Song: Against the Current- Weapon

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Ten years later:

"Wake up, Tatsuki! We need to get on the road to Cross Academy!" The mahogany haired teen sits up from her bed. She had been awake for a couple hours from nerves. Her gaze travels over to her manager that looks at the usually lazy girl, who loves to sleep in, awake and ready to go. "Oh, you're ready?"

"I'm ready. Before we get to Cross Academy, I want to visit my mother. Her home is on the way there." His eyes widen as he hears the news that Tatsuki has a mother. She's never really talked about her past since the day he found her five years ago. She was a ten year old girl on the streets of the previous town he was scouting for talent.

The man walks down the sidewalk towards his appointment, looking at his watch to see how quickly he has to make it. His suit jacket is tugged, making him stop. He looks down to see a dirty ten year old girl holding on to his suit. She puts her dirty hand out for anything he can offer.

"Oh, no, let go, little girl. You're going to get my suit dirty!" He cringes at the dirty child, her gaze is blank and it unnerves him. Her hand is still out as she holds on to him. He hesitantly grabs her wrist and gets her hand off him, shooing her away again and rushing back to the building. The child follows him in, but he doesn't look back to see that.

He goes on to have a meeting with the people there, being joined by his musical client. They have a long meeting, trying to impress investors with their singing. Tatsuki stands on the other side of the door, listening to the song. She memorizes the words and seems to feel the music in her head, trying to make the song hers. 

The investors try to dismiss the client and manager that are insistent. As they argue they start to hear singing from behind the door. They all frown at the voice in confusion and stand close to the door, listening to the beautiful voice. It is the same song the singer tried to sing, but nerves got the best of him and he couldn't impress the investors. 

They open the door as the song ends, they look down at the dirty little girl. She looks up at them with her big eyes, they find those mismatching eyes quite alluring. The manager and investors see great potential in such a small and dirty child. Tatsuki is taken off guard as they begin to shower her with praises, food, and get her some assistants to clean her up, fix her hair, and get her some proper clothes.

"Now, you look much more presentable. From today onwards, I will be taking care of you. What's your name? I'm Manager Miho. You can call me Miho-san." The man says to the little girl that eats a snack after being well treated. She crosses her eyes as she looks at the sweet bread in her hand.

"Tatsuki." She finally speaks to him with the dullest voice he's ever heard. Of course, all he sees is money with the child before him and he nods his head, becoming pensive.

"Well, Tatsuki-chan, we are going to make you a star, and a star needs a stage name. From here on out you will be known as Suki Shadow! You've got a voice that will definitely suit some heavy rock or metal. Hmm, you might catch people off guard with your mismatching eyes too, so we can either make you wear blue contacts or brown contacts. Yes, yes, we will train you and you will make your debut within a year!" Miho goes off on his own tangent, making plans for Tatsuki, not really having had asked if she wanted any of this to begin with.

"Okay..." Tatsuki says softly as she continues to eat. Her search had gone to a stand still, but she will let this happen. She's sure fame will get her moving again and she can continue on her search for her brother. "I will do this for you, but I want to someday meet the former actress, Shiki." Miho looks down at the child surprised. He is caught off guard that a child like her would know an actress from a long time ago who disappeared a little over ten years ago. 

"She disappeared a long time ago, no one knows where she is. I don't know-" Tatsuki gets off the chair and heads for the door. "Wait, wait, wait! Okay, I will invest in a search for the actress! Just give me some time to find an investigator." Tatsuki goes back to her seat and grabs more sweets and eats them.

                                                                             ~0~

"Tatsuki, I found her! She's living in this area here." Miho brings over a map and the file of compiled information to the fourteen year old girl. Her career, since she was found, had skyrocketed immediately upon the release of her first single. Tatsuki finishes putting on her blue contact and clear contact on, looking back at Miho and the papers he brought. She walks over and looks over the information.

"Uh... you know, you kinda look like her with both your eyes the same color. Are you-"

"She has a son, Senri Shiki who will be attending Cross Academy next year. Miho, I'm taking a break and going to Cross Academy." Tatsuki's eyes seem to almost light up for the first time ever as she reads the information. Miho is unable to form proper words as he hears the news about this sudden decision. He notices the modeling magazine with the upcoming models Senri Shiki and Rima Touya in her hand.

"What?! But your music career is taking off still! We have to-"

"With or without your permission, I'm going to Cross Academy. I'll keep working if you let me go willingly, but if I have to run away, I will. I'll quit singing." Miho is caught off guard, she used to be so obedient to him, but now she's showing him she's not afraid to stand up to him.

"F-fine... I'll enroll you in Cross Academy. Why are you so interested in the Shiki family?" She doesn't answer and goes to pick up the latest magazine she ordered. She looks at Senri on the cover and holds the magazine against her, walking away to her bedroom. Once again she avoids telling Miho anything and continues to do her own thing. He has no choice but to go along and not lose his cash cow.  

Tatsuki walks up to the home of her mad mother. She has never met her in person, but has seen her on TV, during re-runs of her old shows. When she was more or less sane.

"Tatsuki, your umbrella! You know you get sunburned easily." She sighs, and takes the umbrella her manager holds out. "Make it quick. We have to make it to-"

"I know." Tatsuki puts her hand out to stop him from lecturing, and then heads off towards her mother's home.

She opens the unlocked door, and finds her mother sitting on the staircase. "Tatsuki, you've come to see your mother." She says looking up at her expressionless daughter. She doesn't seem surprised at all that Tatsuki finally strolled in through her front door. Tatsuki stands there, and looks down at the mad woman. Easily broken by Rido Kuran, and this is all that's left.

A woman she never knew because Rido separated her from her twin brother at birth. Tatsuki holds no resentment towards her mother. It's easy to sway to the will of a pureblood if you're not one yourself. Or if you've been broken by one. 

"Yes, I came to tell you that I've decided to reunite with my estranged brother, Senri. I wanted to meet you as well, but it looks like you didn't want to meet me, mother." Tatsuki says to her. She looks up at her daughter, and smiles.

"You're growing up to be just like Rido. The both of you are so much like him. Rido separated you two for a reason, and I don't want you to meet him." Shiki says to her daughter. Tatsuki blinks at her mother, completely indifferent.

"Mother, Senri and I look like you. Even if you don't love us. I will never be like Rido Kuran. Rido isn't here, and you won't really do a thing to stop me. I'm going to meet my brother." Tatsuki tells her, making it obvious that she was not asking for her permission.

"He's your father, Tatsuki." Shiki reminds Tatsuki.

"Sadly. Goodbye, mother. I'll tell Senri you said hello." Tatsuki says to her before leaving her in her place. Sitting. Waiting for who knows what. 

"Tatsuki, you're being a bad girl. Why can't you be more like your brother?" She manages to hear her mother say before the door closes behind her. Tatsuki hears crashing sounds behind her and a couple kicks to the door before she gets back to the car. The door never opens behind her.

"Tatsuki! We're already running late! The Headmaster of the school must be getting exasperated." Tatsuki ignores the scolding of her band manager, and keeps to the darkness of the car.

"Senri Shiki. My little brother. I wonder if you know about me? Because Rido made sure that I knew about you. What were you planning, Rido?" Tatsuki questions herself. She looks into the rear view mirror, and sees her eyes. One is light blue and the other is reddish-brown. The typical color of the Kurans. She closes her eyes, and leans back on the car seat.

"Tatsuki, my cute little girl." Rido strokes the five year old's cheek. She just stands there, a 'silent doll'.

"Why did you want to see me for now, Rido?" The young Tatsuki questions her father.

"I wish you'd call me father." He says, but Tatsuki can tell he doesn't mean it. He doesn't care in whatever way she addresses him.

"Cut the bull, Rido. What do you want?" Tatsuki questions her father again.

"To think I could make you an obedient child like your mother. Where did I go wrong?" Rido questions mockingly. Trying to rile up Tatsuki, but she's learned to hide everything inside. Never trusting anyone. Never letting anyone in. Always strong.

"Probably when you took me away from my little brother." Rido laughs, and looks back at his daughter. Her mismatching eyes showing nothing.

"Well, at least I didn't have to put up with an annoying child. Always seeking attention." Tatsuki yawns, and sits on the floor.

"Tell me when you're done stalling? I'm sleepy, and I'd like to go to bed." Tatsuki tells him. Even though Tatsuki doesn't feel, the way she talks back to him really irks him. If she weren't a child or his daughter, Rido would have gotten rid of her a long time ago. And the fact that her defiance also reminds him of Juuri Kuran. For that he keeps her close.

"Very well. Then let me grant you this." Rido goes towards Tatsuki, and puts his hand to the top of her head. She just sits there waiting for whatever Rido has in store for her. She feels this sudden pressure in her head, and that is when she yells out in pain. Rido laughs at his daughter's pain. Once he finishes whatever he was doing, Tatsuki falls to her side nearly unconscious.

"Impressive. Looks like awakening more of your pureblood blood didn't kill you... yet." Tatsuki's vision blurs, and her father's evil smile is the last thing she sees before she falls into darkness.

". . .ki. . .Tatsuki! Wake up! We're here." Tatsuki opens her eyes, and finds that the sun has almost set. She sits up straight, and stretches before stepping out of the vehicle.

There she meets three people. One who seems very bright and happy, a man with messy blond hair, and glasses that slightly slide off of his nose, very tightly wrapped up in warm clothing even though it is still warm.

A young girl that looks way too young to be in a high school. She looks at her closer, and sees the uncanny resemblance she has to her aunt Juuri.

"This must be the girl Rido was after." Tatsuki mentally states.

Then her gaze travels to a tall boy with silver hair, lilac-gray eyes that bore into her with hatred, a hand at the ready towards his gun, and nothing but sheer coldness.

"Hello there. I'm Headmaster Kaien Cross. This is my daughter Yuki Cross. And my son Zero Kiryu." Zero glares over at the Headmaster, who pretends not to notice. Tatsuki guesses that he doesn't like the idea of being called his son.

"I'm Tatsuki Shiki." She answers in a monotone. The three of them look at her surprised.

"Shiki?" Yuki questions her.

"Yes, I have a brother here. He's my younger twin." Tatsuki explains before they even ask. She looks at her surprised. A wind blows Tatsuki's bangs back, and that is when they see her mismatching eyes.

Yuki looks into her eyes, and something about them scares her to death, but there is nothing wrong with Tatsuki. She quickly diverts her gaze from Tatsuki's unfeeling one.

"Twin? My goodness this is all news to me. Well, we can get this all settled in my office. Please come this way." Headmaster says to Tatsuki and her manager. It was approved by Miho and Kaien to give her an alias, but Miho failed to mention her real name to keep the rumor from spreading that she was there. He follows after the Headmaster, while Tatsuki remains in place.

She closes her eyes, and senses her brother close by. She is finally going to get the chance to meet Senri Shiki. An estranged brother that Rido forbade her from seeing at all costs.

"Tatsuki-san?" She opens her eyes at Yuki's voice. She says nothing, and walks after the Headmaster and her manager. All the while feeling a fearful and hateful gaze on her. None of which faze the unfeeling silent doll.

"Senri, I'm here now."

                                                            ~0~

"Hm? Are you not a little early?" The Night Class teacher questions Tatsuki as she enters in her new Night Class uniform. Worn properly like every other girl. She continues to eat her pocky stick and hands a letter to the teacher. That explains everything he needs to know. Her second purpose for being there which was decided for her in order to meet with Senri.

"Ichio-sama?" He  questions Tatsuki a little stunned. She nods her head and takes a seat at the front corner of the seats. She rests her elbows on the table, and plays around with her mahogany bangs. As she finishes her pocky stick the rest of the Night Class enters with Kaname as their lead.

The chatty vampires stop their conversation as they see Tatsuki sitting there calmly. She only shows them her gray-blue eye. Her eye directly meets with Kaname Kuran's eyes. He instantly recognizes her even though he only saw her that one time, ten years ago. She stands up, and walks past him and all the other vampires until she finds her brother.

The vampires part, and watch the shocking resemblance between the young vampire male of the Night Class with this young female vampire.

"Who are you?" Senri questions in a monotone.

"Tatsuki Shiki." She answers in the same monotone.

"Senri Shiki. My sister I presume?" He goes on in his monotone.

"Older twin, yes." She answer back. The rest of the Night Class watches a little dumbfounded They would have thought a brother and sister reunion would have been more emotional, but this is Senri Shiki.

"Cool." He says as he takes her hand, and leads Tatsuki to where he sits with Rima. They sit there, and say no more.

"WHAT KIND OF REUNION WAS THAT?!" Aido Hanabusa yells out in disbelief. He rushes over to Tatsuki and Senri, who sit with bored expressions. He's not sure why he's bothered by this, but he feels like he has to say something. "Shouldn't you two be hugging or crying or something?!" Aido demands of them. Tatsuki and Senri look at each other, and do as Aido told them. They simply hug, and stay like that, but their expressions don't change.

"Happy?" They question Aido, who falls back from disbelief.

"Is this really how the Shiki family is?" Aido questions massaging his temples.

"No." They answer at the same time.

"You really are twins." Rima adds in with her own boredom. She doesn't seem at all surprised with the fact that her best friend and constant companion is a twin.

"Are you disrespectful? You should greet Kaname-sama a lot better." Aido says recalling her cold treatment of Kaname Kuran. Going right past him like he was only a pole.

"I'm already sitting down, and it's more proper if the man introduces himself to the woman." Tatsuki tells him with a yawn. Aido's temple throbs at her tone of indifference.

"Listen-"

"Hanabusa, it's fine. Let it go, and take a seat." Kaname orders him from the comfortable couch he sits in. Aido lowers his head, and follows his order.

"Yes, thank you, Kaname-sama. As you all have seen our new student, Tatsuki Shiki. Please make sure to get her up to date to what the rules are if you may." The teacher tells the students, who nod their heads.

"What do you do, Tatsuki?" Senri questions after a moment of silence.

"I'm a metal singer. You might know me as Suki Shadow." Tatsuki says. Rima puts a magazine in front of them. Seemingly, it comes out of nowhere.

"This Suki Shadow? You look nothing like her." Rima says observing Tatsuki.

"That's a wig, and since my manager doesn't like my mismatching eyes I wear a matching contact to my blue-gray one and a clear one on my blue-gray eye." Tatsuki explains to her.

"And you two are famous models. I've read about you two." Tatsuki says putting out their magazine in front of hers. Again, it mysteriously comes out of nowhere.

"Why didn't I know about you?" Senri questions her again.

"I was living with our father for five years of my life, and then I lived on my own for the next ten. Well, I mean with my manager, but it's basically like living alone." Senri nods his head. He doesn't feel like asking about the identity of his estranged father.

"You didn't live with our mother?" Tatsuki shakes her head.

"She didn't want me there. I was too much of a reminder of him. Since I lived with him for a long time. So instead I lived with my band manager after I managed to find you and our mother." Tatsuki twirls around the magazines.

"Why did you decide to see me now?" Tatsuki looks up, and closes her mismatching eyes.

"Because I was free to do so." She answers him, and things stay as such. In silence. Eyes observing Tatsuki. Wondering about her sudden appearance. But their attention diverts away as the door opens once more.

"Sorry I'm late. I had business to take care of." Takuma Ichijo finally steps in, and his eyes search for Senri and Rima, but what he didn't expect to see was Tatsuki. His eyes open wide at the sight of the Shiki twins. We makes his way over to them.

"My sister, Tatsuki." Senri says to Takuma like as if that is how things have been all along. Tatsuki waves at him. Takuma has a lot of questions to the sudden appearance of the mysterious girl. Senri never once mentioned that he wasn't an only child. He is sure that he tells him everything with how close they are.

"T-Tatsuki Shiki?" He questions her. She nods his head.

"Twins." She answers before he questions them.

"I never kn-"

"Neither did I." Senri admits to Takuma.

"Wait, what?" He questions still confused by the situation.

"Family affairs." Tatsuki now tells Takuma, like as if that explained everything. He sits down, and tries to think about everything he's figured up until now. He smacks the table and turns back to Tatsuki.

"Takuma Ichijo, at your service, Tatsuki-san." He takes her hand, and kisses it gently. A simple respect to a noble with the feel of a pureblood in her. She stares into his green eyes, and he looks back into her mismatched reddish-brown and greyish-blue eyes.

"Thanks. Just Tatsuki is fine." She says after a moment, and pulls her hand away from Takuma. She looks at her hand, wondering about the sensation overcoming her from his touch alone.

                                 ~0~

Tatsuki walks around outside. She was told not to go outside, but she wasn't doing anything wrong, so she isn't really breaking any rules. But it seems her midnight stroll has gotten her the attention of one of the school's prefects. The one she should have avoided at all costs.

"What are you doing out here, vampire?" Zero questions Tatsuki as he points Bloody Rose to her forehead.

"Walking. Is that a crime? Would you prefer I walk during the day around all those lively humans?" Tatsuki questions him with no expression whatsoever. Zero doesn't answer her, and unlocks the safety to Bloody Rose.

"Go back to the Moon Dorms or I'll kill you." Tatsuki isn't afraid of him.

"I don't think it matters whether I listen to you or not. You still look like you want to kill me. Do it. I have nothing to live for anyway. My parents are insane, so it's like I don't have any, and I hardly know my younger brother. Not that you care. Now shoot." Tatsuki moves Zero's hand, wielding Bloody Rose, down to her heart.

"This is the best spot if you're trying to kill a vampire. A fellow vampire should know that." Zero glares at her fiercely.

"I'm not like you." He says coldly.

"You're right. You're a Level D, and I'm a noble. I haven't done wrong, and yet you're the one with the human blood on you." Zero tenses up as he realizes his secret has been discovered. The secret that he drinks Yuki's blood.

"Maybe this gun should be pointed at you." Tatsuki pulls Bloody Rose away from Zero, and he's shocked to see that Bloody Rose isn't affecting her. His weapon isn't hurting her like all vampires.

"Who are you, Tatsuki Shiki?" He questions her.

"Me? I'm nothing, but a 'Silent Doll'. The question is 'Who are you, Zero Kiryu'?" She grabs his hand, and puts Bloody Rose back in it. She closes his fingers around it before turning away, and heading back towards the Moon Dormitory.

She walks by Yuki, who had witness the whole thing. She tenses up as she once more meets Tatsuki's eyes.

"Why do her eyes scare me? What is it about them that's so familiar?" Yuki mentally questions herself as she watches Tatsuki's back. Her long mahogany hair blowing in the wind. She jumps startled as Zero's hand goes to her shoulder.

"Are you afraid of her?" Zero questions Yuki, who blushes, and punches his side.

"No! Why would I be? She hasn't done anything to me." Yuki says, but Zero does have a point. She doesn't want to admit it, but there's something about Tatsuki's eyes that scares her.

"Tatsuki! There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you!" Takuma exclaims as Tatsuki enters the main lobby of the Moon Dormitory.

"What is it?" Tatsuki questions Takuma.

"Well we have to show you to your dorm room. It's a few hours to dawn, so you might want some rest." Takuma hands Tatsuki a key. She takes the key, and keeps her eyes on it.

"You're an Ichijo, so you must know how to contact Ichio, right?" Takuma tenses up, and looks at Tatsuki confused and shocked.

"Y-you know my grandfather?" He questions her. She nods her head, and clasps the key in her hand.

"Just wanted to know what kind of relationship he had to you. See ya." She says as she rushes up the steps to meet up with Senri, who is waiting at the top of the staircase.

"This way." He says leading her towards her lonely dorm. One that hasn't been used in a while. They make it to the room, and Tatsuki uses the key to open the door to the dusty room.

"Your arrival was a surprise, so the cleaning will be done tomorrow. The mattress is new and so are the sheets though." Senri explains to her. She nods her head, and hugs Senri, who holds her back.

"I'm glad to meet you. Even if mother and Rido forbade us from seeing each other." Tatsuki tells Senri, who nods his head.

"Goodnight, Tatsuki." He says, and leaves her to her new home. She closes the door behind her, and shakes off the sheets from dust that may have landed on it again, and opens the window, so the dust can escape through there. She yawns before jumping on to her bed, and resting her hands behind her head.

"Damn Rido." Is Tatsuki's only emotion of anger before she closes her eyes to think to herself in the silent night. It is a swift feeling that buries itself once again in her heart.

"How warm, is this what holding someone should feel like?" Tatsuki looks at her arms that embraced Senri only moments ago. She wraps her arms around herself as she sits up. It definitely feels different than what she just experienced.

"May our time together last, little brother."