Chapter 2
"Yuki, I know you know Kaien's number," Kaname growled into the phone, pacing his room with unspent energy. He had waited a week, thinking and letting his feelings churn before he had decided to call Kaien and ask about Zero. Unfortunately, the number had been disconnected, and the only one who would know his number now would be Yuki.
Or Yagari... but Kaname had a feeling Yagari wouldn't give anything away. Especially if he knew the reason.
"I'm so very sorry but I don't," Yuki spat in response. She had always been bitter towards him after they had divorced. He knew she would be scowling into the phone, maybe glaring at whatever was in front of her.
"Yuki... please give me Kaien's number," he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he fought the rising headache. "It's important."
"Then tell me what it is and I'll decide if it is 'important' or not," Yuki said, her tone sickly sweet.
He couldn't tell her. Kaname couldn't explain to her that for the past week he had been obsessing over Zero. And the fact that it was Zero of all people! Kaname could easily push it away as possessiveness. He never liked it when people used his things, even if they were long lost, and Zero was no different.
"Something of importance has been... tainted," Kaname finally replied, glaring at his dresser.
"What has been 'tainted'?" Yuki asked, her tone challenging. Kaname winced then sighed. He should have known Yuki would have asked that.
"Something that... belongs to me," Kaname replied, pausing before he said 'belongs'. Could he really say Zero belonged to him? A vampire-human bond was life long, but Zero didn't feel like his like he had once. And even all those years ago he still didn't feel completely his.
Kaname had always hated that. Zero had never listened to him, but he had always mocked him. Defied him. Kaname had never liked that, but he did respect Zero for it. He was the only vampire that would defy him and challenge him like he did.
"Like what? You have a lot of things that 'belong' to you, but this can't be a new pet of yours, right?" Yuki taunted, the faint shout of Anci carrying through the phone.
"You know I haven't taken anyone, Yuki," Kaname said, surprising himself by the way his voice sounded. Calm and collected, not furious and insulted. "Yuki, just give me his number," he demanded again, growing tired of his ex-wife's little antics.
"Well, you'll have to find Kaien the old fashioned way then now won't you?" she said brightly, then the line was cut. Kaname growled and threw the small phone in a sudden burst of anger, wincing when it bounced off of the bed and hit the wall. The device shattered, plastic, glass, and wires sliding out across the floor.
She's such a child, he thought, storming out of his bedroom and down the hallway to his study. As soon as he was in the room, he turned to one of the small moniters and quickly tapped Kaien's name into the machine, pursing his lips as he waited for results.
No results.
Kaname sighed and punched in the blond's old number, wondering if it would be under file somewhere. The same message came up.
"There's no way Kaien has gone into 'hiding'. Not with grand-kids " Kaname muttered, trying to think of any other name, or number, the man had once had. Kaien had always gone by Kaien Cross, only once had he changed it and it had been for fun. And Kaname was positive Kaien wouldn't remember it. Tilting his head to the side, Kaname typed in one more name that Kaien might have used, smiling lightly at its foolishness. Yet his search had been rewarded, surprising as it was.
Yagari Toga and Kaien Toga currently reside on Five-Six-Six Emersyn Elle lane, approximately one hour away from Takuma Ichijo.
"Great..." Kaname groaned, pushing away from the monitor and staring out of one of the windows. Zero wasn't really worth it. Takuma lived three hours away, so that meant his information source was four hours away. Four hours may not have seemed like a very long time, but Kaien was with Yagari, meaning it could be very hard to talk to him about Zero. Especially with Yagari around.
Zero was of no importance to him. The only thing the damned hunter had done was defy him and that was many years ago. Kaname had gotten over it, grown to accept it... right? He had kids, he had experienced marriage. All Zero had probably done was get over a fight between them and then run to Kaito for comfort.
Yet as Kaname thought this, he already had his keys in his hand and was staring towards the car. Maybe if he just knew where Zero was, or even how he had been the past few years his curiosity could be satisfied...
*.*.*
"Kaname?" Kaien hissed, eyes wide with surprise.
"Long time no see," Kaname said, regarding the other man lazily. He hadn't changed a bit.
"How did you... Why did you-"
"How? Technology these days. You can find anybody. Why? I need to ask a favor of you," Kaname replied smoothly, staring levelly at Kaien. "But Yagari can't be within earshot," he added softly. The other man's eyes narrowed in suspicion at this, but he nodded anyway.
"He's out at the moment. What do you need me to do?" he asked slowly. Kaname leaned against the doorway, understanding that Kaien wasn't planning on letting him in. At the same time, Kaname did not care to go inside anyway, but he wondered if Kaien really was so far from him now that he wasn't allowed in.
"I need you to tell me about Zero. Where he is as well," he finally said, trying to keep his face blank as the blond's face darkened, surprise and complete suspicion filling his features.
"I can't tell you that. I have no place to, and you have no right to know," Kaien started softly. "I refuse to tell after he's just starting to improve in both his physical and mental health," he added, then a hand flew to his mouth and his groaned. Even the old hunter could realize his mistake.
"Improve?" Kaname repeated, genuinely interested. "His mental and physical health aren't good?"
"Kaname, I think it's best that you go back to forgetting about Zero," Kaien sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Kaien, tell me. I need to know," Kaname protested, hoping his tone would be enough to convince the hunter.
"You want to know, you don't need to. There's a difference," Kaien chuckled, eyeing him sternly. "I'll answer one question, but you will not be finding him through me. And you won't be able to find him through your little devices. He's one of the few that are Hidden," he added darkly. Kaname just sighed in frustration.
Hidden was a term for the very few that were 'protected'. They couldn't be found through anything unless you had the direct address to their home. Not even following would get you there, the Hidden were literally protected. Usually this honor went to Pureblood's who were in danger, serious danger, or honored (though the correct term could be 'legendary') hunters, and the hunters were extremely rare. Maybe one or two, not counting Zero and Kaito. How Zero's accident with Kaname got both him and Kaito on the Hidden list was beyond him though.
"I'm sure you remember that last fight you and Zero had," Kaien started, waiting until Kaname nodded. "Well... he didn't come out of the hospital... sane, for lack of a better term. He wasn't crazed, far from it, he just... withdrew. He didn't eat unless forced, and even then that was a huge struggle. It got to the point that we could only feed him by sedating him, and when he was too weak he just stopped fighting. The fight was still in him, he just couldn't act on that will.
"His health was poor, and he didn't speak for quite a long time, Kaname. He couldn't live on his own, and I couldn't take care of him, so Kaito stepped in. Zero had been against it, not clearly stating it, but he'd really fight. He'd rage and scream, insisting that he could live alone. Though what fascinated me the most was that the whole time he'd scream your name." Kaien laughed softly as he concluded his explanation, though it was apparent that there was much more.
"Kaien... Zero-"
"It was worse than that little explanation, Kaname. It took quite a few years before he even became weak, and even more after that to convince him to move in with Kaito. What happened in between all the other big events were much smaller events. Well, small to the others, huge to you and I," the blond interrupted. "Now I want my own answer to my own question," he said.
"... What?" Kaname asked after a small hesitation. He couldn't believe that fight had had such a huge effect. They had both ended up in the hospital, though it was true Zero had suffered from more fatal wounds, yet Zero came out... broken?
"Why the sudden interest in Zero? It's been such a long time, and I'm sure you haven't thought about him until now," Kaien questioned.
"I saw him recently," Kaname replied softly, making sure he gave as little away as possible.
"When?" Kaien exclaimed, eyebrows drawn together from amazement and disbelief. "I haven't seen him for years!"
"Takuma's little annual party..." Kaname sighed, trying to brush his hair out of his face. He stared at Kaien flatly, hoping the hunter would know something about it.
"I didn't know anything about that... but Kaito doesn't keep me filled in anymore, so go figure," Kaien snorted with a roll of his eyes and a small toss of his head to get the blond strands out of his face.
"So you don't know if Zero is... content...?" Kaname asked, his voice quiet as he thought.
"Kaname, I'm not telling you where he and Kaito live, but I do know he is getting better," Kaien said shortly, his patience obviously growing thin. "Okay, that may be a stretch. Lets say on a scale from one to ten, ten being the worst, he's still a ten. A ten point nine, but that's still less than he was," Kaien admitted.
"I don't like him being with Kaito," Kaname growled, glaring at one of the bushes. Kaien's eyes widened in surprise, and Kaname realized he hadn't meant to let that slip out.
"Kaname..." Kaien chuckled. "What has gotten into you?" he asked, one eyebrow arching in curiosity.
"Just... please, tell me where he is, Kaien," Kaname breathed, closing his eyes to fight the rising headache.
Really, the Cross family can be so stubborn, he thought.
"You need to let the wounds heal," Kaien said softly. "In this case... they may never heal, but-"
"It was a huge misunderstanding, Kaien," Kaname interrupted. "A huge misunderstanding... we got into a fight, we injured each other. I'll even admit I injured him badly, and that I was the one who took his eyesight, but I didn't cause whatever he's going through now. The mental suffering," he said quietly.
"Kaname-"
"For the last time, Kaien, tell me where he is. Zero is mine. Not some pathetic hunter's," Kaname growled, glaring at the startled man. "I won't tolerate my possession being toyed with by someone else. Someone beneath me. Zero is my mistake, and I want to fix it."
"You really are a Pureblood, aren't you?" Kaien laughed, though his voice wavered. "But Zero isn't yours. You were very oblivious to him back then, you still are, and though your blood connection may be there, he is in no way yours anymore."
"Anymore?" Kaname repeated, eyebrows drawn together in confusion. He had just implied... He had just implied something big, and Kaname wanted to know what. Though he knew there would be no direct answer. Kaien just chuckled in response to that.
"You know what, Kaname. I think I'll tell you where Kaito works. He always has Zero with him. Like a pet," he said, putting emphasis on 'pet' and making Kaname growl softly. "But that's because Zero cannot be left alone. If you can redeem yourself, which will be impossible, Kaname, you may just get the teeniest tiniest access to Zero's life. In the impossible chance that that does happen, you can have Zero tell you himself."
"What's the address?"
Kaname left immediately after getting the address to Kaito's job, already thinking of a time that would be best to go. He'd need to chose a day Kaito was there, but would just so happen to be out for a while. Kaito could easily ruin things. Though, Kaname knew it couldn't get any worse. Not in the least, and visiting Zero might be a huge mistake and deepen the wounds between them.
But Kaname wanted what was his. He wanted to right his wrong, and he'd be damned if he couldn't at least do that.
A/N= Oh~ Lucky you guys, an update! *le gasp!* How'd you like the Yagari/Kaien side pairing mention? I may bring that into more focus later, not major pairing, just a little side treat ^.^
Oh, and I want to say that although this is in our dear Kaname-kun's point of view, I thought I'd let you know that I'm going to start out from Zero's for the next chapter. 50/50 chance it'll be the whole chapter or just half *shrugs* It depends, since I am known to jump from characters. Though I was told that Kaname would be the major POV, that's what this shall be ^^ So Zero will be a rare little treat that will be used sometimes. (When I find that it'll be easier to start with him and such)
Responses~
HoldOnAngel- No mistakes, huh? *HOLYSHITSOMEONEWRITETHISDOWN RIGHTNOW! It'saneffingmiracle* (who can read that?) That's amazing, cuz I was in such a hurry that I just typed it out after brief thought. Didn't even proof read it. And perhaps Kaito/Zero is indeed sadism... but we all know this won't be a permanent thing... will it? *confused for a moment/dark chuckle* I love teasing you people~
ben4kevin- *sighs in relief* So glad you like it, and I hope you will continue to be satisfied ^^
irmina- Nice username- It has my middle name in it~! *laughs/clears throat* Sorry I couldn't cover all of what you asked in this chapter (I don't think I even covered a little bit of it xD). I need to draw this out of course, but I did hope I shed some light on a few more mysteries *throws mysteries to the already big pile, adding more to it*
Strawberry Sauce- Never apologize for asking questions. I LOVE that. Though you'll just torture yourself because I rarely answer questions unless I have no reason to hide them (this is very rare hahaha) ;D And when I do they're very vague answers that give nothing away and make you wonder more :P
KazeChi- Don't worry I can't die ^^ Too young, too many story ideas I need to see to (I am about to have FIVE going all at once! What the hell is wrong with me?! lol) And it will all be revealed in due time~
*takes a deep breath* Wow~ Thank you guys so much for the reviews/follows/favorites, may we keep them coming? I LOVE them. And I can honestly say that I was surprised a good chunk of you guys told me not to die because of the no error thing xD Nice to know people read these things and care for me
-They just love you for your stories...-
*narrows eyes/laughs nervously* That other side of my thoughts, huh? Funny ain't it?
Also, before I end this A/N, I want to tell you guys that read my some of my stories that are incomplete, and those of you reading this one, I am updating EVERYTHING on December 25th. I will FORCE myself to get everything done so I can do a little Christmas present thing for you guys, so a chapter will be on Christmas! Or before, or after, depends on where you are :P
Leave me your love? *coughs*aka, reviews favorites, follows, etc ;D*coughs*
Snow Whites Poison Kiss