic, turned away from Kaname, eyes wide and face red from both the cold and his comment. "You're right. Thank you. I know how hard it must have been for you to even witness what was going on with me all these years. That's all you could do. Even though you didn't necessarily have to stand by, you did." Her feet carried her further forward, until they reached the stone front steps. All she could hear was laughter, talk and laughter in her mind. "They did their best, and in the end, it worked." She pushed open the front door, then observed the beautiful mansion. Though in ruins, it was amazing! The ornate furniture, the paintings on the walls, even a piano. Yuki bit her lip upon spotting it. "I hope it still works." She muttered, avoiding the subject of their own family immediately. That would be some time from now. After they were married. They weren't even officially engaged yet. "So, this is where you went to when you left the school. I wouldn't blame you. I love it." Walking over to the instrument, her fingers touched the keys.

 

[Wishfully]

Yuki's words echoed in Kaname's mind. They rung through his mind like a repeating track until he realized that they stood at the door. When Yuki pushed back the large door, Kaname involuntarily sucked in a tiny breath. Though dusty and unkept, Kaname found the place to be very beautiful. Maybe it was the fact that he was a vampire, but he found even the ruins and slight decay to be comforting. Though the sun would not stay much longer, he didn't need light to see. In fact, everything was better at night. Kaname heard a chime from the old piano. He wasn't sure if the Headmaster had taught Yuki to play or not. Many nobles knew how to play such an instrument, the pureblood man included. He approached the long row of keys. "May I?" he asked his partner. Then he reached over and struck a few chords in succession. Though the piano was out of tune, the sound made everyone stop and listen. It was solid and pure, haunting and hopeful. It was the type of music that Kaname liked- the music of the night.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Yuki listened, moving away from Kaname to give him better access to the instrument. "I know that one. You're quite the virtuoso, Kaname." Her long hair fell in her face as she bent over the other's work, watching his digits dance over the keys. "I never knew that it was you playing when I was trying to sleep." Moving toward him again, she now stood directly behind him, arms wrapped around his neck. "So many fond memories, stolen from me for no reason other than jealousy. There was no legitimate reason to do that and ruin my life." She would never cry. Not in front of Kaname. "When will the pain stop?" She choked out at last, completely oblivious to the others in the room. "It hurts so much." She let his smell flow to her brain, her fingers moving his hair to the side, then nothing. He's given me so much. I can't take from him anymore.

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname stopped playing and shook his head with a smile. "I'm not sure I would say that," he replied when Yuki complimented his playing. "But it seems like a common skill for nobles to have, even in the human world. The piano is soothing, but it would be nice if this one was in tune." Kaname felt a pair of small arms wrap around him. He waited there quietly, thinking how fragile her arms seemed to be. Then when he heard her quiet suffering, he understood. "It's okay," he told Yuki. "My blood is for you alone, so take what you need. I'm sure you will repay me in the future, anyways."


Aido's cheeks flushed from embarrassment as he noticed the exchange between the Kuran siblings. "Um, you guys...let's step outside for a few minutes, okay?" he laughed nervously. Ruka turned to him with an annoyed huff. "Honestly, Hanabusa. You're just-" she stopped as she noticed his expression and how he was awkwardly staring at Yuki and Kaname. "Oh, ah yes...let's go for now," she quickly agreed, lowering her gaze so not to watch or intrude on the purebloods. The aristocrats swiftly left to stand outside the house, and they discussed among themselves where they would be staying the night since they weren't going to stay here with Yuki and Kaname and intrude on their new life and home.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Yuki froze as he gave her permission to bite him. "No, I won't do it." She was thirsty, but she didn't want him to be hurt in the process of her fulfilling her selfish needs. Unwrapping her arms, Yuki sighed. "Of course I'll repay you in some future time. I owe you more than I truly realized as a human." Her bony fingers relinquished his dark hair. "All you need do is ask me and I'll give it to you, Kaname." Her hand, now resting on Kaname's shoulder, shook in the smallest way.Yuki attributed that to her body adjusting as she pushed off from him. "You know how much I love you, don't you, Kaname?" Her shoes tapped the ground until she was able to touch the railing on the stairs, leading upstairs to the second floor. A deep sorrow passed through her, a man's laughter and a woman's terrified screams. Yuki shook her head and let go. "I'm going to look at the rest of the house."

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname anticipated her fangs, but nothing happened. He didn't find the act strange or even painful, but he could sense that Yuki was still hesitant to drink his blood. "Very well then," Kaname said, not arguing with her wishes and her offer of her own blood for whenever he may need it. It was tempting to ask her for blood even when he didn't need it. Yuki's blood was something he craved involuntarily since the taste was rich and full of emotions. And Kaname could taste her feelings for him in her blood, and it was reassuring to say the least. The man smiled as she professed her love for him, and he placed his hand over hers in a small gesture of mutual acceptance. "Yes, I know." He watched as she left to explore the house, and he decided that he would do the same but first let her have a few moments to take everything in. Kaname wondered if Yuki was okay. Now that her memories had returned, she shouldn't be so confused or passing out from headaches. However, that didn't mean some of the memories weren't filled with sorrow. She seemed happy to be here, and this is where Kaname wanted to live again. "But all I really want is your happiness, Yuki." The vampire spoke to the empty room as he removed his fingers from the keyboard and then went to visit his old childhood bedroom.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Yuki ran her hand along the wall until it hit the edge of a painting. The vampire princess found herself staring at it with sad eyes. "I know what you did was to save this family, but, I wish you were still here somehow." She dropped her hand to her side while she continued her journey through the halls. "What were you thinking?" Her eyes narrowed as she came to a sudden stop at the end of the hallway. "My...room." Carefully, slowly, she opened the door to a bright room and her gorgeous face lit up in that instant. "Yes, we will be just like Mother and Father one day. I can't wait, Kaname." She remembered her discussion with the other years ago.

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname's footsteps were loud in the empty halls even though he was walking lightly. Before he realized, his feet soon carried him deeper into the mansion, down to a room with no windows. He remembered spending much time here, since this was where Haruka and Juuri kept Yuki hidden away from the world. Kaname remembered it like it was yesterday. He could never forget Yuki the child although it had been many years since those days. Even now, Yuki's gaze was the same when she looked at Kaname. Those eyes held trust and admiration for him, and Kaname realized they always had. He never really thought about the possibilities before- how things would have been different had he not been there for her. If Kaname hadn't visited the Headmaster often, or if he hadn't saved her on that snowy night...maybe she would have forgotten about him and chosen someone else. The thought was honestly a bit terrifying, and Kaname leaned against the wall to steady himself. He had to be grateful now, and he could never let her go.