Beta #10: Sycthe (Absynthe, Chapter 10 by Winter)
Title: Absynthe, Chapter 10
Author: winterwing3000
Fandom: Vampire Knight
Pairing: Kain Akatsuki x Souen Ruka
List/Theme: Beta #10, sycthe
Rating: K
Summary: Kain and Ruka collects from President Cross.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Vampire Knight. They belong to the creator, Matsuri Hino.
Warning: None.
"Chief? There are two vampires outside of the gate requesting your presence," a hunter informed the bi-spectacled man seated behind the desk.
Chief Director Kaien Cross looked up from his paperwork and frowned. "Who are they, do you know?"
The hunter scratched the back of his neck. "I've seen the tall one a few times. He sometimes accompanied the Pureblood Kuran at our meetings. Can't say that I've seen the girl before though."
"I see," Kaien murmured as the descriptions clicked. After a moment of debate, he issued his order. "Escort them to one of the rooms downstairs. Do not by any mean use force. They are here as guests."
"Yes sir," the hunter replied and went to the door.
Just before the hunter left, the Chairman suddenly added, "But be on guard. I'll be there shortly."
"Of course." Kaien watched as the man left before folding his fingers together and setting his elbows on the table. He mulled on the reason as to why those two would appear in front of the Hunter Headquarters. The only thought he could think of was that Kaname sent them on his behalf. It was hard to predict what Kaname was planning these days.
Sighing, he glanced at his sword hung on the wall and decided against bringing it with him. If they wanted to attack the Headquarters, they would have already done so. Yet, they asked for his audience. Something was definitely amiss.
Fixing his shirt, Kaien strode from his room and down the stone corridors and stairs to the main lobby. He could already feel the tension in the air as descended the steps. All hunters present had their weapons on their person even though many of them hung in the shadows of the walls. Just as he stepped off the stairs, he saw the two vampires being led into one of the smaller meeting rooms. Ignoring the greetings from his subordinates, Kaien went directly to the room.
"Stand guard outside and do not come in under any circumstances until I give the order," he told the hunters. Once he saw them nod, Kaien opened the door and slipped inside.
He assumed his usual easy-going smile and acknowledged the two vampires before him. "It has been a while, Kain-kun and Souen-kun."
"Chairman," Akatsuki said in reply. He stood next to the round table where Ruka currently sat.
"Hello, Headmaster Cross," Ruka answered formally as she looked at the leader of the hunters.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of having you both come and visit me?" Kaien asked as he moved to pour some water for himself from the refreshment table. "Would you like something to drink?"
Kain shook his head negatively. "We're fine, thank you Chairman. Kaname-sama sent us to retrieve an item from you. He told us that he would like to hold it for safekeeping."
The older man drank deeply from his glass. He had an inkling of what Kain spoke of, but he asked just to be sure. "And what item might this be?"
Knowing that the Chairman was playing dumb on purpose, Ruka spoke up. "Kaname-sama wishes to obtain Yuuki-sama's former anti-hunter weapon, the Artemis."
"And why would he need it? Why would Yuuki need it? So long as she is within the walls of the Kuran mansion, she is safe," the older man told them. The light reflected off his glasses, concealing his eyes from their stares. Cross leaned back against the table and crossed his arms.
Kain and Ruka exchanged a glance. Kaname did not delve into any details about his request. He only instructed them to retrieve the anti-vampire weapon at all costs. They stayed silent, unable to come up with an answer. Eventually, Kaien Cross sighed and shook his head.
"It's fine if you don't tell me. You may have Artemis. But I will give it to you on one condition," he said. His eyes were narrowed and all traces of pleasantry escaped from his body. Ruka felt the small hairs on the back of her neck raise from the sudden tension in the room. Even though she heard of the tales, she never thought of encountering the Vampire Hunter Kaien Cross of the dark days. The aura he emitted was truly formidable and it was not hard to believe that he was, or rather, still is a great slayer.
Kain dipped his head in consent. If Kaname meant at any cost, then all they could do was accept the terms. "Of course, Chairman. We will see to the condition personally."
"Hm," Cross eyed the taller vampire first before glancing briefly at Ruka.
She forced herself to nod as well. "As Akatsuki said, we'll do our best to fulfill your request, Headmaster."
A smile tinged with sadness curled at the bi-spectacled man's lips. His eyes betrayed nothing to them though. "It isn't much but please do your best to protect Yuuki when the time comes. She will need all the help she can get."
"We will, Chairman," Kain supplied after a brief confused silence. Ruka looked at her partner in muted surprise.
Kaien looked relieved at his words and straightened up. "Wonderful. Why don't you wait here while I grab Artemis from my office?"
"Thank you, Headmaster Cross," said Ruka as the man stepped past the door. The door clicked as it shut.
Now with only the two of them in the room, Ruka looked at her companion with the questions written clearly on her face. Even though her loyalty was primarily toward Kaname, if the Pureblood asked of her, she would extend the same loyalty to Yuuki. But Kaname did not. He only asked that they assisted him in his tasks.
Finally, she asked Kain, "Why do you think the Headmaster asked us to protect Yuuki-sama?"
Akataski was pensive as he stared at his feet. He eventually answered her question. "The Chairman always regarded Yuuki-sama as his daughter. Now that she is no longer at his side, he is not able to protect her."
"A father always wants to be their children's hero," Ruka murmured softly. "Do you think that is why he agreed so easily to hand Artemis over to us?"
"Who knows?" Kain replied.
Author: winterwing3000
Fandom: Vampire Knight
Pairing: Kain Akatsuki x Souen Ruka
List/Theme: Beta #10, sycthe
Rating: K
Summary: Kain and Ruka collects from President Cross.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Vampire Knight. They belong to the creator, Matsuri Hino.
Warning: None.
"Chief? There are two vampires outside of the gate requesting your presence," a hunter informed the bi-spectacled man seated behind the desk.
Chief Director Kaien Cross looked up from his paperwork and frowned. "Who are they, do you know?"
The hunter scratched the back of his neck. "I've seen the tall one a few times. He sometimes accompanied the Pureblood Kuran at our meetings. Can't say that I've seen the girl before though."
"I see," Kaien murmured as the descriptions clicked. After a moment of debate, he issued his order. "Escort them to one of the rooms downstairs. Do not by any mean use force. They are here as guests."
"Yes sir," the hunter replied and went to the door.
Just before the hunter left, the Chairman suddenly added, "But be on guard. I'll be there shortly."
"Of course." Kaien watched as the man left before folding his fingers together and setting his elbows on the table. He mulled on the reason as to why those two would appear in front of the Hunter Headquarters. The only thought he could think of was that Kaname sent them on his behalf. It was hard to predict what Kaname was planning these days.
Sighing, he glanced at his sword hung on the wall and decided against bringing it with him. If they wanted to attack the Headquarters, they would have already done so. Yet, they asked for his audience. Something was definitely amiss.
Fixing his shirt, Kaien strode from his room and down the stone corridors and stairs to the main lobby. He could already feel the tension in the air as descended the steps. All hunters present had their weapons on their person even though many of them hung in the shadows of the walls. Just as he stepped off the stairs, he saw the two vampires being led into one of the smaller meeting rooms. Ignoring the greetings from his subordinates, Kaien went directly to the room.
"Stand guard outside and do not come in under any circumstances until I give the order," he told the hunters. Once he saw them nod, Kaien opened the door and slipped inside.
He assumed his usual easy-going smile and acknowledged the two vampires before him. "It has been a while, Kain-kun and Souen-kun."
"Chairman," Akatsuki said in reply. He stood next to the round table where Ruka currently sat.
"Hello, Headmaster Cross," Ruka answered formally as she looked at the leader of the hunters.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of having you both come and visit me?" Kaien asked as he moved to pour some water for himself from the refreshment table. "Would you like something to drink?"
Kain shook his head negatively. "We're fine, thank you Chairman. Kaname-sama sent us to retrieve an item from you. He told us that he would like to hold it for safekeeping."
The older man drank deeply from his glass. He had an inkling of what Kain spoke of, but he asked just to be sure. "And what item might this be?"
Knowing that the Chairman was playing dumb on purpose, Ruka spoke up. "Kaname-sama wishes to obtain Yuuki-sama's former anti-hunter weapon, the Artemis."
"And why would he need it? Why would Yuuki need it? So long as she is within the walls of the Kuran mansion, she is safe," the older man told them. The light reflected off his glasses, concealing his eyes from their stares. Cross leaned back against the table and crossed his arms.
Kain and Ruka exchanged a glance. Kaname did not delve into any details about his request. He only instructed them to retrieve the anti-vampire weapon at all costs. They stayed silent, unable to come up with an answer. Eventually, Kaien Cross sighed and shook his head.
"It's fine if you don't tell me. You may have Artemis. But I will give it to you on one condition," he said. His eyes were narrowed and all traces of pleasantry escaped from his body. Ruka felt the small hairs on the back of her neck raise from the sudden tension in the room. Even though she heard of the tales, she never thought of encountering the Vampire Hunter Kaien Cross of the dark days. The aura he emitted was truly formidable and it was not hard to believe that he was, or rather, still is a great slayer.
Kain dipped his head in consent. If Kaname meant at any cost, then all they could do was accept the terms. "Of course, Chairman. We will see to the condition personally."
"Hm," Cross eyed the taller vampire first before glancing briefly at Ruka.
She forced herself to nod as well. "As Akatsuki said, we'll do our best to fulfill your request, Headmaster."
A smile tinged with sadness curled at the bi-spectacled man's lips. His eyes betrayed nothing to them though. "It isn't much but please do your best to protect Yuuki when the time comes. She will need all the help she can get."
"We will, Chairman," Kain supplied after a brief confused silence. Ruka looked at her partner in muted surprise.
Kaien looked relieved at his words and straightened up. "Wonderful. Why don't you wait here while I grab Artemis from my office?"
"Thank you, Headmaster Cross," said Ruka as the man stepped past the door. The door clicked as it shut.
Now with only the two of them in the room, Ruka looked at her companion with the questions written clearly on her face. Even though her loyalty was primarily toward Kaname, if the Pureblood asked of her, she would extend the same loyalty to Yuuki. But Kaname did not. He only asked that they assisted him in his tasks.
Finally, she asked Kain, "Why do you think the Headmaster asked us to protect Yuuki-sama?"
Akataski was pensive as he stared at his feet. He eventually answered her question. "The Chairman always regarded Yuuki-sama as his daughter. Now that she is no longer at his side, he is not able to protect her."
"A father always wants to be their children's hero," Ruka murmured softly. "Do you think that is why he agreed so easily to hand Artemis over to us?"
"Who knows?" Kain replied.