The timeline is about decades later after everything did (not all) happened in anime/manga. However, a few things have changed for the sake of this story.

Rated: M [Languages, Gore, Blood, Violence, Dark Theme, Angst, Traumatic, Bashing (only for a while), and Death.]

Warning: unbeta. English is my second. ASL (American Sign Language) is my first. Yes, I'm Deaf. :)

Enjoy~

Lightning lit the skies in brilliant streaks. Fog embraced every tree, every square centimeter of the ground. Thunder declared itself as sheets of rain hitting down, against the mother nature. Grasses hunches over because of the strong, powerful sheet of rain. Winds joined in the storm, howling as the tiny branches and leaves were forced to detach their tree. Above the green hill, there was once a large mansion. It used to be a gorgeous mansion, grey bricks with dark blue shutters, cream porch, dark grey roof, and a white swing bench on the porch against the rail that's a few feet away from the dark blue entrance door. It was once a beautiful mansion, once that used to belong to a small family who enjoyed living in an isolated life.

However, it all changed due to the tragic loss. The beautiful mansion is now ruined with scorch marks, porch covered with grey and dark crimson colors, dark blue shutters are torn apart, and the door barely hung. Yellow tapes surrounding the mansion are now loose and few are laying on the muddy ground. Rooftop is practically caved in the third floor. Windows are covered with a few panels. A forgotten destroyed mansion. No one ever dares to get close as they believe its curse because of unfortunate and death. No one dares.

The lonely, broken mansion has been on top of the hill, day and night, for decades. Attempted to stay strong through the seasons whether it's strong or weak. It still stood strong despite that the mansion itself will collapse soon. The rain hit against on the mansion aggressively as the thunder heard from the distance. At the bottom of the hill, a lone figure of a young man stared up at the broken mansion.

A man slowly climbed up the hill, his black leather trench coat billowing against his legs by the angry winds, completely soaked in a white shirt, black jeans tucked into black combat boots without care, silver hair disheveled and wet, paler skin, and blank amethyst eyes. He continued climbing until he reached the familiar yet unfamiliar mansion that was once belonged to his family.

He stood in front of the broken mansion, stared at it blankly. He doesn't know why he is here, why he felt the urge to see this place that destroyed him and his family. He never even thinks of coming back to this place. Not since that tragic night.

It has been nearly ninety years.

The silver-haired man observed the mansion emotionless, yet his hands clenched in tight white knuckles. His teeth gritted, he doesn't know why nor understands why he had to be at this place. But something urges him to return to his fear, his instinct kept pushing and pushing and pushing until he yields. And now, here he is, standing in front of the mansion.

He shouldn't be here. He should go see Chairman Cross since the retired hunter is very sick and he had to visit. But his instinct urged him that he must visit this place first. He narrowed his eyes at the mansion that was once his home. Slowly, reluctant, he walked to his former home, carefully climbed up the stairs and onto the porch.

His amethyst eyes almost immediately glanced at the dried blood near the collapsed swing bench. A flash of memory shown him of a young woman with dark blonde hair thrown against the swing bench as blood spilled in the air and painted on the porch. He glanced away as his heart squeeze in agony, it wasn't awful, but it still hurt him. He closed his eyes as his instinct pushed him, demanded him to walk inside the mansion.

The man clicked his tongue with annoyed yet pain. His eyes are open half-way, attempted to ignore the blood where he clearly remembered the witness of his mother's death. He got close to the door, reached the wood and pushed it. The door creaked loudly as the hinge nearly bend down. The silver-haired man squeezes himself through the space between the broken door and frame.

When he arrived inside as his boots break the pieces of glasses that spread against the hardwood floor along with pieces of broken furniture. Wallpaper is torn and splattered, furniture is ripped apart, and half of the room is covered in scorched marks and ashes. The stairs are destroyed that there's no way to climb on the second floor.

However, it seems that his instinct doesn't want him to go to the up floor. Instead, it kept pushing him to the door that was attached underneath the stairs. A spark of curiosity in his amethyst eyes when it landed on the door. He vaguely remembered that this door leads to the basement. A silver-haired man walked to the door with cautioned as he attempted to ignore the dried blood. However, another flash of memory that a silver-haired man with sharp amethyst eyes filled with determined and pain as he coughs out the blood from his mouth while laying on the ground as he reached for his gun.

The silver-haired man closed his eyes tightly as he jerked his head to his side. He doesn't want to remember his father or mother's last fight to their death against the pureblood vampire. He doesn't want to be here but damn it! His instinct kept pushing him to the door.

He locked his jaw with anger determined as he opened his eyes and stared at the door. He walked to the door, reached the doorknob, twisted and turned then pushed it open. His amethyst eyes eyed at the darkness down the basement. His hands clenched in fists, descended the stairs, leaving the wet footprint behind as his amethyst eyes shine since he can see the darkness clearly.

When he arrived at the bottom of the stairs in the dark basement. Lightning flashes into the basement from the small rectangle windows. The wall was thicker, constructed from quarry rock, and the smell was foreign, yet it was slightly familiar. There are a quite few boxes piled up against the corner of the room, a dark brown chest pushed along with other old furniture that is covered with sheets, a table that is pushed against the wall underneath the windows with candleholders along with books, and old bookshelf next to it has all kinds of books, trinkets, and broken weapons.

The man frowned deeply as he carefully studied the basement. Then, he walked to the table as his instinct urged him in that direction. When he has gotten close, his eyes survey the notebooks, papers, and pens. Then a leather book caught his attention when he noticed it seem it was shoving underneath the books. He grabbed the leather book before he grabbed a small pile of books and set it aside.

The brown leather book that seen decades as the cover has a symbol on the front. The silver-haired man gently wipes the dust and traced the engraved symbol into the leather cover. It was an art of a tribal rose. He untied the royal blue ribbon and opened it. His eyebrow furrowed with confused at the fancy calligraphy but what confused him was that the words are very old, back to date kind that was old English. If he doesn't have special ability to enhances his eyes, he would have missed the faded dated on the corner of the page.

"The fourteenth century…" he whispered through the quiet basement, despite that the storm is still brewing outside. His amethyst eyes carefully read the words in attempted to understand, however, the words were filled with cluttered and confusion. He shook his head, skipped the few pages until his heart nearly leap to his throat.

It's been decades for him, but he would never forget his father's penmanship. A bit of sadness and longing in his eyes when he gently traces the words on the latest page of his father's handwriting. He knew his father has beautiful handwriting. Then he focuses on the words of wondering what his father could write into this book that seems to be in his generations for centuries.

To Kiryuu

It's been two years since my Miwa's death. I've missed her, it's hard to continue to live my life without her staying by my side. It's hard to move on without hearing her bell-like laugh, a warm smile, twinkle grey eyes, shining pale lavender hair that winds love to play with, her beautiful melody voice, pink cupid lips, and her delicious slim yet curvy body. How I want to follow her afterlife, but I cannot. I made a promised for her. I will continue to live, not just for me, not for her. But for our children.

It was challenging to raise my children on my own, fortunately, a good friend of mine saw how much struggle I've been through. She declared herself that she will help me, stay by my side, for me and for my Miwa. At first, I was against it, but she was too stubborn, that woman. Curse her stubborn and her hunter genetic. It took her a few months until I yield it and I'm glad I did. Because without her, my partner, my friend, my trustworthy companion, I would be lost.

It's been long two years without my Miwa.

Now, I am aware that I have to explain my history for the future generation of Kiryuu. As you know, I am Kiryuu, Tsukiya that infamous Vampire Hunter of Kiryuu Clan. Miwa was my wife and a very special woman. She bears a curse in her blood. This curse was kno—

A couple of splatter ink was the end and the silver-haired man lower the leather books with a confused frown on his face. "Miwa…" if his father hasn't written his name, he would have thought that maybe it was a different Kiryuu. But, it's obvious his father's penmanship and his name.

The silver-haired man shook his head with lost, he doesn't know anyone named Miwa. He knew that is not his mother's name. 'But… does that mean my father has children before me and Ichiru?' he mused with puzzled. He turned around, however his back bumped against the table and a pile of the book fell on the ground.

He grimaced at the sudden thud, he set the leather book down the table and bend down to pick up the books. A clatter heard as his amethyst eyes blinked. One of the books has noises inside, the man set the books down and grabbed one that made the noise. He opened the book and was surprised to see that it was a false book with a hidden object inside.

His hand reached in the book, grabbed a small pouch bag and lowered the book down. He is eyeing the pouch, untied it and turned upside down. A silver object fell onto his open palm. A silver-haired man gently rubbed the object with his thumb. It's a silver circle-shaped of a locket with engraved royal blue rose in the middle. A puzzled frowned on his face as he observed the locket, then opened the lid and furrowed his eyebrows in curious.

Inside the locket, it's strange lines around the circle, an old-fashioned letter of an 'N' on top, and a hole in the middle. Before he knew, he flinched in surprised when his index finger felt pinched by the locket's clasps that have hidden sharp needle-like point. His amethyst eyes widen when he watched his blood dances inside the locket, twirling around until it went inside the hole in the middle, then the blood of a line came out of a hole and face it the lines close to the 'N'.

The silver-haired man understood. "A compass?" he muttered with surprised and interested in such a fascinating locket. He slowly stood on his feet, as his amethyst eyes glanced over at the leather book with contemplative.

In the end, he took the book and the locket in his pockets. He turned around, walk to the stairs and ascended to the door.

.

..

…

Bloodline of Sin

Night One

"Truth"

…

..

.

Cross' Home

A weak man laying on his bed, with ash-blonde hair fan out on his pillow, weary hazel eyes, pale skin from illness. He coughed once again and groaned from the pain that hit against inside his chest. He closed his eyes, as he attempted to swallow his dry throat. It's been months since he has been "sick" that he knew, his time is running out very soon. Despite that he is very sick, he still has skills enough to sense outside of his home.

A sad smile appeared on his face. "You can come in." he whispered softly, knowing he can hear his permission. The former hunter waited for a minute until the door opened, revealed a silver-haired man. "I'm glad to see you again, Zero-kun."

Zero Kiryuu stared at the illness man with blank eyes. "Chairman Cross." He tipped his head, greeted the man who took him in, raised him as his father figure. Kaien Cross.

Kaien pouted weakly. "Called me papa~" he whined softly then coughed once again. Zero quickly walked to the nightstand, grabbed a pitcher and poured the water in an empty glass of cup. Then the silver-haired man helped the Chairman drink to soothe his dry throat.

The Chairman sighed in relief after Zero set the half-way glass of water back on the nightstand. "Thank you, Zero-kun."

The silver-haired hunter sits down on a chair that closed by the bed where Kaien is resting. "How long?" he asked, with a poker face.

"…in a few days." Kaien smiles resigned.

Zero closed his eyes, lowered his head down in silence. Kaien carefully observed the young hunter. 'No, not young. Not anymore. He is now a man.' He mused as he continued examined the silver-haired hunter. Zero has grown a lot over the decades, so much had happened in such bittersweet life for Zero that Kaien is hesitant to know. However, he must know. He is dying and he needs to know. "Zero-kun…"

Zero tilted his head to Kaien's direction, waiting for the question as his eyes still closed. 'He may have grown, but he is still the same Zero, just more mature.' Kaien mused. "I need to know… Yuuki… is she…"

The silver-haired hunter frowned as he opened his eyes, shifted to Kaien's pleading eyes then closed his eyes. "She's gone but she left something behind in this world." He whispered softly.

"W-what did she left…?" Kaien's choke as his hazel eyes teary.

Zero's shoulder slumped slightly as pain and sorrow in his eyes are still shut. "…a child. A daughter named Ai."

"That's… that's wonderful, I have a granddaughter." Kaien chuckled happily as tears slipped from his sorrowful hazel eyes. "I wish I can see her, I bet she's beautiful, just like her parents." A soft warm smile appeared on his face.

The silver-haired hunter hummed lowly. He has met Ai once in the past, he couldn't go near Yuuki after that knowing that she and Kuran produced a child together. His feelings for Yuuki was still strong back then, and he avoided the Kuran Clan for a long time until Yuuki met him again. Zero mentally shook his miserable memories away. He doesn't want to dwell on his past right now. "Zero-kun…"

Zero opened his eyes, glanced at his father figure who stared at him with determined eyes. "Can you get that book from the shelf, the one with a dull red color." He raised his eyebrow at Chairman but nodded his head as he obeyed. He stood up, walked to the small bookshelf and grabbed a dull red book from the shelf. He returns back to the seat and handed the book to Kaien.

However, the Chairman stared at Zero. "Open it. There should be a photo inside."

The silver-haired hunter frowned at the former hunter, he glanced down and opened the book, turned a few pages until he found an old aged photo. His breathe hitched when he saw figures in a photo.

Inside a photo, a young teen boy with silver hair that grown to his shoulders with nose-length bangs, sharp amethyst eyes, pale skin, and wears a loose grey shirt, black jeans tucked into black boots. Next to him is a young teen girl with dark blonde hair that grown to her mid-back with full bangs, hazel eyes, fair skin, and wears a red shirt, blue jeans, and black boots. And lastly, a young teen boy with ash-blonde hair that chopped off, hazel eyes covered with thin glasses, fair skin, and wears a dark green shirt with a black leather jacket over it, blue jeans, and black boots.

Zero recognized these teenagers easily. "My parents… and you." He whispered with amazed to see how happy his parents are in the photo along with Chairman Cross.

"…Kaori." Zero glanced up from the photo with a soft frown. "She was my little sister." Kaien watched Zero's stunned face. "…and no, I'm not your uncle." Sad twinkles in his eyes. "Although, you do use to called me Uncle when you were a toddler."

The silver-haired man shook his head. "I don't understand…" first he found the objects in the basement back at the old former home and now, Kaien spilled out that his mother is a little sister but claimed that he isn't Zero's uncle?

Kaien closed his tired eyes. "Kaori Cross is my little sister and a good friend of your father. That's all there is to it." Then he opened half-way with slightly dazed in it. "You and your twin brother called her okaa-san despite that she's not your biological mother, but it did make her very happy." A sad yet nostalgic smile on his face.

Zero didn't know what to say about that. He just discovers that the woman in his memories wasn't his biological mother. Then Zero remembered the words that his father left on the journal. "Miwa." Kaien blinked in pleasantly shocked that Zero muttered the name.

"H-how did you know about that name?" Kaien asked with curious, confused, and stunned.

The silver-haired hunter set the photo on the bed along with a book, took out a journal from his pocket and showed to Kaien. "Apparently, this is some sort of Kiryuu history book that passed down for generation since the fourteenth century." He answers, calmly even though he is very confused with these discovers. He doesn't know about his father than he thought.

The Chairman Cross released the shuddering sighed as he looked exhausted. "Miwa… sweet, lovely Miwa. She was your biological mother." Zero clutched onto his leather book in hands. "Unfortunately, she died from childbirth."

"So, it was my fault." Zero lowered his guilty eyes.

Kaien shook his head. "No. It's not your fault, Zero-kun. Your mother knew she'll die but decided to give birth because she loves you very much." A sad smile sends to Zero. "What did you find out about that book?" he tilted his head at the leather book in silver-haired hunter's hands with curious.

"Nothing much, my father didn't finish it. All I got was that he missed Miwa and that he tried to explain Miwa was cursed." He shrugged his shoulders, unsure.

Kaien frowned deeply. "Wait, a curse? I don't know anything about Miwa having a curse." His hazel eyes shifted to the ceiling above him. "It's possible that my sister might know since she was your father's partner." He closed his eyes, feeling very exhausted. "I don't know much about Kiryuu background except that they have been infamous Vampire Hunter for centuries. One of the six old Vampire Hunter Clans, but also one of the most secretive and isolated clans." He explained as Zero stared at the book in his hands.

"I think…" Zero hesitated and Kaien opened his eyes, glanced at his son figure. "…I think I'm meant to find this and figure out what my family's secret."

Chairman Cross hummed gently. "Is that what your instinct tells you to?" Zero's eyes light up in surprise which makes Kaien chuckled warmly. "I may be dying, but I'm not an idiot. That book you've found was from that place, the one where the tragic happened." Zero's eyes darken. "I know you would never go near that place, you even vowed to never touch that house. But I'm assumed that your instinct was persistence you until you yield it, am I right?"

Zero released a sighed and nodded his head. Chairman Cross may be dying but he still one of the legendary hunters. "I'm glad you followed your instinct. Hunter's instinct is smart, it saves you a lot from death, however… vampire instinct is stronger with feelings."

The silver-haired hunter glanced away from the illness ex-hunter. He won't admit nor deny it, even after decades that he's been vampire, he still refuses to accept it fully in his soul. Kaien sighed softly. "You should go, Zero-kun. Find out what your family secret held."

"But… you…" he hesitant, he doesn't want to leave the Chairman Cross alone on his dying bed.

Kaien's hazel eyes soften. "I truly wish that you show everyone how kind you are." Pink tint appeared on Zero's cheeks and the tip of his ears. Zero clicked his tongue sharply at Chairman Cross who chuckled when he saw his son figure's embarrassed face. "I'm going to miss you, Zero-kun."

The silver-haired hunter stared at Chairman Cross' resigned yet acceptance eyes. After a few minutes of silence, Zero watched his father figure slowly closed his eyes and fallen asleep. The hunter slowly stood up on his feet, walked to the Chairman Cross, and leaned forward. He gently pecked his father figure's forehead with his eyes closed.

Zero knew, he knew that Kaien doesn't want anyone to watch him die on his bed. He knew that Kaien wants to die alone, content and satisfied. Then he leaned upward, grabbed a book and a photo, he set it on the nightstand and made sure the photo was leaned against the pitcher. Kaien would appreciate to see it later.

Zero pocketed the journal as he walked to the door, placed his hand on the doorknob and opened inward. He halted in the doorway and closed his eyes. "Goodbye…" for once, he at least allows this for Kaien. "…papa." He shut the door behind him, quietly.

Tears slipped from Kaien's eyes as a heartbreaking smile appeared on his face. 'Goodbye, Zero.' He mused his last farewell as his heart lighten up. In the end, he finally managed to get his son figure to call him, 'papa'. He knew Zero would give in eventually.

.

.

Train Station

Zero stood on the station platform in silent with his hands in his pockets. His amethyst eyes stared up at the grey clouds. The storm has passed a few hours ago, he was grateful for it as he doesn't want to be soaked it once again. Then he heard the whistle from the horn of a train that arrived at the platform. He waited when the train halted, door slides open and a few passengers leaving from the train onto the station platform. Zero ignored the curious and awe glances from the strangers as he climbed on board the train.

He walked down the hallway as he could hear the voices rising and blending together from compartments, some absorbs themselves in music, other drift into worries chatter, and snores of sleepers made. Zero mentally shook his head while glanced at the numbers until he found his target. He slides the door opened, walked in the empty compartment that he paid for and shut it behind him.

He sat on a seat, leaned back as his body is tired from the traveling he's been walking for a while. His eyes slowly closed as his hands draped over his lap. 'He was the last one.' He mused, Kaien Cross, the father figure was the last piece that was important to him in this world.

Zero knew that he can't handle to live on this Earth alone. His family was dead, his twin brother was killed, his master was murdered, his former first love Yuuki is gone, his friends from Hunter Association either died from old aged nor killed during missions and now, Kaien Cross will be gone in a few days. What's the point for him to live longer? He has nothing to lose, except emptiness. He wants to follow everyone's afterlife, however, he can't.

Not until he figures out what his family's secret first. Zero reached the locket from his inside pocket as he opened his eyes half-way, glanced down when he unlocked the locket and watched the blood-arrow pointed at 'N' direction. At least, he's going the right way. Although, he has no idea where this compass will lead him to.

Then the train released the horn and the sound of engines heard. Soon, the train shifted forward and Zero leaned his head against the window while keeping his eyes on the compass locket. 'What secret are you hiding, father?' he curled his hand around the locket and fluttered his eyes closed.