Light drops rouse the blonde Pureblood from a heavy slumber, his eyes have an uncomfortably tight blind over his face serving to make his senses far more sensitive than it needs to be. A thick, musky smell unpleasantly smacks his nose almost gagging out of reflex until the scorching thirst hits him at full strength, fangs protruding from his lips instinctively opening his mouth.
Breathing is ragged and shallow, dizzy from all the blood that's been sucked out of him over and over again. The weaker Yukashi is, the harder to avoid them seeing his memories become; at this rate, he can barely focus at all. His heart and neck are still in a lot of agony yet Yukashi can feel Zero's heartbeat, he feels more connected to him than ever before.
I don't think I can hold on any longer. Yukashi tries swallowing to sooth the dryness of his gullet only to cough harshly.
The last time he saw his son was the day he walked into the Kuran Mansion. It didn't make sense as to why Hanadagi chose this place out of all the places in the world until he grew to understand why. This is where Hanadagi tends to take away the life of one more person Yukashi cares about, this is where Sara Shirabuki will officially make herself Queen of Purebloods. It doesn't help both of the vampires are sucking him dry to see the outcome of their future and when he is close to death, he is only given one drop of blood.
Despite his current state, he can still feel a shift occurring for the future. Reaching out to the power, fire spreads from his head to his feet weakening his body further as he grasps tightly to the fragments flowing into his mind. By the time the vision is finished he is already pushed past his limits, bound hands scrape against the stone wall behind him while shifting around.
He needs blood. It is pathetic and agitating to be reduced to this degree as an Ancestor of the Shoto bloodline; the urge to tear them apart grows stronger the longer he remains here yet every time he holds back. He doesn't know how his son is. He doesn't know if he is being harmed or was killed long ago.
Regardless, Yukashi had to wait.
"Yukashi," Zero's disembodied voices is in Yukashi's brain. "Yukashi, can you hear me?"
Alleviation settles into the platinum blonde Pureblood, releasing a soft exhale knowing Zero had survived the transition intact. Except it doesn't stop the guilt tearing him inside for doing what he had done. He never wanted Zero to become a Pureblood without his consent, Yukashi is fully aware of how he feels toward his kind and as a hunter, becoming a Pureblood would change everything.
But when Zero told him he'd never forgive him if Yukashi chose Zero over his own son, Yukashi understoodâwhether or not Zero was aware of what he encouragedâthat they'd be okay somehow. The Pureblood hoped to have done this differently, more special in beginning their new lives together like he saw the first time Yukashi looked into Zero's lavender eyes all those years ago.
No matter how much Yukashi loathes to make choices, he is the only person who can make the best choices for the best outcomes even if he looks like a terrible person doing it. Because no one else can do it. No one else can handle the burden on Yukashi's shoulders.
"I can hear you," Yukashi speaks within his mind, testing if Zero can hear him without physically talking.
"I thought it wasn't working for a moment," Zero's voice is stronger this time and sounds rather strained for some reason. "Kaname said I should be able to reach you from this distance of the mansion. Do you know where Taji is?"
Laying on his back, Yukashi huffs trying to make his mind focus on where exactly Taji was. "Yuki's room, I believe. Be careful, Sara has dangerous ex-human vampires patrolling the mansion." Yukashi warns, ear twitching at the sound of footsteps echoing throughout the corridors outside the door.
"What about you?"
It brings a soft smile to Yukashi's lips at his concern. "I'll be fine, all you have to do is rescue Taji." Creating a mental block, the Pureblood prevents the hunter from reaching out to him any further.
He listens carefully to the door being opened, his expression twists into one of cold emotionlessness. The scent wafting his nostrils alerts him of the presence of Sara Shirabuki, thirst overpowers his senses reminding him of his current exsanguinated state. Heels sharply click onto the rough ground approaching the Pureblood until she is standing right beside him.
Inhaling the smell of the female vampire, he can't resist the enticing blood luring him to drink like a fountain. "Such an awful state you are in, if I didn't know you were an ancestor, I would have assumed you were a rabid animal." Soft fingertips stroke the side of Yukashi's cheek, her voice is lovely and enchanting.
To think this very voice, touch, and existence was the one who took Ori's life. It makes him angry to which he clearly expresses attempting to bite her hand as a response to her vulgarly taunting words. "Do not touch me with the hands of the murderer of Ori." Yukashi growls.
"Lord Ori wanted to die, he wanted me to free him of his eternal existence."
"Sara, every Pureblood wishes to be released of their eternal life and most of them find a reason to live. Nonetheless, it does not excuse your actions," he replies, clearing the hoarseness of his voice.
"Is that why you murdered the mother of your child? Was she no longer the reason for you to live? Or did you replace her because you loved your son more? I believe you are the last person to label me a 'murderer'."
Gritting his jaw, he doesn't permit the shock to affect him for too long. The only one who knew was the Toya family, Yukashi's Head Butler, and himself. For them to know this must mean one of them consumed the memories of his Head Butler; a part of him doubts he could have survived. His foresight always has blind spots, he can never see too far in too much detail for the safety of his own mental state.
"It made me wonder, did you kill her because of her infidelity or because you wanted to make room for your precious hunter? In the end, nothing became what you expected." Sara says, almost as if she is... content.
"Kaname found Taji, where are you, Yukashi?" Zero breaks past the barrier Yukashi formed taking him off guard for a split second.
"You are wrong," Yukashi turns his head toward where he senses the female vampire. "Everything is exactly as I saw it to be. Purebloods such as yourself is the reason why I will never cease to exist, why Kaname and my bloodline will continue for generations to come until you are extinct."
Sitting up to face the woman on his knees, Yukashi uses what little is left of his energy to prevent her from being able to move. Her heartbeat picks up in fear serving to bring a wide smile across the platinum blonde's lips, "This is as far as you come, Sara Shirabuki." He lunges forward pinning the female below him and aimed at where he speculates to be the neck; a sharp cry of pain leaves Sara's lips as Yukashi devours her ravenously.
The strength returns to the Pureblood, breaking the binds around his wrists and removes the blinds from his eyes. His hands lock the vampire's arms on her sides counteracting her attempts to escape; until she is entirely motionless, blood no longer providing relief. Pulling away from the slim neck, Yukashi raises his hand and tears into her chest ripping her heart out ruthlessly.
Sara shatters into glimmering dust before him, her heart disappearing from his bloody hand.
Tongue swipes across his stained lips and gums tasting the remnants of the Pureblood. His thirst is still there, craving for more as he had when he awakened from his slumber nearly two decades ago. Now back on his feet, Yukashi rushes out of the dungeon and makes his way to the upper level of the Kuran Mansion.
A sense of being pulled toward a specific direction compels him to follow, the lavender mark on his neck that became faded begins to flourish once more filling him with a heat he hasn't felt since he had broken Zero's seal with his life force.
However, Zero isn't the only one he is sensing in his direction. Hanadagi's figure comes into his line of vision and halts only after he realizes Taji is being held hostage by the Progenitor's power. "Hanadagi!" His usually soft-spoken voice comes out in a shout, authority thick in his tone, hardening the features of his flawless face.
Hanadagi turns slightly to spare the vampire a glimpse, "There he is, the true Yukashi. Look at your father, boy, he is the reason why you have no mother. He killed her once she served her purpose in giving him an heir." He tells the little boy standing between Zero, Kaname, and Hanadagi; wide blue eyes gaze at Yukashi in fright.
It takes everything he has not to look at his little boy or the judgment in Zero's stare. Outstretching his hands Yukashi pointed them to the light hair vampire, "I made you a promise thousands of years ago, you asked me to forgive you for any actions committed during your rapidly deteriorating mind and I didâI still do. You also told me that if you were ever awakened from your slumber, I should end your life where you stand." As he speaks, his expression grows sorrowful.
This is all Yukashi's fault. If he had done what he should have done all those years ago, Hanadagi wouldn't be consumed by the delusions. They were once friends but the moment the Pureblood's eyes were opened from its slumber, they became enemies.
"My son isn't even my own son!" Hanadagi snaps disregarding what Yukashi has said, eyes blazing between anger and mania. "You slept with my wife-"
"No, Hanadagi," he shakes his head, slowly walking toward the taller male. "I married your youngest daughter who gave me two children, and they lived for many years until my oldest met Ori's father and my youngest married Shizuka's mother. You gave me your daughter's hand, in return, I gave you grandchildren who you loved with all your heart."
The recollection of the past brings unpleasant emotions to Yukashi, not because the memories were bad, but because he is reminded of the loved ones in slumber. Hanadagi's daughter had wanted to divorce Yukashi a few centuries later due to finding love with a human and Yukashi allowed it. After her ex-human lover died, she slipped into a slumber hoping to not awaken unless to continue the Hanadagi bloodline and Yukashi took another wifeâto which Isaya Shoto is descendant ofâonce the divorce was official. Including Yukashi's twins followed their mother a few thousand years later, or so he had heard from the Vampire Council.
His daughter married Ori's father; the Pureblood Sara Shirabuki had killed was Yukashi's grandson. A grandson he never had the opportunity to meet. Then his son married Shizuka's mother, unfortunately, the woman had gone berserk after Shizuka's birth and was forced to put her down himself. Shizuka was kept locked to keep her from meeting her mother's fate until he had married Shizuka to Rido Kuran hoping his daughter would be taken care of before entering slumber as well.
Sadly, his bloodline did not inherit Yukashi's power, perhaps if they had things would have happened differently. Even so, each child of his had their own unique power, it made him feel at peace knowing none of them carried the same burden as Yukashi.
The expression on Hanadagi's face resembles one of a man whose world is falling apart, nothing makes sense to him, perplexity evident on his features. Busy in his own confused mind, Yukashi had closed the distance between them finally catching his attention and for a split second, he can see recognition in his eyes. Retaining a collected composure, hand penetrating through Hanadagi's chest cavity, grasping the beating heart into his palm and wrenches it out.
Frozen in place, Hanadagi stares onto Yukashi's face then... smiles. "Don't cry, Kashi. There is nothing to be sad for," His voice is silky just like Yukashi once remembered it to be, his arms drape around the shorter Pureblood's slim shouldersâ hugging him. "Maybe we'll see each other in another life." All Yukashi can do is gaze at the smiling man who seems to have finally found peace of mind.
Those are his last words; body disperses into small sparkles then breaks into shards of glass except for the heart. He left me his heart. It recurs into his mind, tears blurring his vision realizing Hanadagi saw past the mask and gave him one thing Yukashi was planning to give when the time came. A Pureblood's heart.
No one moves while Yukashi cries, to be called 'Kashi' by his mentor again overwhelms him with both happiness and deep sorrow. Kaname steps forward first, taking the heart from his trembling hand; the Kuran glances at Zero expectantly taking it as advice to comfort the Pureblood.
Maybe we'll see each other in another life. The same exact words he said to Zero were uttered to him again.
She told Kaname and Yukashi the same thing too. After all this time, more than anything, he never wanted to hear those words from the people he holds close to his heart. The hunter embraces Yukashi, tucking his head under his chin and holds him as tightly as he can, allowing the Pureblood to grieve.
"Let's wait outside." Kaname addresses the Aristocrats and Yuki.
"The only Pureblood I've ever seen cry was Yuki," Aido voices in shock. "Kaname, can you cry too?"
A smack resounds throughout the empty halls of the mansion, small remarks are made as they leave the couple in peace with a little boy. Taji runs up to Zero, tugging at the back of his long black coat drawing his attention; big blue eyes intently look into his lavender eyes, not needing any verbal statement to have him agree.
Once they break apart of the embrace, Taji gets in between Yukashi and Zero harboring a strange solemn air around him no child his age should have. "I already knew you killed my mom. I've known for a long time, since the first time I was able to see the past by touching things and I saw it. I never said anything because I didn't want you to feel sad, I would never do what mom did. I promised I'd never make you cry and always bring a smile on your face so you would forgive yourself."
Yukashi kneels down in front of his son, unstained hand caresses the little boy's face. "Hearing it from you, I can bring myself to forgive what I had done. My only regret is making you think you had to keep silent for my sake." He kisses the boy's forehead darting his attention to the newly turned Pureblood.
Zero musters a smile, offering Yukashi a hand to stand back up. Taji holds onto Yukashi's unbloodied hand while the other is occupied by the hunter, uncaring how tainted it is. "My only question is, how did you kill him without an anti-vampire weapon?"
"Foresight is only part of my power; I can also control life force of any shape or form. I used the anti-vampire weapon I owned thousands of years ago and fused its power into my life force. Though, I can still die like any other Pureblood." Yukashi explains, laughing tenderly at the look on Zero's face.
The laugh is cut short into fits of cough, burning pain in his throat once again returns. Crimson eyes lock onto lilacs, the Pureblood lifts his hand exposing his wrist for Yukashi to take; with one more smile Yukashi drinks from the blood his body has been craving for a long time. Lavender mark glowing a blueish, lilac color once again only to vanish on its own indicating the connection between their souls have finally become one.