Crescent Road Chapter 4: Haunted by You, a vampire knight fanfic

Chapter 4 – Haunted By You

Warnings- Possible spoilers up to fairly recent chapters. M/M pairing. Un-betaed.

Disclaimer- I do not own Vampire Knight or its characters. This story was written for enjoyment and no money is being made of it.

Chapter Notes- This chapter takes place 5 months after the last one. Please note that it has gone AU as of the battle with Rido. It's mostly a chapter to show what the main characters have been up to during the time. There's some explanation of the situation the society is in, as well. Also, the rating has been changed to M. There's nothing really to warrant that in this particular chapter but there will be many chapters later. I just thought it would be better for those who do not wish to read M rated fiction, it would be better for them to stop in the beginning rather than more than halfway through.

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It was well past dawn and the Kuran mansion was silent, its occupants asleep. All but one.

A weary sigh escaped Kaname as he closed the laptop he had been working on for the past several hours. His eyes felt sore, he had a headache, and he was exhausted. It was late and he really should have been asleep by now, but the pureblood still hesitated as he eyed his bedroom almost warily from where he was sitting. It had been months since he had last slept peacefully. Every time he slept…

Shaking his head, the pureblood rose from his seat, his movements still undeniably graceful despite his exhaustion. It was better not to let his thoughts linger too much in that direction. With another sigh, Kaname mixed himself a glass of blood tablets as he made his way to the large bedroom. Perhaps his weariness would allow him a few hours of deep slumber now… As he drained the pale red liquid in the glass, he ruefully mused that he didn't sound the least bit convincing. Who was he kidding? No matter how weary he was, he knew this day would be no different from any other. Still, he'd take what rest he could.

After changing into pajamas and neatly folding his clothes away, Kaname slipped into bed. The sheets were blessedly cool and comforting as he gradually let himself drift off, the dreams that he tried so hard to hold at bay returning with fervor.

The early afternoon sun was still high and bright when wine-red eyes fluttered open. For a brief moment, the haziness of sleep still lingered in that gaze before the pureblood groaned and shifted to bury his face into the pillow. It was that dream again. It left him hot and uncomfortable when he woke. And always, the left side of his neck where he had bitten felt achingly empty. Even his fangs softly throbbed with a hunger that no amount of blood tablets could quench. It had been just one time… just once he had allowed his bite and yet… "Zero…" whispered the pureblood, confident that no one would witness this brief moment of weakness.

There was no point in trying to go back to sleep. He had tried before, only to end up with the dream resuming and going down paths that Kaname strove very hard not to recall. He knew better now.

Throwing back the now cloying covers that had somehow gotten entangled in his sleep, the pureblood swung his legs out of bed. Kaname ran a slender hand ran through his hair, trying to gather his bearings again. Trying to forget the visions of bloody fangs, silver hair, and violet eyes that his mind had conjured up… He needed to think about something else. Anything else.

Standing up abruptly, he pulled on a robe as he strode out of his room, bare feet making nary a sound as they carried him in a very familiar direction. When he reached Yuuki's room he slipped inside and silently closed the door behind himself. Kaname felt himself calming a little once he laid eyes on his slumbering sister. She was lying under the covers on her stomach, a peaceful expression gracing her face. His eyes softened as he made his way to a chair a few feet away from the bed. Dear Yuuki was such a sweet comfort.

As he continued to gaze fondly upon the petite form, Yuuki stirred slightly before settling again in slumber. But that slight movement had exposed her delicate neck in a way that all but screamed temptation to vampires. Kaname's eyes flickered crimson for a brief moment but he knew even the pure blood of his sister could not quell the bloodlust that he'd been dealing with. It was ironic, really. For over ten years he had watched and waited, wanting her blood but knowing he could not take any of it. But now that she was within reach… he still did not drink from her. He drank her blood once, soon after they had arrived here in their old home. It was sweet, rich, and delicious. Yet… it had not satisfied him. At least, not in the way he had expected. Physically, the powerful blood had strengthened him, but it did not fill the lonely void in his mind and heart. Yuuki, in turn, had also taken his blood only on the night of her awakening and had never indicated her desire for more. He had not questioned her. So over the past five months of living together, they both took blood tablets. It certainly wasn't a situation he had envisioned but he found that he did not particularly want to change it.

Kaname suspected that in Yuuki's case, she was so used to all the 'good' vampires living on blood tablets that she did the same. She had grown up as a human and was unaware of the fact that drinking the blood of another meant more than just a means to survive. As for himself… He was again longing for the blood of someone he could not have. Smiling derisively at himself, he wondered why he made his own life so difficult. Maybe he was a masochist.

Sighing softly, the pureblood turned his attention towards a more pressing matter. He and Yuuki had been living in their old home ever since they'd left Cross Academy. With his little sister just awakened, it was too dangerous to keep her exposed. Although Rido and Ichiou were no longer out for her blood, there were plenty of others who'd take advantage of a helpless pureblood. Kaname would not be able to be with her all the time, so until she learned how to be the vampire she was born to be, she had to remain hidden. Over the months, he had taught her how to control her powers and aura, how to act in the vampire society… There was so much she needed to learn. It would take at least a year before he could let her be outside on her own. And although his sister yearned to be able to breathe the free air again, she understood it was for her own safety. Still, Kaname could not help but feel a pang of guilt and pain whenever he saw her remembering her childhood years spent in a similar manner…

It was what drove him to secure stability and peace within the Vampire Council as soon as possible. After the death of their Head, the situation with the Council had been volatile. It had been difficult to deal with, but at least the deaths of Rido and Ichiou had been justifiable. The attack at the academy had been unprovoked, and vampire laws stated that it was acceptable for one to defend one's own territory against those who wished to do harm. There was proof enough that both Kuran Rido and Ichijo Asato had been behind that incident. There was also the fact that they had been secretly making deals with the late president of the Hunter's Association. It was frowned upon by both vampires and hunters, garnering Kaname more support from the nobles. All of the Night Class had been absolved from any punishment. With a little pressure from Kaname, the Council had even granted pardon to Zero despite his part in the death of Rido, a pureblood.

It had taken a considerable amount of political savvy as well as the unwavering support of some of the noble families most loyal to him to reach the point they had by now. Kaname had killed Ichiou while the rest of the Elders stood watching. It had been a reminder to them of who he was, and what they could expect should they ever try to lay their filthy hands on anything or anyone under his protection. The power the Council held over vampires had been given to them by the Kuran King. As the current Kuran heir, Kaname had the right and strength to reclaim a significant amount of that power. And he had. He was not the Head of the Council but his decisions held a certain sway beyond any of the Elders.

Of course, the Council remained unaware of the true reasons behind that conflict five months ago. Kaname's true relationship with Rido or Yuuki's existence still remained a secret. The former, he was not about to divulge to anyone soon. As for the latter… it was a matter he had to discuss with his sister. The vampire society needed to be informed of the existence of another pureblood and a Kuran. Once Yuuki had learned enough of living as a vampire, it had to be done.

His original plan had been to announce Yuuki's identity and their engagement in that one event. But now, he hesitated. Somewhere along the way, while he watched her from a distance, his treacherous little heart had strayed. Kaname guessed it must have happened a while ago, though he didn't realize it until Yuuki had returned to his side. It had almost surprised him at first. He loved being with her and felt utterly protective but… that was all. They had kissed, and though it was affectionate and tender, it lacked passion. After that first time, they ended up exchanging little more than chaste pecks on the head and cheeks. He despised hurting her, but he couldn't marry her. If he did, it would be too unfair for her. Yuuki deserved so much better than that.

During the recent sleepless days, Kaname had mused long on this whole messed up situation. The only definite he had come up with was that Yuuki shouldn't be married to someone who could not entirely devote himself to her. Other than that, he knew not what to do. Never before had he been so unsure about anything.

At least, the reflections had brought him a better understanding of his own neglected heart. Maybe, his heart had never strayed. Maybe he had never completely given it to her. From the moment she was born, they'd been expected to be as Juuri and Haruka were. She was born to be his wife, it was said. And she had always been so warm and bright, he found himself craving her affection. So he'd accepted that they were meant to be together. But perhaps… he had not been meant for her. After all, he wasn't exactly born as 'Kuran Kaname.' It might be that Yuuki was meant to be with her real brother. The poor young boy who might have had so much to live for… Or perhaps it was simply that there was no such thing as destined love. Had he not stood up against what others thought to be fate and destiny? Had he not always believed choices and a determined will could change all that?

His musings had then turned tentatively towards Zero. What was it he felt for the hunter? Kaname could no longer tell himself it was affection and a yearning he could ignore for the rest of his life. He knew Zero meant more than that. But he hesitated to call it… love. They had done little else but goad, insult, and fight for the better part of the four years they had known each other. Not even vampires could love with just that. So what was it then?

Kaname's thoughts returned to the present as Yuuki rolled over with a yawn before opening her eyes. There was no surprise in those brown orbs as they took in the sight of her brother sitting nearby.

"You should get some sleep," her still sleepy voice softly admonished. Smiling fondly at that, Kaname replied, "I'm fine. You go back to sleep." The way they both spoke indicated that these words weren't new. In fact, it seemed like they were speaking more out of habit than an actual expectation that either of their suggestions would be followed.

For Yuuki, this was becoming a regular occurrence. Ever since they started living in the mansion, she woke to find her brother watching her sleep at least several times a week. At first, it had flustered and embarrassed her. Gradually, the girl had learned her brother was doing so because he couldn't seem to rest. For a time, she had suspected he was suffering from nightmares and had tried to offer what comfort she could. When Kaname gently but firmly refused, she had simply thought he was being his usual proud, secretive self. It was two months ago when she unwittingly stumbled across the truth.

She had woken up around midday with an empty stomach. Deciding to grab a few cookies from the kitchen, she had headed out her door and down the hall. When she was passing by Kaname's room, however, she'd felt the unsettled aura he was emitting and the faint sounds of tossing and turning. Thinking that her brother was caught in another nightmare, Yuuki had been concerned and was about to go in to wake him. It was only as she reached for the door knob that she heard his voice. The rooms were all sound proofed, but she was a pureblood and standing this close to the door, her keen ears could hear… Why was Kaname having nightmares about Zero? Because the single word that she heard her brother utter had undeniably been the hunter's name. Was her brother still so angry at him? Frowning slightly at the thought, she reached again to the door knob before freezing. Was that…? Eyes wide with shock, Yuuki hurriedly snatched her hand back and stepped away from the door as if she had been scalded.

Her previous hunger and cookies completely forgotten, the girl had quickly returned to her room in a stunned daze. Her mind refused to work properly. It was only when she threw herself onto the bed again that she felt her cheeks burning as she recalled what she had just learned. She'd heard what was no doubt a moan, but it wasn't one of pain. Come to think of it, the way he had softly called Zero's name hadn't been with distaste either. Far from it, actually. Though she had never heard Kaname use that tone of voice before, Yuuki could not deny the pleasure she had heard. She had lived a sheltered life but she was not completely naïve. Of course, Kaname, Zero, and maybe even the Chairman would have a fit if they knew. But spending everyday around hormone-driven teenage fangirls at the academy had definitely enlightened her on certain… subjects. Perhaps more than she'd wanted to be. She knew enough to be aware that her brother was not suffering from nightmares as she had first supposed. Instead he was… If anyone else had told her that her brother was having pleasant dreams about Zero, Yuuki would have thought them mad. But there was no mistaking the desperate longing that had been in his voice.

It was a week before she could speak a whole sentence in front of Kaname; two before she could meet his eyes. He, of course, worried about her during that time. But she hurt too much to care. She remembered once telling Aido that she wouldn't mind being betrayed by Kaname because she trusted and loved him. Yuuki wasn't sure if this could be called a betrayal, but it sure felt close enough. And although she tried to be supportive of whatever Kaname wanted, it still hurt. A lot. She had loved him her whole life, and recently had come to believe the feelings were mutual. Discovering that perhaps it was not so… She understood now why the expression 'heartbreak' came to be. It really did feel like her heart was breaking.

Over the course of several days, Yuuki had sorted out her thoughts more clearly. And she found that though there was pain, she harbored no resentment or jealousy. How could she, when the two involved were those most precious to her? They both deserved to love and be loved so very much. She certainly could not begrudge Zero this. In a way, it was what she had always wished for him. Warmth and love from someone who would always be there for him. And she knew her brother could offer all that and more. As for Kaname… she still loved him. But if he would be happier with someone else, she had neither right nor desire to be the one to hold him back. Always, always she had been cared for and protected by Kaname and Zero. All she could offer them in return were smiles and a bit of comfort. And even then… there were parts of them she could never manage to reach. They carried a darkness in them that she could not seem to comprehend. She truly wished she could... Although she had faced a fair share of trials and evils, she had been shielded from the brunt of it. They, on the other hand, daily bore inner demons and scars that few would have the strength to endure. Yuuki wondered if that was why she began to think they would be good for one another. And because they were two people dearest to her heart, she could be happy for them. One day, she'd be able to see them together and she'd be perfectly happy without even a twinge of this pain she still felt. She firmly believed that.

And at least this way, she could finally do something significant for both of them. She could do for them even just a fraction of what they always did for her. Knowing them, Yuuki was sure that they'd grow old and withered before they got happily together if left to their own devices. Well, Kaname would probably try getting closer to Zero but the prefect would no doubt push him away. The former probably didn't know how to handle the latter's brusqueness the way she did. Actually… the girl was afraid that it was mostly a one-sided love for the moment. She knew Zero didn't have a high opinion about her brother. But she was confident that if he just gave Kaname a chance, even Zero's stubbornness and hatred of vampires wouldn't be able to stop the prefect from falling for her brother. So, she'd offer them that chance. Shove them together so they could really see each other. She had no idea how, but she'd figure it out. If it worked, she would have had a hand in their happiness. When it came down to it that was what she wanted the most.

Now all she needed to do for the moment was to convince Kaname that they should return to Cross Academy. And forget about their engagement. Yuuki knew her brother wouldn't want to cause her any grief, so she would have to convince him it was better that way and that she really would be alright.

Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, the younger Kuran sat up in bed. It was still early for her to be awake, but now seemed to be the perfect time to speak with her brother. All was quiet and there would be no interruptions should their conversation turn out longer than she hoped it would be. Yuuki still had no idea what Kaname had planned for them in the near future.

Kaname wordlessly watched her sit up and prepare herself for something. It looked like she wanted to talk to him about something… Making a fairly accurate guess that it concerned their future plans, he quietly asked, "Is there something on your mind, Yuuki?"

"Yes… I was wondering when we would be returning to the academy. I miss my friends and the Chairman," was her reply. A soft smile graced Kaname's features as he explained, "I do believe that you should continue your education for a while longer. But first, you still have to learn more about living as a pureblood. This winter, I plan to hold a gathering of the Night Society and introduce you as a Kuran and my sister. Afterwards, you can return to the academy. But I would prefer it if you enrolled in the Night Class. Will that be alright?"

There was a moment of silence Yuuki lightly bit her lip in thought. The Night Class… It would mean she wouldn't be able to be with Yori. And she supposed Zero would have stayed in the Day Class as well. It didn't matter if he said he'd treat her like a stranger. Maybe he would change his mind. But with her heritage revealed to all the vampires, it made sense for her to be in the Night Class. Eventually, she nodded to show her agreement. "You'll be the dorm president again, won't you?" she asked. Actually, it would be rather nice to be in the same class as her brother.

A flash of regret appeared in Kaname's eyes as he shook his head. "I'm afraid I won't be this time. I don't intend to return to the academy. There's a lot of business and political issues that will keep me busy." It really was a pity that he wouldn't be able to enjoy some school life with his little sister. But he wouldn't return to Cross Academy. It was time he took greater responsibilities with the Council as well as the business Haruka had left to him. He firmly squashed the small voice in his head that told him Yuuki wasn't the only reason he regretted not going back.

Yuuki's eyes widened with surprise at Kaname's words. She had thought… well, his reasoning made sense. But she didn't want to be alone among the nobles. Some of them were nice, but they weren't people she could call friends. At least, not yet. Besides, how was she going to help him with his feelings for Zero if he wasn't even coming to the academy? Maybe if she asked nicely, he'd reconsider. While living together, she'd gotten more comfortable with him and had realized that Kaname often seemed to spoil her. Adopting her best pleading expression, the girl turned to her brother. "Not even for a while? Please, I don't want to be alone at first. I'm not… used to living with other vampires."

For a heartbeat, Kaname wavered. He really shouldn't be spoiling her by giving in so easily. But in the end… he could never deny Yuuki anything when she used that particular look. Sighing, he gave in. "There is nothing to fear from the Night Class members, but if it will make you more comfortable… I'll join you for a year. I can't stay longer."

Smiling brightly at his answer, the girl nodded enthusiastically. Deeming their discussion over for the moment, she climbed out of bed and went to her wardrobe. She was awake anyway so going back to sleep for just another hour or two seemed rather pointless. Seeing Yuuki getting up, Kaname stood as well and made his way to the door. But before exiting, he halted. Hesitation was clear in the maroon eyes as he turned again towards the younger girl. There was just one more thing he needed to discuss with her…

It was no use delaying it. Silently walking back to the bed, he sat down and gestured for Yuuki to sit beside him. She had been on her way to wash but sensing that there was a serious matter he wished to speak of, she returned and sat without question.

Carefully, he broached a subject neither had mentioned since Rido's death. "Yuuki, about our engagement… do you still wish for it?" Coward, his mind supplied. You've already decided against it, but you ask her a question like that? But he couldn't hurt her. He wouldn't.

For the second time since waking, she was shocked. Yuuki knew they had to address the issue sooner or later, but she hadn't known how. It seemed that Kaname was braver than she was. Well, this was it then… She had made her choice, and she'd try to make sure Kaname saw that it really was for the best. Concentrating on choosing her words carefully, she did not notice how tense her brother seemed to be. "I love you. Nothing changes that. You saved my life and you're my only brother. So I first thought the engagement was a… blessing. But now… I don't think it will be good for either of us. It's just… I don't think we should," her words ended in a whisper.

Kaname was no fool. Though she had not mentioned it, he realized that Yuuki knew he no longer viewed her as a lover. She probably even guessed that someone had caught his eye and heart… though hopefully, she didn't know yet who exactly it was. He felt guilty and his heart ached that he was doing this to his sister. It was obvious that she was doing this mostly for his sake. It was the kind of person she was. But then, she sounded so calm and accepting. How long had she known? Quickly trying to absorb this new development, he took one of Yuuki's small hands in his. "I'm sorry. And know that I do still love you, very much," he gently replied. Squeezing the hand he held, he met her gaze. Yuuki did know. She could see it in his eyes. And she could also see that he understood her words. A small smile was on her lips as she lightly returned the squeeze of hands.

It was Yuuki who first broke the moment first. Slipping her hand out of Kaname's grasp, she turned towards her bathroom again. Her voice sounded genuinely cheerful, though perhaps a little softer than usual, as she chirped, "Well, it's time to get ready then."

Nodding, Kaname gracefully headed back to the door and opened it. But as he left, he looked over his shoulder and met the brown eyes of the girl. The tenderness she saw there in his features made her breath catch, and she nearly missed his soft words before the door shut behind him.

"Thank you, Yuuki."

A/N- This chapter was supposed to be longer. In fact, this here is just half of what it was going to be. I was writing the other part before realizing that the chapter was turning out to be more than twice the length of previous ones and it felt a little inconsistent. Not to mention, it was taking a long time to finish writing Ch 4. So I made the decision to cut it here. I'm not entirely pleased by it, actually, since I don't like how there's only the Kurans here. I wanted to show how Zero was doing during the same period of time but… oh well. That will just have to wait for the next chapter, which will be updated in a shorter time than this one took.

Also, I really truly hope I didn't make Yuuki too OOC in this chapter. I tried to describe her thoughts and reactions in a way that corresponded to my understanding of her. Her situation somewhat saddens me, and I feel bad for doing this to her but she's a strong girl. Here, she doesn't seem to have any deeper feelings for Zero other than care or friendship. In the manga it's ambiguous so far so I would have liked to have her think more about him and have her contemplate further on what she's found out... but it seemed repetitive and I'm having a hard enough time trying to unravel the confusion of Kaname and Zero. So I'm afraid I won't be able to go further in depth with her confusion...

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. It's my longest yet. In fact, even cut in half, it's the single longest piece of writing I've ever written. *is absurdly proud* Reviews would be greatly appreciated!