Warning: There are severe moral issues in this story – incest. Not sure about lemons and limes, there might not be any at all. It really depends on how the story goes.

This is a very… unusual story. It's not something I'd usually write. Because of the nature of this story, I'd just like to share about why I'm writing this. It arose because of a conversation I had with a friend of mine who's in support of incest. His argument is that they only 'loved the wrong person', and incest isn't at all that different from homosexuality. I disagreed with him back then and stated that I, no matter what, didn't think that I could ever come to support incest.

Well, guess what? After giving it a little bit more thought recently, I'm slowly coming to accept that his argument is valid if we overlook the inherent moral issues of incest. I questioned myself on what grounds am I against incest, and I realised that it is only the moral barrier that stands between me and acceptance. I raised an argument against myself then, that since morality is shaped by humans and social norms are constantly evolving, is it not possible that incest will one day become socially acceptable, and hence defeat my reasoning based on morality?

Hence, I decided to write this. I'm aiming for about 10~20k words for this story, since it's still not something I feel very comfortable with. But hopefully with this, I, and perhaps the readers would come to view incest in a different light, though really… I'm not confident of influencing other people.

I do not accept flaming about ethical issues, there's a reason why I put this under M. This is entirely fictional; any semblance to real life situations is unintentional, and purely a coincidence.

Summary: (AU, strong ethical issues) Kuran Ritsu is the daughter Kuran Yuuki left behind in the Kuran household in exchange for the freedom to wed the man she loves. Ritsu has a secret which she must keep hidden at all costs, for she was in love with the one man she should have never fallen for. (KanamexOC)

Disclaimer: I don't own VK.

Take An Oath

I: Bluebells

At times, Ritsu wonders why she had to fall for him of all people.

Why must it be him? She questions herself and sends a glance to the brown-haired man focused entirely on browsing a confidential document. His maroon eyes are fine red wine contained in exquisite wine glasses; they are swirling with a mystical pattern, emitting a fatal magnetism which draws people to him.

They are intoxicating. She is intoxicated.

Why him and not her younger half-brother Daiki, or anyone else?

"Ritsu."

She blinks. "Yes… father?" She addresses him, lowering her head. He is marijuana, morphine and meth all mixed together. When he calls upon her in his alluring baritone voice, she would be at his mercy.

Ritsu thinks she might expose herself at this rate.

"Prepare yourself. Your mother is arriving soon," he adjusts his tie and tells her in a flat tone, vivid emotions only rippled across his eyes when he mentioned Kuran Yuuki.

Ah, she was Kiryuu Yuuki now.

As always, Ritsu thinks as she nods, her sensory system is long numb to the acrimonious taste forming on her tongue. "I understand."

Yet, there is no remedy to that smidgen of indignant feeling in her chest.

~x~

Kuran Ritsu's birth was pre-calculated.

She was conceived under an agreement, initiated by Kuran Kaname to carry on the prestigious pureblood lineage of the Kuran household when Kuran Yuuki pleaded with him to call off their marriage. The reason was because she found a man that she loved, and that man wasn't him. Such a rich joke it was; back during their time! That the princess of the Kuran family chose a mere mortal over the uncrowned King of the vampire society.

Nobody knew why but Kuran Kaname conceded; his only condition was that she'd bear a pureblood child for the Kuran family before she left. A mutual agreement was reached, and Kuran Ritsu was conceived. After giving birth to her, Kuran Yuuki left the Kuran household and married Kiryuu Zero. Her stepfather was an ex-vampire hunter, now a Level E surprisingly not turned by her mother. Neither his past nor present identities qualified him as the consort of a pureblood princess, but Kuran Yuuki chose him.

And ridiculed Kuran Kaname in front of the whole world.

Ritsu thinks that if Kuran Yuuki hadn't met Kiryuu Zero, they might be a happy family of three –or even more– now, and she wouldn't have developed unusual feelings towards Kuran Kaname.

Kuran Kaname. Her father, uncle and the man she loves.

Even amongst their kind, it was unimaginable for a daughter to fall for her father.

Therefore, for as long as eternity runs… Ritsu didn't think she would ever confess her feelings to him.

~x~

"Onii-sama," the ethereal brown-haired woman who bore a striking resemblance to Ritsu quietly enters via the door and shuffles along, squirming uncomfortably in the place she used to call home. Even with her uneasiness, she carries herself with fine elegance. "Ah… Ritsu's here too. Have you been well?" Kiryuu Yuuki's eyes light up for a moment before they dimmed again, a genuine, albeit too cautious smile on her face.

Ritsu looks at the woman whom, biologically, is her mother blankly. "Hello."

Her curt answer, as she hopes, renders Yuuki helpless.

"Ritsu."

Kaname's calm voice comes from the back. Ritsu recognises the subtle warning ring in it.

"Father," she sniffs. "Mother."

"Onii-sama, could I… could I speak to Ritsu for a while?"

"I'd really rather not," Ritsu blurts out bluntly. She relishes the hurt expression on Yuuki's face, but an annoying, familiar itch called 'guilt' soon follows. Ritsu looks away and reluctantly mutters, "I have piano lesson later."

Why does she feel guilty towards the woman who abandoned her and her own husband?

"I'll arrange for Taka-sensei to conduct a makeup for you another day, Ritsu. You haven't seen your mother in a while," Kaname says, and receives a grateful look from Yuuki for that.

Ritsu almost grazes her inner cheeks with her extended fangs. It is most fortunate that she didn't.

Nodding, Kaname takes his leave, and Yuuki is left alone with Ritsu who is mad with unwarranted jealousy.

~x~

Ritsu doesn't understand her father.

He is the uncrowned King of their world, the most powerful creature to walk Earth. Her mother was his bride promised to him at birth, they were meant to be. In name and justice, he has both the power and right to snatch her back.

Why doesn't he do that?

Ritsu plucks a moonflower and absentmindedly rubs the silky white petal, a glazed look in her eyes.

"Ritsu."

Ritsu jumps at the familiar voice.

"F-father," Ritsu turns around and lowers her head in front of the tall, overwhelming male. The moonlight splashes on his fine mahogany robes as he stands in the field of shy half-blooms, dimly illuminating his flawless countenance.

He looks absolutely divine. No, scratch that. He is divine and godsend.

"I wasn't aware that you like flowers, Ritsu," Kaname comments flatly when he sees the flower in Ritsu's hands.

Of course you don't. Ritsu thinks bitterly as she balls her fists, how could he know her tastes and preferences, when all he cares about is his sister – her mother?

"Ritsu, look up."

Ritsu curses when she obeys him on reflex, but her eyes widen when she sees the scene that unfolds.

Millions of tiny glowing spheres are released from Kaname's palm as he waves his hand gently; the spheres float gently towards the sea of half-blooms, each landing lightly on a flower bud and integrating itself into the stem of its host flower. As that happens, the flowers burst into full bloom. The sea of bluebells chimes with the wind, lightly nodding their heads as a sudden breeze picks up.

"Do you like it, Ritsu?" asks Kaname.

Ritsu lowers her head.

Father… Ritsu smiles bitterly, it is because you always do things like this that I'm lured towards a path that leads only to abyssal darkness.

"Yes… father. Thank you very much," answers Ritsu softly.

I'm so happy that you read to the end of this. Well… Any feedback is really appreciated, but please refrain from strong comments. I'm apprehensive enough as it is to post this, so… yeahs. I'm sorry I don't think I can take harsh critiques on this. Note: because this is a personal challenge to myself, updates will be erratic.