HERE IT ISS!! Be warned though, if you didn't read The Coward, you're going to be totally lossst!! So please read the first story before reading this one. Because you will be lost if you didn't. :3

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"Shiiro, Zero?" I asked to find them in the beat up living room of Nightshade's apartment. Shiiro had been living in Nightshade's apartment for a while now, and he'd been getting along just fine, happy to have freedom. I'd warned him to be careful, especially since I couldn't guarantee the Niji Brothers weren't looking for him again. I had to expect them to be, at least. On days off, Zero and I would go and visit my brother, just checking up on his well-being. Usually I went out and did his grocery shopping for him, at the risk of someone unwanted seeing him. Zero had been getting along exceptionally well with my brother, and Shiiro had taken me aside a few weeks ago, and told me he was looking forward to having Zero as a brother-in-law. I'd rolled my eyes, sickened he'd even consider his sister getting married. Not saying I didn't plan on getting married...Shiiro just wasn't the person I needed advice from in that department. Or hinting nudges.

"What?" They both asked in unison, and looked up at me.

"Oh, nothing." I murmured, waving my hand dismissively.

"Nothing my sorry-" Zero began, but I cut him off.

"Nothing." I insisted, convincing him to drop the subject.

Of course, it was never nothing, was it? No, of course not. I went into the other room, and leaned up against the wall, right beside the door. I looked up at the water-stained ceiling, and twiddled my thumbs out of boredom. Boredom…and deep thought. I shut my eyes, trying my hardest not to eavesdrop. What did guys talk about, anyways? I wasn't sure why, but it almost bothered me that Zero and my brother had gotten so close. I swallowed the little lump in my throat, and fiddled with my necklace around my neck. Shiiro had gotten it for me not too long after his release. It was for all of my birthdays that he'd missed. He wasn't aware on what day it was on, nobody was. My next birthday was on it's way, and was only about a week from today. I didn't plan on informing anyone of this, though. No need to start anything…

"Zero…maybe we should leave now…" It wasn't a day off, and we had to get back to the school before our prefect rounds. If anyone became aware we were missing…

"Of course." Zero said, looking a little surprised. He stood up from the chair he was sitting in. Before Shiiro had moved in, I'd imagined that a cloud of dust might have aroused. But Shiiro had been taking immaculate care of the place, and it looked better than ever. "Come on, then…"

"Bye, guys." Shiiro said, smiling at us. He'd grown onto more modern slang, instead of his perfect grammar he'd used before. It sounded more natural, and it made him feel more like a brotherly figure. Shiiro began to latch up all of the locks on the door when we'd stepped out. There was a baby crying in the next apartment, and two parents yelling at one another. It was, in reality, a sad thing to hear. I prayed that wouldn't be me with my future husband. Assuming I'd get married. Shiiro had been ingraining the idea into my head for quite a while now…and I was getting curious.

As soon as we stepped out into the frigid winter winds, Zero wrapped his arm around my waist. "What's bugging you?" He whispered into my ear.

"Nothing…" I insisted, shutting my eyes.

"When you say nothing, it's always something, Aiki…" He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.

"Bite me." I said, sarcastically, almost inaudibly. I realized how defensive he'd get about that, thinking I was serious. I hoped it slipped past him.

"You know, it's awfully tempting." He said playfully, sticking his fingers inside of my turtleneck sweater. I'd noticed that ever since Yuuki left, Zero had had a little less angst. He wasn't always his miserable little being that he usually was…he had…moments.

"Cut it out…" I whined, desperately.

"Cut what out? Your throat?"

"What's the matter with you?" I asked, trying to pull away.

"You know how I get when I want answers. And since you aren't an enemy…I can't use force." He held onto me tighter. "So…I'm using a different approach."

"What? By-" He spun me around and kissed me quickly.

"Don't think I'm done with you yet…I'll get it out of you sooner or later…but you must be getting cold…let's get back to the academy first. They've probably discovered we aren't where we're supposed to be by now…"

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