Music of the Knight

[Wishfully]

Kaname's face stayed solemn. Level E's were not something Kaname could just brush aside so easily as Takuma made it sound. Kaname would not have Yuki in danger here, in their own home. Before he had a chance to speak, Yuki inquired about the Level E's. Kaname's eyes shifted as she asked about Zero. Of course she would be worried about him. She had a right to worry about him, and Kaname tried not to be jealous. It never worked. Even if she had chosen him, Kaname knew Yuki would never stop caring for Zero. Her loving nature would never betray a friend. Kaname could feel his muscles growing tense as his partner grew angry. Ichijo was certainly taking his time, beating around the bush when Yuki asked questions. It was enough to make anyone angry. However, he couldn't let Yuki do anything rash when she didn't know her own strength yet. Her emotions might cause her to harm Takuma without meaning to, but Kaname noticed she was calming. His muscles relaxed as Yuki did, and he nodded to her. "Alright, if you're sure," he replied. "Ichijo, please take care not to make my lover angry. But Yuki, he is right. Zero could not have fallen so quickly. We haven't been gone very long, you know. And be careful not to let your emotions get out of control when you don't understand your pureblood power. I will teach you how to use your energy and abilities properly, but for now, just be careful."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"I'm sorry, Kaname, Icijo." Yuki swallowed. "Just answer the question next time, quickly. I don't like getting that angry." It would be a long journey. She would spend her nights either cleaning or training and her days would be spent sleeping soundly next to Lord Kuran. "It's fine. I shouldn't have been so elusive. I hope you can forgive me." He bowed. Yuki still had a hard time accepting that title. "It's just Yuki, Takuma." "Only to someone in your family. Not to me, however." The blonde corrected. "Either way, I'm going to go change my shirt. I can't wait to see what you can do after ten years, Princess." He smiled warmly before disappearing into a room on the ground floor. "Kaname, I didn't want you to see that. I didn't want to hurt him either." When the man mentioned training her, the corner of Yuki's lip upturned. "Fine. When do we start, dear?" Her energy completely flipped as she flew out the front door and into the snow, barefoot. "Show me now! Please?" She tripped and fell in the snow. "I can smell the blood."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"I'm sorry, Kaname, Icijo." Yuki swallowed. "Just answer the question next time, quickly. I don't like getting that angry." It would be a long journey. She would spend her nights either cleaning or training and her days would be spent sleeping soundly next to Lord Kuran. "It's fine. I shouldn't have been so elusive. I hope you can forgive me." He bowed. Yuki still had a hard time accepting that title. "It's just Yuki, Takuma." "Only to someone in your family. Not to me, however." The blonde corrected. "Either way, I'm going to go change my shirt. I can't wait to see what you can do after ten years, Princess." He smiled warmly before disappearing into a room on the ground floor. "Kaname, I didn't want you to see that. I didn't want to hurt him either." When the man mentioned training her, the corner of Yuki's lip upturned. "Fine. When do we start, dear?" Her energy completely flipped as she flew out the front door and into the snow, barefoot. "Show me now! Please?" She tripped and fell in the snow. "I can smell the blood."

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname chuckled involuntarily. "Indeed, I can't say patience has ever been your strongest trait, Yuki. Of course, we know this and forgive you, but you'll have to take a little more care when we're in the public eye. Noble vampires aren't the most forgiving people, unfortunately." Kaname nodded to Takuma as he left to change. "If you wouldn't mind joining us once you're done, Ichijo? It may be beneficial to have another person to help us." Kaname started descending the staircase slowly before Yuki bounded outside. He shook his head with a slight laugh as he noticed her energy. When he stepped out into the snow, he also noticed the blood. But to him, tho blood smelled unpleasant- like an obviously cheap wine as opposed to a real luxury. "Well, the blood shouldn't be a problem for us," he said. "If you need any, you can take mine." Kaname approached Yuki and examined her for a moment. "In fact, if you need a catalyst to unlock your vampiric side, you can also take my blood. However, if you an access your power without, let's begin there. I know some of my power allows me to destroy objects at will, so let's start there and see if you can also do that. Focus on the large rock over there." Kaname pointed to a small boulder that was covered in snow, a few yards away. "Try to imagine it shattering and focus only on that rock, not the other things around it. Close your eyes if you need to. It's okay if you can't get it on the first try, and maybe you don't have exactly the same powers as I do. I just figured it was a good place to start, since you are also a Kuran like myself."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Ichijo agreed. "Of course, Lord Kaname. I'd love to take part in this." He smiled at his lord. Yuki had been waiting outside for what felt like an eternity before Kaname decided to join her outside in the cold. "Are you sure I could do that?" She took her attention away from the boulder for a second. "I'd hate for you to lose so much blood because of me. You still need some to live." Takuma emerged from the manor now. "You aren't using me for target practice, are you?" "No, we just need you out here to help me unlock my power." Yuki turned back to the boulder before her. "You're right, Kaname. I am a Kuran. I always was, I just never knew it." She shut her eyes, fingers twitching. Yuki could hear the snow around her, some flying past her ears and soaking her face. The white quickly melted on her pale skin, leaving it moist. Imagine the rock shattering. Think of nothing but the rock. Focus, Yuki. You've finally gotten what you wanted. The rock trembled, but did not move or change otherwise. "What's going on out here?" Kain questioned. "Lady Yuki's about to channel her abi-""I can't do that if you don't keep quiet!" Yuki got so angry that the boulder shattered.

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname chuckled slightly. "I hadn't intended to use you, but if feel guilty about something and wish to pay penance, then you're welcome to do so." Kaname never had the greatest sense of humor, and no one seemed to know how to respond to his jokes, but he still attempted to make others laugh every now and then. The vampire turned his attention back to Yuki as she spoke the name, Kuran. His name, and now her name too. It was something they shared, something that no one else could share with them or take away from them. Yuki and Kaname were bound by blood and by love, the strongest ties in existence. Kaname's garnet eyes stared intently, almost impatiently. If he continued to stare so intensely, he was afraid that he'd shatter the boulder himself. As Kaname realized this, he adjusted his stance. When he heard Kain, he prepared to answer the vampire but instead heard a loud crack. Kaname turned his eyes back to the rock and saw that it was in several pieces. He nodded and spoke. "Yes, it would be wise to approach with caution," Kaname said lightly. "It seems Yuki can inflict some real damage now. Though, Yuki, that wasn't very controlled, so let's try again with something else, okay?"

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Takuma was also going to respond to Kaname prior to the rock shattering, but it was far too late. "Well, if it counts, I thought it was a good first try anyway." He chuckled. Yuki gave a thin smile. "Thanks, Ichijo, but I don't want to rely on anger and frustration to use my power. That's what I've been seeing for ten years. Any negative emotion made a vampire's power stronger and I don't want to do that. I believe that there could be another way and I want to try that." She addressed Kaname. "Yes, let's try something else." "Oh...no, ya don't!" Aido hid behind a tree to avoid getting impaled by something. "No offense, Lady Yuki, but you aren't the most practiced individual. I'm not coming out and getting used for target practice."

 

[Wishfully]

"Yes, my thoughts exactly," Kaname said. "You'll have to learn to control your anger without letting it control you. as purebloods, we may not be in danger of falling to Level E status, but anyone is in danger of falling into madness. It's happened to vampires before, even purebloods. We are the greatest examples of our kind, so it is important that we show that our power is to be respected, not scorned or feared." Kaname's eyes shifted over to Aido, and he chuckled. "You know, I think Yuki deserves a shot at you after all the years she spent fleeing Day Class girls or warding them off because of the trouble you caused, Aido." With a smile and shake of his head, Kaname placed a hand on the backs of Yuki's shoulders to guide her body to face the same direction he was facing. "Ichijo was right. That was a good first try. Now, let's try to low wall over there," he said, pointing to a brick wall that was only half its original height after years of wear. It was a bit farther away than the boulder had been, and it would take a bit more of Yuki's strength and concentration.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"I'm aware that it's happened before." She hated implying things from her past, but she just couldn't stop. "It makes me sick, but it also makes me want to work harder." Yuki's breathing became more even. "Right, the tree. You know, you're just adding pressure by saying that we're well respected and have to act a certain way." Her dark, thin brows narrowed as she smirked. "So, all in all, no pressure whatsoever." The blonde revealed his face, one of anxiety, as Kaname spoke. "I can't believe you would say that, Lord Kaname. I was merely having fun. They were quite cute for the five years that we were there." "I was trampled multiple times, Aido." At last, she focused on the boulder. Breathing in deeply, similar to a yoga class participant, the young woman locked eyes with her target, imagining the wall shattering. Aido ducked behind the tree again, secretly praying. After a good ten minutes, Yuki gave up. "It's not working. I just can't break it." The four aristocrats breathed sighs of relief. "I'm sorry, Kaname." Yuki appeared as if she failed him.

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname didn't speak again, simply watched silently. He didn't mean to add pressure, but it was true. Maybe Yuki did know of the things he said, but she had never experienced the scrutiny before. She may have been a role model for the students at Cross Academy by being the Headmaster's daughter and a guardian, but high-class vampire society would not be as forgiving as a secluded boarding school. She might not truly understand until she met them. Kaname wished their parents were here. For a moment, he felt like a child again and hoped that maybe if he closed his eyes, he and Yuki would be standing in the snow, together, with their parents holding heir hands. Kaname opened his eyes, and the wish went away. He had Yuki, a grown Yuki, and that was more than enough. "It's okay," he said. "You'll get the hang of it eventually. We can try something else or go inside for awhile. There are plenty of things to do as far as housework, or we could even practice dancing," he suggested, as a potentially relaxing alternative.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Yuki's cheeks heated up despite the bitter cold. "I haven't danced in years. You know that." Even after the many lessons they had together, (Yuki laughed at the memories of her awkward childhood and constantly scuffing Kaname's shoes during a lesson) Yuki still felt extremely inadequate standing next to someone so very perfect. His face, his hands, his entire body, his voice and even his patience was way more than Yuki felt she deserved. "I-I guess we could try it, though. I'm expected to at least know how, right?" Yuki was too tired to clean. "It'll be fun to get away from work for a while."

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname chuckled and resisted the urge to poke Yuki's rosy cheeks. "Well that's why I suggested it. I don't mind if you step on my shoes, but other people might consider such thing to be rude," he teased. Kaname led the way inside, knowing that Aido and Takuma would follow, and he wondered for a brief moment what the others were up to. "There you all are, I wasn't sure what happened to you," Akatsuki remarked. "Ah yes, we were just outside training Yuki to use her pureblood powers, but I'm sorry to make you worry," he replied. "Anyways, we're going to practice dancing now, if you care to join us." Akatsuki rubbed the back of his neck. "Er...I think I'll pass, thanks." Kaname nodded and looked around briefly. "Well, I suppose the first thing we'll need is some music."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Oh, alright, I'll play." Takuma acted like it was such a terrific burden to walk the thirty or so feet to the piano. "Oh, I wonder what Senri, Rima and Seirin are doing right now." He started playing what was on the piano. "Oh, I remember this. Wasn't this song played at the last party, Lord Kaname?" Aido smirked, slowly shutting his eyes and leaning against the instrument. "I don't suppose you'd dance with me, would you, Ruka?" Yuki scratched one foot with the other awkwardly. "You're just going to embarrass me in front of everyone, Kaname." She glanced worriedly down at his perfect shoes, which were more than likely going to be scuffed in the next fifteen minutes. "This is your last chance to back out if you want to."

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname shook his head and chuckled at the other vampires' antics. They were an interesting group of people, even though high-class vampires tended to be more uptight. He was glad for their companionship- it was comforting. "Yes, I do remember this song," he said. Kaname took Yuki's hand. "Oh, don't be silly. I'm sure you'll be just fine," he said with a smile as he pulled her toward him. He looked over at Ruka and Aido dancing as well. They were both decent dancers- Ruka a little better than Aido, but the blonde was actually quite knowledgeable in formal skills, although he often seemed disinterested in such activities. "Just one foot after the other, my dear." Kaname's hand held Yuki's waist in a fashion that was secure but not too harsh. It was a perfect balance of leading his partner but also being sensitive to her. "See, you're doing fine. Just start with your left foot and let your body follow my lead. Trust your instincts," he said with a smile, leaning close to her ear.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Feeling her brother's hot breath against her skin, Yuki found herself looking toward the ceiling again, her automatic response before being bitten. This had been going on for a long time now, since she found out about Zero Kiryu. "Thank you, Kaname." Yuki did what she did at the last dance they attended at Cross Academy. "I'm just glad that I can't walk out this time. I'm sorry for acting so childish back then." Her cheeks tinted, then she snapped out of it, realizing that they were still dancing. "To be honest, I've been following more than your lead for years now." She joked. "I had to, remember?" Left. Right. Left. Right. Forward. Back. Forward. Back. Yuki repeated the motion in her mind. "How did you learn to dance like this, Kaname?" Yuki knew that Kaname had two lifetimes to master this, but she always wondered how. "And, if you don't mind, do you still remember being in your first body? Living your first life?"

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname noticed that Yuki was following his instructions and dancing without thinking about it at first. Her eyes were focused on the ceiling, extending her neck before Kaname's vision. He wasn't thirsty all the time, but he always seemed to want Yuki's blood. There was just something about drinking blood that created a connection far beyond anything imaginable. Kaname tensed as he heard her question. Images played through his mind. He tried to remember all the way back to his first life, but to get there, he first had to remember Rido and all of the pain he had caused Yuki. "I-" Kaname removed one of his hands from Yuki's waist and rubbed his forehead, his eyes growing distant as he gazed past Yuki through a window. "Hm, well I remember it was different. Since I was the progenitor of the Kurans, there were less vampires in general- less purebloods, less aristocrats, and much fewer Level E's. It was a time before corruption seemed to rot the core of our existence. Times were much more peaceful," he smiled slightly, remembering how the vampires all got along so well. "We were quite separated from the humans, though. In fact, I think the distance between humans and vampires was even greater back then. Hunters were out to kill all vampires, not just Level E's. The humans had a tremendous fear of us, and we avoided them as much as possible." Kaname turned his attention back to Yuki and smiled. "Still, I'm glad I lived a second life. I wouldn't have met you otherwise."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"You are so kind to me." Yuki reached up with her left hand and caressed his chiseled cheek. "I don't deserve you." After a moment, Yuki smiled. "Times have changed so much in these years." What did Haruka and Juuri's true son go through? Yuki decided not to ask, feeling that she had already asked so many questions that she was sure the man before her might get angry. She would, if she were asked so many questions of a single, clueless person. "I wish things could have been better back then. Maybe if Kaien's family had been like that all the time, it could have. If they all had his views, vampires wouldn't be seen as the monsters they are today." Yuki replaced her hands in proper position. "Can we continue?"

 

[Wishfully]

"Yes, I suppose you're right. Kaien Cross is a good man," he said. Kaname's thoughts drifted now, still lost somewhere in the past. There were people in his past, and vampires. Some of those vampires were still alive. Vampires could live for nearly an eternity if they weren't killed. Unfortunately, vampires aren't exactly a tame species, Kaname had learned. Beasts in human form…that's what they were. Kaname faintly heard Yuki's voice asking to continue. His hands found their position again, but as he stepped forward, he felt a lump beneath his foot. Kaname snapped back to reality. "Ah, I'm so very sorry," he said sheepishly, looking down at Yuki's toes. "I guess I should pay more attention, hm? I hope I didn't hurt you too much, did I?"

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"You could never hurt me, Kaname." Yuki laid her head on his chest. "You're not that kind of vampire." She stepped back, giving Kaname his space. "You just tell me when you're tired of having me under your feet all the time." Something made Yuki look deep into Kaname's eyes. "You are too kind, too gentle, too polite to lift a hateful finger toward me." Still, Yuki had to bite her lip to keep from making a painful sound, because it did hurt a little. "You have to tell me when my questions go too far, Kaname." Her eyes turned scarlet as the blood from her lip trailed down her chin. Yuki wiped it quickly. "Excuse me." Princess Kuran turned around and licked the blood off her hands and chin, then left the others behind to go wash her hands.

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname nodded once, a faint smile breaking onto his face. Yuki was becoming more mature- a pureblood vampire, right before his very eyes. She was learning quickly how to handle herself, he noted. Kaname's eyes glanced to the side a bit when she spoke of his kindness. Perhaps it was true- he was too kind. He feared what Yuki would think if she knew how many he had hurt or killed to get where he was today. It wasn't something he wished for her to know. "Alright, thank you," Kaname replied as Yuki excuse herself. He waved his hand at Takuma. "I think we'll be done for now."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Standing in the bathroom, right in front of the mirror, which was cracked, Yuki washed her hands and face. "I wish you were here, Mother and Father. It just wasn't fair." She inhaled deeply. She just had to stop talking about them. It hurt too much. "They trusted you. They loved you, Rido Kuran. They were your blood and you didn't care. THEY WERE YOUR FAMILY!" She broke the mirror even further with her mind, then stayed bent over the sink, hair draped over her face and shoulders. "They loved you." As soon as her blood dripped down the sink, her hands healed themselves. "Yes, Lord Kaname." Takuma stopped playing and started picking up some more of the mess. "I wanted to ask you how long you would like this to take. What I mean is, when would this party be?"

 

[Wishfully]

Kaname thought he heard a faint shattering, perhaps from somewhere else inside the house. Though, he didn't hear anyone screaming for help, so perhaps it was just the house and its creaking. The pureblood turned to Takuma. "I was hoping we could get this place fixed up quickly," he said. "We need to send out invitations as well. Would it be too much trouble to get the invitations today so we can send them out tomorrow? Then I suppose we'll have to allow people to respond, so it shouldn't be this weekend. Perhaps next weekend, or is that too soon?" Kaname put a hand to his chin as he thought about setting a date. "Since we will need time to decorate. Thankfully, food won't be that big of a deal since we're not at Cross Academy anymore. I get the feeling Yuki might like to help with a lot of these party plans, since she's had some experience planning school events and they always turned out so nicely."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Takuma realized that too. "How nice to actually not have to be watched constantly. We could, if we wanted, go out and find some real blood." He sighed, thinking about the blood tablets and every other precaution that was taken at the school. "However, I'm not so certain about you or Lady Yuki being able to do such things." It was the time for vampires to be vampires. They didn't have to skirt around the rules anymore. With that in mind, Takuma's green eyes turned to the normal vampiric red. "I will enjoy putting together parties. You know that more than anyone, Lord Kaname. I will gladly put together everything for a party at the end of the month." It was then that Yuki came back, smiling and happy. "I'm sorry. I was listening. I couldn't help it." She started moving back and forth from toe to heel. "Um...the last time I tried to cook, only one of the chocolates came out right. I'm not very good at it, but I'll try." She added with a bright smile. All of this was too good to be true. Kaname had been there all along and had waited for her? Impossible! Yet, here he was. After all these years, the adoring Day Class girls didn't matter. Kaname and Yuki had each other.

 

[Wishfully]

"Yes, I know our guests would enjoy real blood-" Kaname stopped as he heard Yuki. He exchanged a glance with the blonde vampire. He was right- Kaname didn't think he could bring himself to do such a thing, and he was sure Yuki would not be okay with drinking real blood. He had heard of vampires drinking animal blood before, but he wasn't sure if he could risk serving that to guests either. Most of the nobles would probably think themselves above both blood tablets and animal blood. "We'll just use blood tablets, then," he muttered to Takuma. Kaname chuckled. "Yes, I figured you would like to help out." He remembered Yuki gave him a chocolate for St. Xocolatl's Day at the Academy, but he didn't know that was the only one that turned out right. Part of him wasn't surprised though, something told him that Yuki wasn't good at cooking- perhaps it was following directions that gave her trouble. Kaname laughed to himself at that thought. "It's okay, we won't really need to cook much. Vampires don't enjoy food as much as humans do. And if we need to cook, I believe myself or Takuma would be a good choice." Kaname looked around at the mansion. There was still quite a bit of work that needed to be done. "Aido, Akatsuki?" The two males stepped forward at Kaname's call. "Would the two of you accompany Yuki into town to buy some party invitations? Ruka, Ichijo, and I will continue cleaning." The two said it was fine, and Kaname turned to Yuki. "Is that alright with you? It shouldn't take very long. Just find some invitations you think look nice, and we'll fill them out tonight."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Yuki heard him chuckling. "Um...this is the part where you say that I'm not that bad and then I argue my case, but, whatever. It's your choice." Her attention was brought to the two cousins. She'd be alone with the same two vampires that attacked her at school? I was human then. It doesn't matter now, however, babysitters? I'm fifteen! I...think. It occurred to Yuki that she actually had no idea how old she was anymore. As a human, she was fifteen, but vampires aged much slower. So, at five, she could have been fifty for all she knew. "Fine. We'll be back in no time." Still, though Kaname made it very clear that he and Yuki were together, the thought of Ruka and Kaname alone wasn't something she thought lightly of. Still, Takuma was here and Kaname could handle himself. "Boys? Come on." She grabbed her coat off the rack by the door and slipped it on. Stop thinking like a human, Yuki. It's normal for vampires to drink each other's blood. With that, she nodded to the others and left her home...yet again.