Roses have Thorns

It had been a week since they were reunited and Rido was training Ran none stop. At the end of each night she would have be carried to bed. He knew he was pushing her but she had so much to learn and not much time to learn it. Kaname could stike at any moment, he had to get her ready. 

Rido smiled as he carried her to bed, his pride grew each day, her powers growing stronger. He knew Kaname would make his move soon, he could feel it. He also knew Kaname would be watching, he wouldn't have left them alone this long unless he was watching. 

Rans' progress was steadily increasing, she was faster and stronger. She was learning to fight and even starting to give him a run for his own money. If Kaname gave them enough time, he could unleash her full power. The powers he had read about, the powers that could take down an army and send the rest running. He hungered to see those powers, to her use them. 

"Again!" Rido shouted at Ran as she pulled herself off the floor, panting and glaring at him. 

"I need a break!" She shouted back once she had caught her breathe. Her body was protesting her every move, screaming at her to stop. 

"The enemy won't give you a break! You have to fight and keep fighting." Rido snapped and ran straight for her. As he went to tackle her, her body disbursed into bats. Once he hit the floor, she become whole again. Rido hit the floor with a thud and surprise, she had never done that before. Pride swelled in his heart again, she was learning. Ran turned around and smirked before holding out her hand. Rido smirked and pulled her down on top of him earning a surprised squeak from her. "Never let your guard down either." He said with a smirk and pulled her closer for a kiss. Ran smiled and kissed back. He rolled them over so he rested above her. Suddenly he hit the floor face first as she rematerialised behind him. 

"What was that about not letting your guard down?" Ran giggled with a smirk on her face. Rido rolled onto his back to look at her. She was learning quickly. 

A month had passed, Rido knew it was any day now that Kaname would attack. What he didn't know was if he would be cocky enough to fight alone or would he bring an army. Rido hoped that Kaname would underestimate both himself and Ran. He wanted him to come alone, that way they would have a chance to end this then and there. If he came with an army, they might have to run, to hide, to live like that for years until they could fight back and build an army of their own. 

A knock at the front door echoed through the house as the pair readied for a night of training. Rido knew this would be Kaname. He knew that Kaname would offer Ran the chance to leave peacefully before a fight would start. Rido took Rans' hand in his and looked into her eyes. He saw the fear on her face, he felt the tremble of her body. It was now or never, fight or flight. He kissed her with all he had, he hoped this wouldn't be their last but he couldn't run the risk. 

Rido led her to the front door, he looked at her once more giving her hand a quick squeeze before opening the door. 

Kaname stood tall and proud in his usual expensive suit. It was clear that he excepted her to simply leave with him. Kaname's eyes wondered down her body, ignoring Rido. He frowned slightly as he saw her dressed in a pair of jogging bottoms and vest top, he could also see the thick straps of a sports bra on her shoulders. He had never seen her dressed in such attire before. He had seen her wear casual clothing before but never this. Her hair had also been pulled back into a ponytail. 

"Ran, it's time you came home with me." Kaname spoke up after a short silence. "Your place is with me, not with this monster who has and will hurt you even more." He then added, glaring at Rido. Ran stepped forwards, Rido's heart stopped for a moment. She was going to leave him; she was going to pick Kaname. 

Ran slapped Kaname across the face as he smirked and held out his hand for to take. The force of the slap made Kaname's head move. He hadn't expected that. Rido smirked and held back a chuckle. 

"I will never go anywhere with you." Ran hissed at him, glaring and baring her fangs at him. 

"Come with me, or..." Kaname said in a low voice before looking over his shoulder. A small army appeared, walking steadily towards them. "You will leave me with no choice but to pull you from his dead arms." He added looking at Rido with a confident smirk. Rido pulled Ran towards him, getting ready for any sudden attack from Kaname. "You have twisted her mind Rido but I will undo all the work you've done." He hissed at Rido. "I will show her that you are a monster, not me." 

Ran smirked at Kaname as she eyed up the army. 

"Kaname, I will never go with you. Like you said, you would have to pull me from his dead arms but I will also be dead." She hissed at him. "I would rather die than be in your arms, let alone be anywhere you." 

All hell broke loose.