Title: Preference
Author: anatagasuki
Genre: Drama/Romance
Summary: Rido Kuran always wondered why, and he hoped for an answer.
Notes: First VK fic. Why RidoxJuri? Why not? The pair seems to be quite neglected.
Disclaimers: I own nothing but the fic.

Why not me?

It was the constant question which bugged him to no end. There seemed to be no answer available anywhere in his mind, and not knowing what he wants to know is something that he almost cannot tolerate. He tried to seek the answer everywhere, from everyone.

Why not Rido Kuran?

If Haruka Kuran was more than enough, why not him, her brother too? Yes, there were differences in appearance but they were both male, both purebloods, both powerful, and surely they both loved her, regardless the degree.

But before he could even question Juri's preference, maybe he must understand his first. It was another puzzle, but not a very complex one. Everything about Juri was the best anything can be. He loved her physicality, her face, her tenacity, her behavior, her uncanny warmth. He worshiped her blood. Only her blood could satiate him. He sought contentment and freedom from thirst, but there was no way other. He resolved he will drink her blood, but somehow he never got to acquire even a drop.

When Juri married Haruka, he didn't exactly feel melancholic. For him, it didn't matter. Marriage, customs, morals and blood relation never mattered. All he wanted was Juri, her blood, her love, her very whole. He loved her so much he wanted to drink from her until she drops dead.

But after thousands of years, it was proven that the marriage did matter. Haruka was Juri's as Juri was Haruka's. And the latter would never share. They lived in their eccentric isolated state and they lived by their own rules in their own world.

He cannot wait for one more day, let alone another thousand years. And even if he could, he knew waiting would not change anything. It wouldn't change Juri. Not even death would convince her that he deserved her more than Haruka did. There was only one solution.

Still, that night, Juri wasn't his.

Instead, he was bound in a slumber for years. When he awoke, Juri was the first thought in his head. But she wasn't there to relieve his impatience. She wasn't anywhere in the world.

It wasn't like he's the type to accept that.

For thousands of years he waited, and he could not accept that they will all be for nothing. She will be his, in any way possible. If that will be risking his life, then he would not hesitate to die.

When the moment came for him to obtain Yuuki's blood, he felt the absolute joy he had never felt in his entire existence. It didn't feel like he was achieving his goal, it felt like he was finding hope for the first time. He was so close to the only thing he ever wanted.

He asked her why. He hoped she had the answers to the questions he was keeping to himself for all time. And yet she had no answer but her tears.

On that moment, Yuuki made him realize the truth. He could seek all his life, but Juri will never be there. Will never be his. No matter how much he loved her. It was glaring at him from the very beginning, but he suppressed it. She was dead, she was gone. She could never return any of his feelings. There was no explanation. And everything had been empty but he refused to admit it to himself because without his goal, there will be no color in his life. Without Juri, he was nothing.

Why not me?

It was the constant question which bugged him to no end. And until he perished there was no answer. But it didn't matter. He would be with Juri and he could ask her for eternity.