appears to be dying. I'm impressed.
B| This is not the end. *sends lunchables to back up defeated muffins*
But when you're insane, you don't just keep it to a time and place.
* * * * * ** * ** I open my eyes, feeling nothing. The sky is overhead, the snowy ground cold against my back. No pain. Looking down, there's nothing piercing me through. But then.....I pull a hand to my stomach, to check, patting myself down. Only then do I stop, noticing the red hand prints covering my dress. The smell, stinging the air. The body lying a few feet from me, face down. No sound escapes my lips, no scream. But inside my head, there is no word to describe what I hear. I rush to his side, turning over his body. Tears begin to fall now, flooding down my cheeks, too fast to even freeze, as I wipe off my foster father's face, clearing it of snow. I'm saying something over and over, but my voice sounds so far away. His eyes open slowly, almost as if he is starstruck. Blood trickles from the corner of his mouth, but I have no urge to take anything. It's almost as if my vampire self is shattering slowly, as it shattered my human self a year ago. Kaien gently reaches up to touch my face, wiping my tears. “I....promised your mother I would keep you happy, make you smile, protect you.” His voice is strained, not rising above a whisper. “I loved her, and wanted to make her happy. She made me promise, when the time came, that I would protect you.” I manage to smile, my throat aching. He smiles back, the blood making a small trail down his cheek. “Now I see your mother. She's alive in you. But you have your father's eyes.” He gently brushes my hair back, and I close my eyes, trying to stem the flow of tears. “Papa, we'll save you. We'll find some way, just hold on okay?” He would be okay, he could make it. He and Zero had always made it, always would. I look back. Hanabusa is nowhere to be seen, and Kaname has disappeared, as well as Seiren. Zero stumbles over to me, bleeding from his arm. I blink back more tears, then shake my head to will them away. Yagari appears, seemingly out of nowhere. “You don't look good, Cross.” He finally says, gently prodding Kaien's wounds. Kaien starts to laugh, then coughs. I can only hover over him, wishing I could take the pain away. “You've never looked better.” he finally replies, lying back. I wait for Yagari's verdict, looking up at the sky. Zero lightly puts his hand on my arm, his eyes full of questions, but I refuse to speak now. I'll just turn to tears again. Finally, Yagari sits back. “Kaien...” he sighs, and and clears his throat. “You know what tradition dictates.” I turn to watch him, curious. “What do you mean? He'll be fine, he only needs to get stitched up and some bandages...” my voice dies as he shakes his head. “He's been pierced by a vampire's weapon. He will die, it's only a matter of time. Tradition dictates that he either is burned, or shot with his gun.” Each word falls like stones to my ears. It's all I can do to not shriek and cling to him. “Zero.” Kaien's voice, though weak, is commanding. “Give Yagari your gun. Then take Yuki.” I can't make a sound, though I feel the tears slipping down my face again. My fault my fault my fault. “Yuki...” he gently touches my face, then squeezes my hand. “No matter who your real parents were, I love you as if you were my own daughter. Use my body as the sacrifice. The book is in my right pocket.” He lets out a sigh, a very long, tired sigh. “Use your life well, Yuki. Promote peace. You now know what it is like to lose, now you must keep others from feeling this way.” He closes his eyes, then smiles one last time at me, kindness overflowing. “I am very proud of you, Yuki.” Something wraps around me, holding me, pulling me back. “No no no no no no.” I struggle against Zero, trying to reach back to Kaien, my father. “No, let me go, Zero!” He doesn't listen, only wraps his arms tighter around me and pulls my face into his shoulder. “Don't watch.” He murmurs, his voice quiet to mask the pain. I only struggle more, trying to reach Kaien before it's too late. “Zero, stop him!” When he doesn't move, I bite down on his shoulder, feeling blood flow beneath my teeth, mixing with my tears. He starts, but doesn't move. There's a bang, and then silence. The will to move leaves my body, and I cling to Zero, letting the tears run their course. He shushes me gently, brushing my hair. I'm murmuring something, over and over. It's only when Zero relaxes his hold, and I crawl to Kaien, smoothing his clothing out, unfolding the creases, that I realize what it is. “Papa.” I whisper, the tears flowing like rivers down my cheeks. “Papa.” Then I press my face into his shirt and cry, letting the sobs rack my body. * * * * * * I wake in my bed, my eyes crusty from the left overs of those tears. I feel dry, as if there is nothing left. There is an overwhelming pain in my chest, as if someone has torn out my heart, but not bothered to kill me yet. I lie back, swallowing past the ache in my throat. Zero comes in, holding a small leather bound book. He gently places it beside me, then sits on the bed. “Is that what we were fighting for?” he askes plainly, his eyes calmly watching mine. If one had not been looking closely, you would never have seen the red lines encircling his eyes. He too, had been weeping. I ignore that ache, and pick up the book. The pages are crackly, old and brittle. They protest my gentle touch, as I turn page after page. Finally I come to the last page, older and more brittle then the rest. It's thinner, and the symbols written are older, the ink turning yellow. I mouth a few of the words, then close my eyes. “It's the spell my mother used to turn me human. She used herself as a sacrifice. But it says....to make the spell permanent, you must use a human, and a vampire.” I open my eyes, blinking back tears. Papa.... “I can't command someone to give up their life for me.” I whisper, dropping the book. “Not again.” Zero moves to comfort me, but he's interrupted by a voice at the doorway. “I will do it.” Hanabusa strolls in, looking as casually perfect as ever. “Don't ask why.” he interrupts me, as Zero moves to defend me, in case of a trap. “I will be the willing victim. Let's just get this over with.” I hesitate, then reach out, taking his hand. “Are you sure?” I murmur, my eyes locked onto his. Aido looks away, then smiles, and chuckles. “He'll never love me. Not when he has you, and Ruka, and Seiren. I was a fool to try.” He looks back at me. “Yuki, I think you were always meant to stay human. I never think you should have been woken up.” He looks down now. “I am sorry for all the grief I've caused you.” There is nothing to say, so I hug him instead. Zero has brought in Kaien's body, and he lays it next to us. Instead of stare at him, I close my eyes, and whisper the words. Aido's body goes stiff, and he grips me tightly, just as I fade into black. This time, when I awake, I'm sore. My mouth hurts, and my head feels heavy. Zero helps me up, and gives me water. I drink it gratefully, then close my eyes from the sight. Aido, or what used to be Aido, is still on the bed, a heap of ashes. Kaien's body has turned to ash as well. Instead I look up at Zero, then smile. He gently touches my even teeth, the human incisors, then smiles. “Welcome back, Yuki.” I hug him tightly, my mind dwelling for a moment. What has Kaname done, where has he gone? Then I banish the thought from my mind. I will take this school and make it my own. Zero and I will pursue the peace my father had tried so hard to attain. I smile at this thought, and turn my face up to kiss Zero. * * * * * Epilogue * * * * * Kaname looked out the window, his eyes unreadable, then banged his fist against it, sending cracks up the side. Pressing his face to the cold pane, he closed his eyes, letting the darkness enter his mind. Why had Yuki done all this? Why had she let Kaien be killed, and Aido sacrificed, and Zero become hers? He was better then Zero by far, and the one she had belonged to! Cursing under his breath, he sat in a chair, then knocked over the red king on his chessboard. “Well done, Yuki. Well done.” he murmured, pushing the white queen into place. She had shown herself to be an able participant in the politics of vampires. She would do well. As for him...it was time he left. The door opened, and Kaname looked up. Seiren entered, carrying a basket of some delicacies. “Are you hungry, Kaname-sama?” she asked, watching him, as she bit into a small pastry. He shook his head, then sighed. “Not for that, no.” he murmured, looking out the window again. Seiren set the basket down, and perched on the chair's arm. “The hurt will pass.” She murmured, watching him. “In the mean time, you want to go find some new scenery?” He smiled up at her, then gently touched her face. “Are you going to come along?” Seiren nodded, a surprise smile lighting up her eyes. “If you'll have me, Kaname-senpai.” Kaname felt his own lips smile in response, then turned to look out the window. “We'll make a new future for ourselves as well.” he decided, running his fingers up and down her arm lightly. Let Yuki make a mess of her own life. He would make alliances with other countries, and one day exact vengeance. But not today. Today he would enjoy Seiren's company, and rest. And the future....well it looked brighter already. End.
