The Other Destinies

Third Person's POV

A week passed without a fuss in the Moon Dorm of Cross Academy. With Haruki just hanging around in Kaname's chamber, alternating between Kaname's bedroom and Kaname's study. Though sometimes he wandered around the Moon Dorm.

Some Night Class students just gave him a weird glance, some just ignored his presence, some gave him a suspicious look, and some gave him a plain-as-day hate glare because their supposed lord gave Haruki his full attention. But because of Kaname's order to leave Haruki alone, no one in Night Class approached him.

And here now, they are in Kaname's study doing nothing, at least in Haruki's case. Haruki just lying back on the sofa with his head in Kaname's lap and Kaname just going around about his never-ending paperwork. The silence was broken for the first time that night by Haruki.

"They are entering the first step of their bond. Zero, consciously or not, began the bonding of soulmate with Yuuki."

And also for the first time since Kaname entered the study that evening, he took his gaze off his work and looked at Haruki.

"The first time Yuuki told me that she can't live without him, I thought she just had a crush on him, I never thought that Zero is Yuuki's soulmate."

"That's a normal thought Kaname Nii-sama, because Zero's existence isn't normal. He is near Level E, but also not, the last piece to complete him isn't here and we don't know where that pitiful princess is." Haruki said, half talking to himself and half murmuring to no one.

"Why did you help him Haruki? Did you know that Zero is Yuuki's soulmate?" Kaname asked abruptly.

"I didn't know. It's just... I think that Ichiru and Zero's bond is beautiful, they wouldn't part even if Fate itself only giving them a last thread, they would hold on that thread even when the thread was supposed to break. I want that kind of bond, a bond between brothers, a bond that will never part whatever it takes." Haruki explained to his brother absentmindedly.

Kaname only stared at Haruki and after some time began petting Haruki's head, "Then I'm sorry if I will never be able to give you that kind of bond Haruki." He said.

Haruki stared at Kaname and just continued staring at him for some minutes, "Even if we don't have that kind of bond, you've already promised me that you will never leave me alone Kaname Nii-sama. Is that a lie?"

Kaname stared at Haruki calmly and stroked his cheek almost lovingly, "No, of course not, only that promise I will fulfill and take it with me till the end of time, and if there is a chance for me to reincarnate or whatever there is, I will remember and search for you Haruki, whatever it takes."

After Kaname's statement, Haruki abruptly hugged Kaname's waist and buried his head in Kaname's stomach, and a small voice muffled by Kaname's shirt and body could be heard, "Thank you, but I will never condemn you with that kind of life Nii-sama. If we can meet again I hope we meet under equal and different circumstances."

Haruki's POV

Some nights passed and when there is a tension in the Moon Dorm in a night where the moon disappeared from the sky, I'm pretty sure that something that no one in Moon Dorm like would occur. And like I predicted, an hour after class finished, I could feel an awful aura, strong but wrong. 

I woke in the middle of the night from my slumber because I wanted to know who it is. Though I already made a hazard guess, that the one who grace us with his presence is the one who leads the Vampire Council.

Kaname told me that I wasn't allowed to come out of his chamber this night, I bet it's because he didn't want Ichijou Asato to know of my existence, not yet at least. But what can I say,  I'm just a sixteen-year-old human who was in the phase that I do everything because of curiousness. 

I got out just as Yuuki entered Moon Dorm and told Ichijou Asato that our Academy is safe and sound, and then he told the vampire that Kurosu-san wanted to meet him. From the corner of the door I could see that Zero and Ichiru are just outside of the dorm's door. And I could see from the second floor that Zero was the one who would guide Ichijou Asato to Kurosu Kaien.

And after that man got out of the dorm, Yuuki directed her gaze to Kaname, and I could hear her ask something to Kaname.

"Kaname-senpai, you know where Haruki is, right? Is he alright? Why didn't he go back to the dorm and class yet?"

"He is alright, though he still need some rest before he can go back to his daily activities. And if he does as I told him, he should be in the bed to rest, but..." Kaname trailed his answer because I know that he knew I was already outside of his chamber for at least the last five minutes.

"I am alright Yuuki. I am sorry that I made you worry about me," I said calmly and descended from the second floor. And right after I stood in front of her, without further ado my hand went to her neck. "You gave him your blood," I stated.

She just widened her big eyes and opened his mouth, trying to tell me something, but I beat her with a bit force to her neck, "Ha... ruki?" She said uncertainly.

I didn't pay attention to her and just whispered something under my breath, then I let go of her neck and waved my hand. Without a second passing, her hand shot to her neck that was now free of bandages.

"There... don't go around with your neck bandaged like that Yuuki, it's not safe. And... go to sleep Yuuki, your worry made you look like a panda." I joked with a soft smile and once again waved my hand in front of her head, and right after that, she slumped to me. "Ichiru, can you give me a hand? Please bring Yuuki to her dorm."

And without so much as a fuss, Ichiru lifted Yuuki's body and carried her bridal style. "Is it wise Haruki... to display such power in here?" He asked me uncertainly with a glance to anyone behind me.

I looked behind me for a second and then back to Ichiru, "It's alright, the ones who stay behind are the ones that Kuran-san trusted, though sadly they didn't believe in me at all."

"Whatever you say Haruki, the fact that I am the only one who will become your knight will never change. You saved my life and I will protect you as your knight forever." Ichiru stated, and just like that he turned back and walked away from the Moon Dorm leaving in his wake several curious and suspicious faces and my dumbfounded one.

"That's... kinda cool. What's happening with you two?" Came the unexpected voice of Kain Akatsuki.

I just stared at where Ichiru stood before and subconsciously answered the question, "Nothing." And then turned around to go back to Kaname's chamber without further ado.

Third Person's POV

A month passed without any excitement. After two weeks, Haruki went back to his dorm and his duty as a guardian. He was just like always, doing his duty from the shadows, but after the incident, there was no one in Night Class that didn't know the relationship between Kuran Kaname and Kuran Haruki, or for the time being still Kurosu Haruki. Though the nature of said relationship still not clear amongst the Night Class students.

Yuuki was also like always but with additional of Zero's problem, and Zero was still as hardheaded as always, what with his adamant to his own need. But for Ichiru something changed, from the time Haruki went back to the dorm till now, Ichiru followed Haruki everywhere. So now the division is Haruki with Ichiru, and Yuuki with Zero, but once in a while, Ichiru goes with Zero and Yuuki if Haruki was with Kaname or wanted to be alone for some time.

"Where were you this evening?" Haruki asked Ichiru when the two were in Haruki's dorm room.

"Yuuki wanted to follow Zero because Zero went out secretly this evening and because I didn't have anything to do and I couldn't let Yuuki go alone, I accompanied her." Ichiru answered calmly from one of the couch, casually going through one of the books in Haruki's collection.

"Hmmm... And why are you here now?"

"Because I don't have anything to do because after we went back to the academy, Zero and Yuuki are busy with themselves, honestly those two are---."

Hearing his answer, Haruki sighed and looked in Ichiru's direction, "You know Ichiru... You are free to make some friends. You don't have to just hang out with Yuuki, Zero, and me. 

The biggest problem is you don't have to constantly be around me and protect me, I helped you many years ago not because I wanted to tie you to me, but because I wanted to see you free, free to do what you want." Haruki vented all of his pent-up emotions with his not-so-long speech.

But Ichiru just looked at Haruki with such determination shining from his eyes. "I know... I know it clearly Haruki. I know that you're not someone who does something for some debt. But this is what you call 'do whatever you wanted to do' to me. This is what I want to do. 

I promised myself so many years ago to dedicate my life to you and Zero. But Zero has already found his path, while I still don't, I only know what I promised myself when I am just a kid. But you, from the beginning you knew which path to take and which path leads to destruction, you save it, you save me.

Let me be, Haruki. You know what path to take, which choice is the best. So just let me follow you. If not because you will lead us to the best possibility then because I can't just walk away from you after everything you did to us, Zero and I." Ichiru answered calmly but seriously, and then he stood up, walked to where Haruki sat, and kneeled before Haruki.

Haruki just stared wide-eyed at Ichiru, never before had he thought that Ichiru would go so far as to kneel in front of him. "Till I find my path, let me stand by thy side and till death do us apart, let me be thy knight. I know that you have Kaname to protect you, but there is nothing wrong to expect the worse." He stated calmly and with full determination, and I could only stare at him speechless.

"You... don't have to do this Ichiru." Haruki said and then sighed, "But to honor your wish, I will accept your wish to be my sword and shield for as long as you can serve me, if you want to go, no one will hold you back." Here, Ichiru gave Haruki a smile that spoke as if his burden was removed because he found a new path for the time being.

"But I won't let you wander in our little chessboard alone for long time, Ichiru. Because I am sure out there, there's someone for you. And who knows, maybe you will get family who will love you more than us." Haruki stated and Ichiru just stared at Haruki like he didn't believe it at all, while Haruki gave his one of mysterious smiles.

Kaname's POV

"Finally, one of your pawns is out of her hiding places." I heard Haruki from the door to my study.

I didn't answer him and just stared at the chess board in front of me and gave him a hum. I heard him entering my study, closing the door softly, and sitting in the chair across from mine. Without any warning, he moved one of the white pawns.

"She arrived this evening and gave her little piece of speech in Night Class right after her tour of Cross Academy courtesy of Yuuki and Zero. And..." I trailed.

"Hmmm..."

"Where were you this evening Haruki? You didn't attend Guardian's duty, and you also didn't take her with Yuuki and Zero. And how come you know which ones are my pawn?"

"Nowhere, just taking a nap because I'm a bit tired, and I already have permission from Headmaster." And to prove his claim, a little yawn passed his lips.

"Are you alright?" I asked him with barely concealed concern.

"I'm alright, and for your last question, now that I think about it, I don't know how I know. I just know. It's like I can hear the echo from... somewhere... your mind I suppose? when I concentrated enough. Is this normal?" He answered my question with an intriguing question.

'Is that because we are soulmate?' I thought. "It's... you can say it's not normal, but for the time being, I will let you guess what this is about."

"Why can't you just tell me what this is about? I think you know something but also don't have faith about that conclusion."

"It's not like I don't have faith in my conclusion, but more like I don't have proof that what you experienced is the same as my conclusion."

And when our conversation got serious and I thought to give Haruki some clue about our incoming relationship, a knock was heard and without thinking, because I already predicted this one, I told the knocker to enter.

And like I thought, it was Kurenai Maria, the transfer student. And also like I thought, she 'demanded' the old dorm, the temporary dorm we used before the Moon Dorm finished its construction, to be given to her with the reason that she was adjusting to the dorm's life, and I gave her my permission without a fuss.

But when she was going to get out from my study, Haruki's voice drifted to life without notifying his existence to her, because Haruki's chair was against the door.

"The pitiful princess is seeking a false revenge, the one who ruined her life is the one who claimed himself as a king, the truth is he is nothing at all, just an uncrowned King that will never be crowned with a dream too big for his pathetic mind to process.

But who will eventually claim the victory? A victory called life. Is it the pitiful princess with her true destiny or the self-proclaimed King with his path of destruction?" His voice trailed.

Maria Kurenai's POV

When I entered Kuran Kaname's chamber, I knew that he was not alone, but all I could sense was the presence of a mere human. All I could think was 'what's a human doing in Kuran Kaname's chamber? It's not like Kuran is the type to 'eat' in a public place'.

But then when I entered his study, Kuran was just playing chess with someone, and that someone felt like a mere human so I didn't think anything about that someone, I just had to ask Kuran something and then go on my way.

But when I was going to leave the presence of Kuran, a voice, a soothing voice, was heard from behind me, precisely from the chair that stood against the door, against me. A voice presented statement-like-prophecy or more like a riddle, a question to the scene that would roll over in this Academy.

"Haruki, please behave," Kuran stated calmly and then pointed his gaze at me, silently demanding my retreat.

And that is what I gave him, my retreat with the human's, Haruki?, voice ingrained in my brain and heart.