Warnings: threat to child, coerced medical experimentation, death of loved one
As Yuki and Zero are working hard to eliminate the bombing threats, another threat arises in the form of someone kidnapping vampire kids. During a search in underground tunnels, Zero gets captured and they have to mobilize fast to free him, taking help from the vigilante group that is now being led by Maria Kurenai. After that, Zero and Yuki have a talk about having a baby of their own, and we know Ren is coming, but what is interesting is that it is revealed that Ren is actually a girl. (One wikia search later, I found out that it was an error to have her referred to as 'he' in previous volumes). Anyway, Ai of course dotes on her little sister!
Meanwhile, Kaien Cross' health declines further and the situation with the vampire-human peace becomes more fragile, as public sentiment against vampires is stoked negatively by the new mayor. A trap worsens things for them, as they show a hungry vampire to scare the populace, and Yuki and Zero have more problems to face even if they get the bombing thing under control. Now, the thing is that while I like this storyline about Yuki and Zero having to lead their people through these troubled times where anti-vampire sentiment is rising, the fact that so many characters from the original series make an appearance again hinders the storyline. I read that series years ago, so obviously I don't remember much of the minor characters and events - a guide to key players and their relationships at the start of the volume would be a good idea. Also, I know they have long lifespans, and we need to skip forward to relevant parts, but giving us barely any idea about how much time has passed gives the plot a rushed quality.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Viz Media LLC, via Edelweiss.