This chapter starts right from where we were in the last chapter.

Chapter 4

Already shaken off the strange feeling he got in the private partition, Zero rushed back with determination to do his best. Taking a deep breath, he announced his entry and with a plate full of his yudofu ingredients and a ceramic bowl, he took his seat and apologized for making them wait. Without losing time, he heated one of the in-built stoves and with a bowed head, he started his preparations.

As the other two occupants of the table were immersed in a talk among themselves, Kaname chose to watch Zero prepare the first course of the night. Tonight, Zero was wearing a deep purple colored kimono, and his obi was a golden one, gently wrapping around his middle with colorful cords hanging from his sides. The motif of the kimono was the same, cranes taking flight before a mountainous scenery. But somehow, he looked really different from the rest of the staff with that striking lilac eyes of his and his silvery hair, adorned with a lush, white rose. Zero had been wearing extensions since the opening night and long strands of silver hair were coming down from the loose bun on his nape.

Kaname certainly thought that there was something very different about Zero, but he didn't even realize that he was indeed a male. Sure, Zero's voice was a little low and rich to belong to a female and he was really tall compared to the average girls Kaname saw around, but that was all. Kaname was clearly intrigued by him, but not because of the reason Zero feared of.

He watched Zero put the ceramic bowl on the stove, green konbu already soaked in it. His pale long hands were chopping the blocks of silk tofu with expertise whilst he waited for the water to boil. Zero heated up the other stove next to him, on which a sheet metal was built and poured some soy oil on the grill and dumped half of the cut tofu to fry them. Kaname raised an eyebrow.

"I have never heard of fried tofu in a yudofu, Kiryuu-san." He commented. Zero raised his head to look at the owner of the deep voice and found Kaname skeptically surveying his work.

"I am sure you'll like it, sir." He murmured with a neutral tone.

"It is Kuran." Kaname quipped calmly, continuing his observation. "I will add the fried bits first, Kuran-san." Zero went on, hands deftly frying the tofu on the one side, while he prepared the main sauce on the other. "By the time I add the raw tofu, the fried ones will be softened a bit, but still seem meaty on the tongue."

For a stronger flavor, Zero decided to make niban-dashi, using the already ready-to-use dashi that he brought along. Putting another small bowl on the stove, he poured his dashi mix in it and added a piece of kelp and some bonito flakes and let it reach to a boiling level. He took out his fried tofu and put them into the main soup. When they simmered enough, he added the raw tofu and took his dashi pot from the stove.

The dashi stock was ready in less then ten seconds thanks to Zero's quick and sure movements and truth be told, Kaname was amazed. He had never seen such sure elegance in a female cook.

"How long have you been a cook?" He asked Zero. Zero looked up from his work, even though his hands were still busy with mixing the dipping sauce on the stove. There was a pleasant look in Kaname's eyes and it stole Zero's attention for a moment. The brunette's eyes were soulful and calm but Zero refused to believe that they were sincere.

"For as long as I remember, I have been cooking, Kuran-san." His reply drew the others' attention, too.

"You are a young person, how long could it possibly be?" Kain asked.

Zero heated together some soy sauce, sweet sake and the dashi he had made and turned off the stove. "I have been earning my living doing this job since I was five." He added. That made her patrons raise their eyebrows at him in astonishment. But it was true. Zero had worked in the orphanage's cafeterias for money since the time he knew he could hold a knife without cutting himself.

"So you are a hard worker..." Kaname commented, eyes languidly following Zero's every movement as he poured the soup into three bowls, shared the dipping sauce in small ceramic cups. Zero's eyes flitted to Kaname's face and he thought he saw an appraising gleam in his eyes for a moment.

"Well, let's see if your hard work is also delicious." The brunette urged Zero to make his service.

With slightly shaking hands, Zero passed the bowls, topped with bonito flakes and chopped scallions. He placed the dipping sauces near them and asked Kain if he wanted something different in his soup before he handed him his service.

"Please add my bowl some grated radish instead of those flake things."

"You sure have weird tastes, Kain." Takuma smiled and took a tofu from his bowl and dipped it into the warm sauce. Zero prepared Kain's order and quickly went for filling the sake cups behind his patron's seating as they began to ate.

Kaname wasn't even hearing them, he was openly gazing at the neckline of Zero as the latter bent slightly forward to fill his cup.

It was so pale and smooth looking, brushed lightly by those silky looking silver strands and adorned with the leaves of the rose in his hair. She smelled good, too... Like... lilacs.

Eyes widening, Kaname immediately reached for his sake cup and drunk a huge gulp from it, the rich taste of the chilled sake burning his throat. Zero, realizing that Kaname's cup needed to be filled again, turned back and sat beside the brunette to fill his cup, unaware that Kaname hadn't even tasted his soup but been single-mindedly watching him.

Catching himself in the middle of something he had never done before, Kaname furrowed his brows and waved his hand to indicate Zero to leave it. With wide eyes that clearly betrayed his confusion against Kaname's reaction, Zero stood up and went to his place, wondering what was wrong this time. Shaking his head slightly at himself, he decorated the table with the accompanying small cold dishes and waited for his patrons' first comments before he left for the ingredients of the main course.

Kain clearly expressed his delight and asked Zero to leave the chilled sake on the table before he left. Takuma told him that he especially liked the fried tofu bits in it and praised the strong flavor of his sauce that went well with the cold sake. Kaname didn't even raise his head or look at him. He simply nodded and declared with a sour face that it was alright.

Zero bowed his head slightly and thanked them, all the while gritting his teeth and forcing himself to smile. He collected the used dishes and put the sake down near Kain's side, leaving the room with a pain in his chest. What did I do wrong this time?

Was Kaname purposefully being difficult or was there really a problem with his soup? Or maybe he wasn't being polite enough... Was he talking a lot or were his comments boring? Maybe he wasn't making small talk enough...

Zero bit on his lip in agitation. He had never felt like this before. Of course, in the past he had dealt with many fastidious patrons who were even ready to start a fight. He had never taken it upon himself personally if the food he presented was criticized or not liked. But this was different. Even though some of the ingredients he used were the ready-to-use kind, it was he who cooked them and turned them into a proper meal. Why he had to feel personally offended just because a simple soup wasn't well received? He didn't know.

As he was rushing back with Kaname's and Kain's orders, he ran into Yuuki who was returning with an empty silver tray. He was told that Shiki and Aido were going to help him as their rooms had no reservations tonight. Zero realized that Yuuki was also serving around the regular area. Was he the only person getting tormented tonight? He thanked her and rushed back.

Entering the private area again, Zero found the trio engaged in to a quiet chat meanwhile they continued with their soup and starters. Without losing time, Zero heated up two stoves and placed one ceramic bowl over one of them and a skillet over the one closer to Kaname. He was at least going to start with Kain's and Kaname's orders before Aido and Shiki came to his aid.

"Kiryuu-san." It was Kaname again.

Zero raised his head and saw that at least the sour look was now gone from the brunette's eyes. "Yes, Kuran-san?"

"Can you make the main dishes enough to serve us all? I also want to taste udon and beef teriyaki." Zero looked at him like a deer caught in the head lights. Yes, Kaname was being difficult intentionally and very much enjoying it. Was there a challenging gleam in his garnet eyes, too? Yes... The brunette was trying to rile him up. But Zero was no child.

"Of course, Kuran-san." He pointedly ignored the brunette male by turning to the other two who were watching their friend with somehow uneasy looks and asked them if they would also like to have a taste of yose nabe. The blonds numbly nodded their heads and Zero smiled. Guessing something like this might happen, Zero had already brought the ingredients enough for three.

"I will start with Kuran-san and Kain-san's orders and another server will shortly bring in your order, sir." Zero bowed at Takuma.

"It is Takuma, Kiryuu-san. And it is alright, don't worry." Takuma beamed. Zero thought that this blond was really a good and likable guy compared to the brunette demon sitting beside him. Without ado, he turned to his task and filled both of the pots using the leftover dashi from the soup, since he had made lots of it just for this reason. Leaving the bowls to boil, he made a generous mix from sweet sake, sugar, and soy sauce for the udon and poured it into the dashi in the ceramic bowl. Turning to the skillet, he did the same, replacing the sugar with salt and also adding acidic sake to the mix.

Though he was still talking with his friends, Kaname's focus was on Zero and he was getting agitated just because of the simple ease with which the silver haired server was dividing his attention. Zero wasn't even listening to them, they were talking about some stock exchange related business junk, but he was aware of Kaname's eyes on him. How could someone, who had seemed like an amiable person at the first sight, be this much intimidating?

Just as he began to feel uneasy due to the intense garnet gaze that dissected him, he heard Aido's voice and raising his head, he smiled softly and brilliantly without even knowing. Kaname felt his lips part at the sight in awe, forgetting even what he was planning to say as an answer to one of Takuma's questions. What was happening to him? He frowned, immediately averting his narrowed down eyes.

With his soft but cheerful voice Aido entered, Shiki tagging behind him, their arms full with teriyaki and salad ingredients that Zero had ordered before. At last, the focus of the patrons diverted from Zero and he took a relaxed breath. He opened room for his friends, nodding at them and telling Aido that he was to make udon with the already boiling broth and Shiki was to prepare the teriyaki on the sheet metal stove near him.

"Make them all enough for three persons, okay?" Zero asked with a purposefully hushed voice, mindful of not using neither their aliases nor their actual names. They nodded their heads and started their work.

Handing him the deep fried tofu pieces and the sauce that Aido was going to use for making his udon, Zero concentrated on his own work. Finally, his skillet was boiling, too. Zero poured some of his mix in the skillet and started adding six generous pieces of salmon and six clams in it, leaving them to simmer a bit before he would add the other things. Meanwhile, Aido was boiling the tofu to get rid of the excess oil from them and Shiki was making the teriyaki sauce as he fried six medium sized pieces of fat-less sirloin beef, already marinated with sauce.

Their patrons ceased all small talk and watched them with rapt attention. Their performers were so quick with their hands, all minding their business. But Zero, who was obviously the most experienced one there, was handing them anything they might need even before the other two asked for them, all the while doing his own job.

"You work in such a tandem that one might actually think that you have been cooking together even before getting a job here." Takuma observed. Zero smiled at him softly, with precise order he was adding the other things, waiting for them to simmer according to a clock in his head. And during those time intervals, he busied himself by making several kinds of salads.

"That's right, sir. We can prepare different things as we mind what the other is also doing." Shiki provided calmly. He started to boil his mix made of sake, sweet sake, brown sugar and ginger juice, adding a bit of corn starch. His beefs were nearly done. "Would you prefer them overdone or medium rare, sir?" He asked, his maroon bangs covering his one eye, thanks to the way Yuuki brushed them.

Takuma was obviously enjoying what he was seeing and he wasn't even hiding it, there was a kind smile on his face as he uttered a subdued "All medium rare, please..." Shiki continued with pouring the ready sauce on the frying pieces of meat, unaware that Takuma's soft green eyes were observing him with a gentle expression in them.

Aido dried his tofu and got up to get more noodles from the shelves to add the sum Zero had ordered before, since it wasn't enough for three. When he returned, he asked Kain if he would like any other thing in his udon. Kain leaned forward, one elbow placed on his knee, chin resting on his hand with a strange gleam in his eyes. "Would you recommend something to me, Miss?" He drawled with a lazy lift of his lips.

Aido stilled for a few seconds by the look he encountered in the fiery blond's eyes. What the hell? An eyebrow twitching, Aido smiled nervously. "Maybe some soy beans or fried mushrooms and carrot or onion rings?" He offered.

Kain's smirk widened upon the effect he caused on Aido. "Why not you put all of them?" He asked with his deep voice, making Aido cringe and Zero to look up at him. If the devilish intention written on this Kain person's face was any indication, he was clearly trying to flirt with Aido. How fantastic... These young men were certainly a weird bunch and Zero's displeasure slipped off his neutral mask slightly.

"Is anything the matter, Kiryuu-san?" Kaname asked with an amused face. Caught unawares, Zero immediately schooled his expression and added the final ingredients to his skillet, which were shiitakes and enoki mushrooms. "No, sir." He murmured, facing Kaname's luminous eyes.

But Kaname was no fool, he clearly had seen the disapproval shown on Zero's face when Kain inevitably acted himself. Obviously, these three were friends and Zero was the one who felt himself responsible of them. Though Kaname looked amused by the display of emotions on his silver haired server's delicate face, he also secretly accepted that he esteemed Zero's thoughtfulness towards the other workers, friends or not.

"It will be ready in a few minutes, would you all like to start with nabe?" Zero turned to Kaname and received a silent nod. He decorated two bowls of rice with the seaweed cucumber salad and one bowl with a radish carrot salad and served them, giving the last one to Kain. On the table, he set pickled plums and served hot sake that he heated under his stove and started to serve the nabe.

The patrons, each receiving a plate of salmon, cabbage, mushrooms all decorated with parsley and chrysanthemum greens, started their meal again. Immediately, Kain's and Takuma's faces brightened up, showing their delight.

"Oh, this is cooked just perfectly, Kiryuu-san!" Takuma's face was shining with a big smile. Zero felt elated. Kain took a bite from his specially made salad and grinned. "Hmm... Radish goes well with salmon, too..." He muttered, pleased for getting special treatment.

Kaname silently took small bites from his nabe, rice and cucumber salad, imbibing a small sip from his hot, strong sake with a serious face. He turned to Zero, who was watching him with pride in his eyes.

"Do you think nabe is made like this?" He asked to his server sternly. Zero's face immediately fell, lilac eyes widening. What? Fumbling for words, he muttered with slight trepidation. "Is it not good, Kuran-san?"

Kaname narrowed down his eyes, the room silencing at once. Takuma and Kain were gazing at him with wide eyes. "Kaname, this is wonderful... The salads, the seafood... What is wrong?" Kain asked.

"Hand me a new set of chopsticks." Kaname ordered to a blanching Zero. Shiki, who was closer to the drawers under the stoves, handed Zero a new set on a napkin. Zero passed them to Kaname with a slightly trembling hand.

Distracted by the small patch of skin revealed when Zero's sleeve fell back, Kaname grabbed the chopsticks and took a small mushroom and cabbage piece with it from his bowl and stretched his arm to Zero.

"Here, taste it and see yourself." He demanded with a low voice. Zero stilled, unable to understand the situation fully. Kaname was trying to feed something to him from his own bowl? He could very well have ordered him to take a serving for himself from the skillet.

"Eat this." Kaname insisted, face a complete mask of displeasure and fury.

Shiki was observing the situation with calm yet hardened eyes, Aido with open shock and anger. Zero did what was the best thing to do and he leaned in, rising on his knees, gracefully stretching his pale neck, long hair bits thumbling over his shoulders and a napkined-hand raising up to catch any stray drops of sauce from falling on the floor. With an inward satisfaction, Kaname watched the scene he presented. Zero was a like swan, caught and subdued with those worry filled, bright eyes of his. Feeding him, Kaname kept his dark eyes on the parting lush lips, with the hunger and attention of a hawk.

But Zero was too troubled to realize the way he was being eyed. He accepted the morsel, hating the every millisecond of it, and returned to his earlier position, chewing slowly.

What was this man talking about? It tasted delicious... The sauce was perfect, the chunks of vegetables were cooked just the right way.

Bewilderment clearly written in his eyes, he faced his patron. "Sir, I really don't understand..." He muttered. Kaname sighed exasperatedly and his face suddenly softened in an amused disappointment. "A cook who can't even tell what is wrong with her meal... Really Kiryuu-san, nabe is a simple dish but can both be delicious and horrible according to the one who cooks it, just as any other meal..." He shrugged elegantly, putting down his bowl and the used chopsticks by his side. "This certainly isn't horrible but it lacks a personal touch... And I am disappointed with the result."

"Kaname..." Takuma started. "That was harsh... This is certainly wonderful, cooked just the right amount and goes so well with the sake's flavor and the salads..."

"That's your taste, this is mine... It is as simple as that." Kaname opted for drinking his sake and eating his rice and salad. But Zero wasn't listening to him. He was fisting his hands on his lap and biting his lower lip, head bowed. The Chairman was right... He, too, was unable to detach himself from his work and took every comment on a personal level... He felt insulted.

"The teriyaki is ready, sir... If you like, I can service it for you." Shiki intervened and drew the attention to himself, trying to give Zero the time to collect himself.

"Serve it." Kaname nodded, his gaze lingering on Zero, waiting patiently for him to say or do something. True to his expectation, Zero raised his face and demanded the others to leave room in their stomachs to get another taste of his nabe. Bowing slightly, he excused himself and left the room.

Immediately after his leave, Kain furrowed his brows at his friend who was now eating teriyaki with a calm and guiltless face as if he hadn't just been cruel to some clueless worker for no reason. He turned his attention to something much more pleasent and entertainting, Aido, who was cutting pink and white skinned fish cake slices with a sour look on his face.

"Don't you think a dish prepared with such a look on your face would also taste sour, Miss?" He asked, trying to brighten up the mood. Aido startled and he was nearly cutting his finger. "Oh, easy... There is no hurry." Kain drawled with a smile.

Without knowing what to say, Aido apologized and looked up at Kain to find the same flirtatious glint in his brownish eyes. He gripped the knife in his hand harder and imagined himself cutting that grin off of his patron's lips. But it was Shiki, who spoke in his place, meticulously slicing the meat and decorating it with sauce. "Kiryuu-san will certainly find a way to make it suitable to your palate, too, Kuran-san." The -san part was obviously added as a gibe. "We are here to please your tastes and meet your standards... So, if you think that she has run away, you are mistaken... Please be patient with her and us."

Kaname hummed with an arched eyebrow and regarded Shiki. "From whom did you learn to make teriyaki, Miss?" He asked, taking a bite from Shiki's dish. "From Kiryuu-san." Shiki answered truthfully. "It certainly shows..." Kaname smiled deprecatingly.

Takuma sighed and leaned into his side for a moment of privacy. "Aren't you going too far, Kaname? This is so unlike you..." When he leaned back, he saw a mischievous tint in those garnet eyes, that spoke of something only Takuma could understand. "Fine... Do as you wish." The blond relented.

Shiki and Aido served their meals in silence and when Zero came in, he told them that if they had finished with their work they could go and aid the rest. Though neither Aido, nor Shiki wanted to leave their friend like that, their job was done and they knew that Zero could handle the rest. With slight bows the duo left the room, bidding a good evening to the diners.

"They could have stayed, Kiryuu-san, it was fun to see different faces." Kain sighed, already missing the blond haired, red kimono clad beauty that served to him. "And I couldn't even praise her for this delicious udon, such a pity..."

"You can relate her your compliments when they serve your deserts, Kain-san." Zero quipped, composed and neutral looking again.

"Ah, that would be very fine..." Kain nodded.

Zero checked his stove. The skillet was still hot, resting at a very low temperature, but the greenery was already lifeless and bad looking. He took them out, and left the rest. The occupants of the room were talking among themselves again, Kaname occasionally asking him to give this or that and Zero silently complying. I won't let this rest... I'll show him... Zero was fuming inside.

He started to prepare some sauce with the things he brought, even though nabe was not eaten with a dipping. In a few minutes' time he prepared three different mixes. Since he guessed that Kaname was someone who preferred mild and strong tastes, he made one sweet, one sour and one spicy mix. Using sweet sake, sesame oil, mushed pickled plums and ginger in the sweet one; using apple and rice vinegar, juice of cooked bonito flakes, lemon and garlic essence with a dash of cold acidic sake in the sour one... He meticulously prepared the third by cutting fresh mustard, leek, parsley and cress and then squeezing their juices into a bowl. He added a small dash of wasabi and soy sauce with a pinch of salt and mixed them all.

"Nabe can't be eaten with dipping sauces, Kiryuu-san..." Kaname spoke with that irritating languidness of his.

"Why not, sir? Is there a written law for how to eat one's nabe?" Zero challenged back. "I think you should give them a try... This time you won't be disappointed." He forced a smile laced with conviction.

"Alright... Serve then..." Kaname smiled back, but Zero felt cold to his core upon seeing it. He served new plates, distributed everything equally and put his sauces in three partitioned dipping saucers, replenishing the sake cups with chilled sake this time. Zero sat back and waited.

"Please try the clams and salmons with the green sauce. The mushrooms should go well with the sweet and clear one. The other vegetables might go well with the sour one. Ah, and also try them with the salads this time, please..." Zero coaxed and observed them doing as he told.

"Wow..." Kain looked at him with bewilderment. "I have never tasted sauces like these... The nabe was good before, but with these, it is simply fantastic..." And he made a thumbs up gesture to amuse Zero, receiving a bow of thanks.

Takuma was openly humming in delight. "Kiryuu-san... Thanks for your efforts. This is the most unusual way to eat nabe but the most delicious one..." Zero sighed inwardly before turning to Kaname.

Kaname tasted them all, took a sip from his sake and gazed down at his expectant server. "Well... Certainly, I have never seen anything like this green sauce. It goes well with the sea food. But..." He drew a hand through his dark locks and averted his eyes on the table. "I think amending for a poor taste in the nabe with some unheard of sauces which in fact should not be serviced with this dish is a cheap trick."

Zero sat with parted lips, shock written all over his face. For a moment, he simply looked at Kaname with a stupefied expression, eyes completely absorbed by the garnet eyes of his patron. With trembling lips he tried to smile and bowed his head a bit. "I am sorry to disappoint, sir." He murmured, swallowing a lump in his throat, mind at a loss.

"Look at my face." Kaname demanded. And Zero raised his head with a dazed expression upon the tone and the choice of words Kaname used. "You can improve, so, work harder..." Kaname said, but his face told otherwise. Zero was understanding something completely different. You call yourself the head-waitress? Such a pity and disappointment....

"Yes, Kuran-san..." He whispered. He didn't want to hear more. "Um... May I take your desert orders? The dance show is about to start..."

They gave their orders and Zero told them that in fifteen minutes he was to return with their deserts. He left with sagged shoulders and laden feet.

Kaname turned to his meal and hummed appreciatively as he ate Zero's dish, dipping the morsels in the sauces and rolling them on his tongue with apparent bliss etched on his features. His friends watched him with astonished looks, jaws open.

"You did everything on purpose, didn't you?" Takuma gasped. "You loved the meal yet turned to her and acted as if you hated it!" Kaname laughed softly. "Why, of course." Was all his reply before he took a few more quick bites from the salad and vegetables.

Even Kain was shocked. "Kaname, that girl might be crying now. Even I wouldn't force such a beautiful girl's face to show those emotions... What you did was really wrong on so many levels..."

Just then the rhythm of the drums and the flutes was heard and the lit garden became a stage for the dancers, wearing traditional costumes. Unashamedly enjoying his meal, Kaname sighed contendently and watched the Mai performers, a wistful look in his eyes. "If she is crying now, she certainly doesn't deserve to be the head waitress of a place like this. But I think she is not the crying type..." He murmured between his morsels. "She is the type to exact revenge." Was there an eager and evil gleam in his eyes?

Kain and Aido shook their heads at him and resumed their eating. "I wish she would have seen the way how you are wolfing down her dishes now." Takuma sighed.

Kaname smiled enigmatically and sipped his sake. "That was whole point of this, Takuma... Believe me..."

-

Aido and Shiki returned to serve the deserts and Zero poured them sweet plum wine to complement the taste. The rest of the evening went by calmly and Zero saw off his patrons. Kaname was the last one to leave the room, paying the bill in cash that he stuffed into the leather booklet. He stood before a bowing Zero, eyes involuntarily drawn to the bared long neck that was shown from his kimono's neckline. To distract himself from the sensuous sight, he whispered to Zero.

"I am glad that your eyes aren't red or swollen." He chuckled lowly in his throat. "I hope you'll still be around, Kiryuu-san, when I revisit here the next time." The soft velvety tone of that voice along with the taunting words made Zero flush and he found himself unable to look Kaname in the eyes when he straightened up. He simply stood there, an empty feeling filling his chest.

And with a smile that quickly dissipated, Kaname left.

-

Totally defeated, Zero collected the used dishes, stashing them up on the small food cart outside and called a waiting hand to take the cart back to the kitchens. Sure, he felt like a failure and angry with both himself and Kaname but, the brunette planted some disturbing questions in his head and Zero wasn't even looking around whilst he walked to the service staff area to catch his breath and collect himself a bit.

There he found himself alone with a person whom he was aware of her constant scrutiny and displeasure since the time they started their training.

"Oh, Rose-san..." The girl was named Ruka, a stunning private room server with long dirty blond hair and brownish eyes. "I guess you are here to take a break after the disaster you made of yourself..."

Zero halted in his steps and faced the very pleased and smug looking girl with surprise. Ruka sauntered her way to him in her blue kimono, throwing her hair behind her shoulder.

"Disaster?" He asked, eyes turning to slits. Where does she.... Ruka shrugged. "What would you call it? I saw your face every time you left your partition... And let me tell you, I also overheard some of the things that your green eyed patron told to Cross-san."

Takuma... Zero felt his eyes widen. "What have you heard?" Ruka smirked and then her face turned serious. "Hm... Things like how Kuran-san made you do this and that and how he was not pleased with the result." Takuma didn't seem like a person who would do this, but Zero didn't care, he was already ready to go and talk to the Chairman about it nonetheless.

"Whatever..." He muttered. "I was just about to tell the Chairman the result anyway." He didn't like this Ruka girl and didn't want to talk to her about this.

Ruka raised her eyebrows and laughed incredulously. "You say whatever?! You really have the nerve, Roze-san... Kuran Kaname is the second shareholder of this restaurant and owner of this hotel who is a very rich and well known young man... You displease him and then just say whatever?"

Zero's lilac orbs widened upon the things she was saying. That brunette owned this place? It was obvious that he was someone important and rich from the royal way he held himself and from the egoistical way he talked. But this was certainly bad news... How the hell did he manage to dig his own grave this easily in a few hours?

"Ah, I see you didn't know it before..." Ruka chuckled, clearly satisfied by the way how she broke Zero apart. "Well... I won't be a hypocritical person, so I'll tell you this clearly. I don't think you deserve to be the head waitress... I am sure I can cook better than you do. So, now that we have learned there is nothing special about you, you can be assured that that partition will be mine."

Zero gazed at Ruka with a bewildered expression. This girl was challenging him? Pushing aside the thoughts of the situation he was, he covered his agitation with anger. His brows furrowed and he grunted. "Thanks for clearly stating the place you stand, Souen-san. I will be mindful of this in the future." He hissed. Zero's fury and icy cold countenance didn't even deter Ruka as she shrugged one narrow shoulder and walked past him. "Well... If you can magane to still be here at the end of the week, Roze-san... Then of course, we can see what you'll do about it." And she left the room.

Zero gazed emptily across the sitting area, hands clasped before him, eyes full of worry. What was going to happen to him? Was he going to lose it all just because he couldn't please the restaurant's owner? Were all these torment, self deprecation and stupid farce for nothing? How... How was he going to pay for Ichiru's medical expenses after losing so much time here?

Zero's hands fisted his kimono's front, eyes shimmering with hopelessness.

Ichiru...

-

TBC

AN: Kaname, you bad bad boy... Now, what will happen to poor Zero? Will Kaname amend for his cruelty somehow? We'll see... XD

If there are any Ruka fans among you, sorry... She will be like this ^^' -even though I like her more than Yuuki in the canon. (I am not a Yuuki fan, btw.)

Well, review please?