Chapter 1

"Bonjour monsieur Cross, we have been waiting for you." The secretary behind the desk spoke. "I'll inform monsieur Kiryu of your arrival here." And with that she disappeared behind the wooden double doors that lead to the office of Zero Kiryu.

Kaien Cross was sitting in the waiting room for the woman to arrive when an interesting magazine caught his eye. On the cover was the very person Cross had came to see today.

Zero had on a white button up shirt and in his hands was a camera. He had on a smile that can truly knock a girl off her feet and silver hair that flowed to the nape of his neck that could make any women envious at it being natural. Yet, what Cross found to be more beautiful than the boys smile and hair color was his lilac colored eyes that drew you in with its bright hue.

Cross opened the magazine to the article all about Zero and out of pure curiosity begin to read it, despite that fact that he already knew the boy far longer than the paragraph written about Zero was.

Zero Kiryu the son of both famous model and Actress: Shizuka Hiou and Daisuke Kiryu not only possess such beauty like his parents, but can also capture it on film. The young photographer quit the family business to peruse his own career, leaving his family home in Kyoto, Japan without a penny to his name.

When asked why from reporters the young teen at the time had this to say: "If I wish to chase a dream with all my heart…then, I must chase it alone without help from anyone; I must learn how to do things on my own."

Zero's twin brother Ichiru and little sister Maria both agree and support their older brother with his dream. After many years gone by for the ex-model, his dream finally had awaken and is now the best photographer of his time, for he captures beauty within models that they have never known they had.

"Well if it isn't my ex-agent." Zero said entering into the waiting room with his secretary trailing alongside him. "Thank you Miss. Swan, you may take your lunch break now."

"Thank you monsieur Kiryu." Miss. Swan answered in a polite tone as she gathered her things. "Au revoir!"

As soon as she was gone Zero led Cross into his office. The room was quite smaller than Cross had thought it to be, the walls were painted white and the rug on the floor was a deep gray color. Along one side were many photos of famous landmarks that Cross recognized from his travels with previous models before. In the center was a black desk and right behind it was a large window that gave a wonderful view of Paris.

"You sure traveled far in following your dreams, Zero." Cross commented with a smile. "Appearing in a French magazine, being praised for your photography and even though you no longer work for me as a model, you always seem to pose like a pro. Appears to me like you still have your magic touch."

Zero looked at the magazine still being held in Cross's hand. "Yea, I guess I can't fight what I was born to do. Though, I find it to be a very annoying habit, if I do say so myself…well anyways, enough of the meaningless chatter, how about we get onto why exactly Mr. Cross is here in Paris to see me?"

"Do I need a motive to see one of my best former models?" Kaien asked cheerfully, but Zero was not buying it for a second. "Okay, okay…you caught me Zero; I am actually here today to hire you as my private photographer for one of my well known models."

"I see, and may I ask why?"

"Because I hear you're the best. I hear that you have a talent for capturing beauty from within models all over the world. You put other photographers to shame with such eye catching masterpieces." Cross-answered honestly.

"But what does that have to do with your model?"

"You see, my current model has a bad reputation in the industry, he's constantly getting others fired especially photographers. But don't get me wrong or anything, he is indeed very talented at being a model, it's just that he personally asked for you to be his exclusive photographer."

"Why me though?"

"Because he admires your work as a photographer."

"And this model you speak of is a he?"

"Yes he is and he is quite a fan of yours."

"Sounds like a shady deal to me."

"Of course not Zero, where on earth made you get that idea?"

Zero studied the man's face closely, but couldn't read any alternate motive that may have been hidden on his face. Even if he couldn't find any, there was still a nagging voice telling him that accepting this job would bring him bad luck.

Kaien who had been looking at the boy as well was able to see his mixed feelings about the matter appear on the boy's face.

"May I say that the model you'll be working with is highly popular and if you are able to successfully make him rise as a model even more, you'll surely be even more famous than you already are and as well as get paid handsomely for your trouble so that you could invest in that dream you so wanted to accomplice."

That perked Zero's interest a lot as he continued to observe and listen to the man before him.

"Don't you want to prove to your father that you are able to do things on your own?" Cross asked in a very serious and stern voice. He knew that he was entering a very touchy subject with Zero, yet he was desperately in need of the silver haired youth's ability and in order to do that he had to play dirty.

Zero couldn't help up stiffen at the mention of his father. Zero could still remember the last conversation he had with him the day he decided to leave the family business and start his own.

"Do you have any idea what you're getting yourself into, Zero?" His father said, his voice vibrating off the walls. "You do know you will never make it out there. You are just a little boy Zero. You need to understand that you can't always live with your head above the clouds."

"I am not a little boy anymore father. I'm 18 years old for crying out loud and yes I do understand that this dream may not work, but I still want to chase after it than continue pursuing a career that I don't love. You may love what you're doing, but don't you think it's unfair to continuously force your own kids to follow in your footsteps? Well sorry to break it to you dad, but I won't let you do that to me anymore."

"Fine, do as you wish. But, let me warn you that once you leave that front door don't think you will be welcomed back here so easily."

"Is that a threat father, or a promise?" Zero said before slamming the door shut to his once luxurious life as a model.

"Hey Zero…!"

Zero turned his gaze to Cross.

"Were you even paying attention to me?" Kaien asked, pouting like a four year old who had been ignored by their parents.

"Ah, sorry Cross…you were saying?"

"I was asking whether you had spoken to him or not since that time four years ago."

"No I haven't. But, I did hear that my mother has been trying to get in contact with me for the past two years."

"Then why haven't you responded to her?"

"How can I? I mean I made the women cry for god sake. I don't think I will be able to bear with the guilt if I talked to her again."

"Fair enough, I understand. But, have you considered what I told you."

"You mean the chance to become even more famous and to outshine my father? You know, I never thought a chance like this will ever come." Zero smiled. "Okay Cross, you got yourself a deal."

"Good…now here is an invitation to a black and white affair party that one of my old colleagues is holding tonight."

"Okay, but why do I have to attend." Zero questioned, looking at the invitation quizzically.

"Because the model you will be working with shall be there and not to mention it will be so much fun!" Kaien answered cheerfully, causing Zero to roll his eyes in response.

"I suggest you wear white since it brings out the color of your eyes." Kaien said walking to the door. "See you tonight my shining star."

Zero snorted at the old name his ex-agent use to call him when he was a model back in the day, but now those childish memories were things in the past that he chose to forget.

"White you say? I guess I will wear just that."

-0-

The night had finally arrived and Zero was traveling through the crowd snapping a few pictures here and there at the chatting and dancing people.

The two plain colors of the many tuxedos and dresses reminded him of the black and white pieces of a chessboard. Zero never really liked the idea of a Black & White affair. The colors were too dull and over used for his liking. Zero never really was a person to have his wardrobe base solely on those genres. Zero did hold his do and don'ts as a person brought up in the fashion world.

Zero was busy taking a snap-shot of the orchestra when a sudden pair of hands wrapped themselves around his waist and it wasn't until the voice of a girl spoke did Zero realize who it was.

"Brother, I've missed you so much."

"Maria?" Zero said, turning around until he was faced with his fifth teen years old sister Maria wearing a short black Lolita dress. "My god, you've grown since the last time I saw you. I believe it was a year ago when you came to Paris for a photo shoot."

"Of course I grew, I'm a whole year older now silly."

"Yes you are and you look pretty as always. Did you come here alone again?"

"Um…well about that Zero-nii. I am not exactly alone this time." Maria began to say when another female voice spoke amongst the chatting crowd.

"Zero-chi, is that you?"

Zero looked up to see his mother and father both making their way towards him. His mother was still as beautiful as he could remember; her usual straight grayish white hair that reached down to the middle of her back was done in curls. Her pinkish eyes and cherry red lips was as captivating as always, almost everywhere she went people would always say she was a reincarnation of the goddess of love Aphrodite and her amazing acting skills was worthy of her Oscar winning titles.

Zero's father was also quite handsome too, but then Zero and his siblings were exactly the mirror image of their father with the exception that Maria shared a completely different eye color like their mother but hers was gray.

"Yes it is you my little Zero-chi." Zero's mother said as she wrapped her arms around his neck, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. "Mama's been so worried about you. How've you been? Then again that's a stupid question to ask since I read the magazine you were in yesterday when we arrived. Maria was the one who spotted it first and you should have seen the face I made when I saw that you were on the cover of a magazine."

"She practically fainted." Ichiru teased, as he came up from behind her.

Zero gave his brother a firm handshake. "Good to see you bro."

"Likewise."

Ichiru had grown taller since the last time Zero saw him and his hair grew too. Yet he was still the same twin he knew and love.

"Daisuke aren't you happy to see our son?"

Zero instantly stilled at the name of his father before he turned around and met him face to face.

"Seems like you're doing better than I thought you would."

"Why'd you think I was going to fail at becoming a photographer and come back running home to you?"

"Yea, I pretty much did."

"You know father, white is really not your color. Perhaps trying to wear black is better, I think that it works best with your black heart." Zero relied, unwrapping his mother's arms from around him. "It was great to see you mother, you look more beautiful the more I see you and Maria I'll talk to you later."

Zero walked away from his family without looking back.

"That selfish old bastard. Who the hell does he thinks he is anyways." Zero mumbled angrily to himself. "I'll show him for sure that I don't need him. I'll show them all that I don't need to ride daddy's coat tails any longer."

Zero took another sip from his white wine. After the unfriendly encounter with his father, Zero wanted a place to cool himself off and decided the balcony was a best fit and taking two wine glasses from a nearby waiter, he made his way to the balcony.

Yet, the quietness that began surrounding Zero was interrupted with a giggle from a girl somewhere behind him. Zero looked to his left to see two people (most likely a girl and boy) entangled in each other's arms. The male had the girl up against the brick wall with one of the girls legs wrapped around his waist. At first the girlish giggles was easy to handle, but it soon transformed into moans and silent pleas.

'Disgusting! How can they do something like that in such a place?' Zero thought to himself. 'I guess I better find me a better place to cool off.'

As he was turning to leave his hand accidently knocked over the second wine glass that was sitting on the balcony's railing. The glass filled with the yellowish-gold liquid crashed beside his feet, Zero knew even without looking up that the sound most defiantly had caught the attention of the two. Yet, out of habit Zero looked up to see the couple both looking straight at him as he had thought. The stare from the female was quite intense as if telling him to 'piss off' which Zero was gladly to do.

"S-sorry about that, I'll just go and leave you two to your uh…duty." Zero said and quickly left before any of them were to say anything to him.

Zero spent the last half hour talking with some old friends from his modeling days and trying his best to ignore the constant watch of his father who was eyeing him like a hawk. After about five more minutes, Zero decided to head to the men's bathroom where he knew his father won't dare to go if not wanting to seem like a pervert to others.

Zero gave a breath of relief at the solitude the bathroom gave him.

"This day is not going how I thought it would, not to mention I have yet to find Cross's model. Maybe he decided not to come? No matter, I guess this is a good time to call it a night."

Zero turned on the facet and let the water run for a little before cupping a hand full and splashing it against his face.

Due to the sound of the running water, Zero didn't hear the click of the door being locked or the soft footsteps of the new occupant of the bathroom as he walked to the sink besides Zero.

Zero was feeling around the counter for the stack of folded towels when his hand came upon something warm and soft to the touch, almost like a female's thigh. Yet, that couldn't be possible since Zero was in a boy's bathroom. Zero took a step back once he noticed what he was touching was actually a male's thigh.

"Oh my, you don't even know my name and yet you're already touching me." The man smiled.

"Sorry I didn't mean to, I was looking for the towels."

"There is no need to be sorry. You have quite the firm grip in that left hand of yours. Pretty big in size too, no wonder the wine glass fell."

"Wine glass?" Zero thought for a second before it finally came to him. "Wait, you're that guy from the balcony earlier!"

Zero stared in shock at the man leaning against the marble counter, his arms crossed over his chest and dark sunglasses covering his eyes. The man was wearing a completely black tuxedo with a white tie; his wavy brown hair came to his shoulders. Zero had to admit the guy was drop dead gorgeous.

"Yes I am and I hope you don't mind me saying so, but you are really cute up close."

"Uh…thank you for the compliment, but I really have to go and sorry for touching you." Zero said as he made his way around the man's legs to the door, but the man was too quick and blocked his way.

"Aw, leaving so soon. But I haven't received a taste of my dessert yet."

"D-dessert?"

"I haven't had the pleasure of tasting such a cute man before and when I saw you, my taste buds went wild. So I just had to have a taste of that delicious looking body of yours."

Each time the man took a step forward Zero took a step back until his back was up against the pale colored tiled wall of the bathroom. Zero tried to side step the man, but that ended him with his hands held above his head by the man's left hand.

"No where to go, my sweet tart." The man purred beside Zero's ear.

"Let me go." Zero warned.

"But why? When I finally have you in front of me."

"Sorry, but I don't wish to be."

The brunette stilled for a moment, making it a perfect chance for Zero to escape.

"I usually never have to do this but…" Zero freed one of his hands from the man's grip and connected it to brunette's face causing him to step back, Zero quickly ran toward the door.

"S-sorry mister but you left me no choice." Zero said running out the bathroom door.

The man remained still for a few moments before bursting out laughing, placing an arm over his stomach. The laughter soon died down when he felt the presence of someone else.

"And to think I gave you two the perfect chance to mingle with each other. Yet, here you go ruining such a chance." Kaien said disapprovingly.

"Sorry, but I had to make sure he was the right one."

"So you had to tease the poor soul in order to do that? Gees…Kaname, can't you just tell by the face."

"He does have a twin Kaien, so I had no choice but to do it my way."

"So is he the right one then?"

Kaname raised his hand up to his right cheek and gave another chuckle, "No doubt this one is definitely him."

TBC…