*runs around in circles*

Captive Hearts

_Chapter Three_

Familiar Stranger

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Slender fingers combed through hair spun of silver with the tenderness one reserved for newborns. A fluttering of lashes gave a blurred focus of a lovely smile playing over thin lips which hummed the lullaby that drifted through the air. The sweet fragrant scent of cherry blossoms was suffocating as he shifted, trying to regain awareness. The woman was speaking, her voice low and soft, reminding him so much of someone...

"Mother...?"

Soft lips curved in the darkness as light spilled into the room. In the doorway stood a small boy peeking through the opened door, his lips moving and forming words he could not hear. Suddenly arching his body as someone moved above him, long strands of hair tickling his cheek, he felt a warmth and heat devour him. The feelings that rushed through him made him desperate to hold on, but fangs suddenly lurched forward and he fell back. The sounds of glass shattering echoed in the darkness as light bounced off a blade that came down swiftly. It felt cold. The silence that followed was unnatural and was broken only by the screech of someone shouting his name.

"Zero!"

Ichiru and Zero stared at each other with twin expressions of surprise. There were crumbs around Ichiru's lips; a hand with a cookie on the way to his mouth suspended half way there. Quickly chewing on the bite sized baked treat in his mouth, Ichiru swallowed. His brows creased and a small downward tug on his lips whispered his concern to his brother. "You okay?"

A shaky breath tumbled from Zero's lips; waking from those dreams often gave him the impression of drowning. It was always a shaky illusion in which his dream and reality overlapped, and then settled with lingering emotions that festered like a raw wound in his heart. A glance around the room- at the wide screen displaying a fairly old movie, the low coffee table Kaien had bought for him dirty with cookie crumbs, a sketchpad, and scattered pencils, then finally at his younger brother- and he was immediately grounded back to reality again.

"Yeah." Zero pushed himself into a sitting position on his couch, the cushions giving slightly beneath his weight. "I just had a nightmare," he said, rubbing a hand down his face; it felt a bit cold and clammy.

"Yeah?" Ichiru frowned, leaning closer to brush the back of his own hand against Zero's forehead. Staring at some random point in the ceiling for a moment, Ichiru pulled back and shook his head. "You seem fine. What was it about?"

"I don't know," Zero mumbled, trying to think back to what he'd seen in his dream. Yet, as he tried to conjure up the images of his nightmare, they retreated behind the door of his consciousness where they continued to elude him. "I can't remember. It just...it felt..."

Ichiru dropped the bag of cookies on the coffee table and adjusted himself on the sofa, facing his brother with a worried expression. "You've been really restless lately, Zero. Are you stressed or something?"

Immediately, there was a change in Zero's countenance. His eyes hid his troubles away and his lips soften into a warm expression. It was a look he often gave Ichiru when he wanted to say: 'don't worry about me. I'm fine, even though I'm lying.' It never failed to annoy Ichiru. Despite how fragile he may have been while they were growing up, Ichiru was a lot stronger than Zero gave him credit for; it was fine for Zero to depend on him every now and then.

"I'm fine, Ichiru," Zero, as predicted, assured. Ichiru gave him an annoyed look. "Maybe you need to get laid."

When Zero's eyes bulged at his offhanded comment, Ichiru's sudden guffaw filled the air. With a glare at his brother, Zero stood up, rubbing at the back of his neck and rolling his head to get rid of the tension there.

"Come on, Zero, when's the last time you've gotten laid?" Ichiru snickered, arching a brow. "You're so celibate, you might as well join a convent."

"Excuse me for not acting like a dog in heat, Ichiru," Zero mumbled under a yawn.

"There's no harm in it," Ichiru assured him with a chuckle before reaching over to retrieve his (Zero's, actually) cookies again.

Zero padded towards his kitchen, the floor heated beneath his feet. He opened up the wall cupboard that held his precious coffee inside and almost sighed at the mere sight. He almost hated how addicted he was to the stuff, but without it, he was hardly able to function. Especially with these bad dreams sapping away any rest he could only hope to get.

"Are you making breakfast?" Ichiru piped up from the living room, glancing over the couch at Zero, who was busying himself with his caffeine addiction. "Can you make pancakes?"

"Why can't you make them?" Zero's voice carried irritation, but he was still reaching for the flour behind the sugar in the cupboard. Even as Ichiru spoke, Zero already knew what he'd say. They went through the same dialogue each time Ichiru slept over.

"Because your pancakes are the best~"

As if that were really the case. To Ichiru, food always tasted better when he wasn't the one making it. As Zero busied himself in the kitchen, the sound of the television played in the background. Now that Zero was awake, Ichiru saw no need to keep it at a whispered level. This was how the twins usually spent their mornings together. Usually, because Ichiru didn't live here. He lived a block away in a rather cozy loft which doubled as his art studio, but he was often at Zero's apartment in time for breakfast and dinner- whenever Zero wasn't working, at least. The familiarity of the routine helped to put Zero's mind at ease and soon enough, the lingering grasp of his dream faded away, much like every other dream did.

*.｡. o ~o .｡.*

"Come on, Zero!"

"I said no."

"Please? I don't ask much from you," Ichiru lied, draping himself against the back of Zero, who was sitting at the table in the employee room trying to enjoy his coffee break. "It's only once, you don't even have to like the girl! Just show up, talk for a bit, and then walk away like you're gay or something."

Zero felt his brow twitch. As if he could possible do something like that.

"What's going on?" Kaito's voice broke in as he walked into the break room while tugging the top four buttons of his cooking uniform loose. Kaito always hated wearing that thing, Zero noted, eyeing the uniform with a sense of gratefulness for his own. It was a lot more comfortable.

"Ichiru's trying to involve me in his scheme," Zero shrugged noncommittally, his fingers flirting with the warmth of the coffee mug.

"Scheme?!" Ichiru squawked behind him, pulling away as if he'd been shocked. Kaito took one look at Ichiru and shook his head with a sigh and tsk'd- which irritated Ichiru further.

"What the hell do you mean by scheme, Zero?" Ichiru demanded, looking agitated and flustered. "Are you saying I can't be trusted?"

Zero sipped his coffee. "Yeah."

"You bastard, how can you say that to your own brother?!"

As the twins began bantering, Kaito noticed there were specks of red on Zero's tattoo. He had to squint for a moment to realize what it was. Kaito had been making spaghetti earlier when the twins had come into the kitchen. As usual, Ichiru had kicked up a fuss which ended in the three of them getting scolded like kids by Yagari. It had been a wonder they hadn't spilled anything while roughhousing. Guess they hadn't come out as unscathed as Kaito thought.

With a smile painted by his thoughts, Kaito reached over to quickly wipe the spaghetti sauce off Zero's tattoo. He grunted as his wrist was caught with a loud smack. Zero and Kaito blinked at each other, both taken back by Zero's sudden reaction. Then he released Kaito with a mumbled apology while Ichiru glared at him. "What the hell are you doing?"

Kaito returned Ichiru's glare as he rubbed his wrist. "I was just trying to wipe that damn sauce off, it was getting on my nerves!"

Ichiru turned to his brother who was destroying any evidence of said sauce with the back of his hand. "Why didn't you just tell him instead of doing it yourself?"

Irritated -especially by that suspicious tone-, Kaito emitted a low guttural sound in his throat as he pinched the bridge of his nose. Almost like a wild beast. To Zero, he reminded him a lot of Yagari when he did that. "You know what, forget it. I'm going back to work."

And with that, the twins watched their childhood friend turn on his heels and stomp out of the room. They were left in silence, the distant sounds of customers and employees melding into one as they went on eating and working outside the break room.

Ichiru's gaze slid to Zero. "...so you'll go?"

*.｡. o ~o .｡.*

Zero should have expected a place like this.

Strobe light flickered back and forth while music, so loud the floor quaked, rapped a continuous (endless) beat over and over into his head. It was like the song was trying to carve its pattern into Zero's brain with a vengeance- like an ex-girlfriend who couldn't quite let go. The crowds were heavy, and though he recognized quite a few faces throughout the place, it didn't ease the annoyance this many people brought. In fact, Zero typically hated places like this; it was the complete opposite of what Cross's restaurant was like. He was out of his element in this place.

He flickered a casual glance to where his brother was currently dancing amidst a sea of gyrating bodies. There was a beautiful, dark haired woman dancing beside- or rather, up against him. The double date had been the stipulation given to Ichiru by said woman because, as she claimed, she didn't know Ichiru too well and believed she'd feel more comfortable with a friend tagging along. That friend just so happened to have a crush on the quiet waiter at the restaurant she visited at least once a week, who just so happened to be Ichiru's twin brother.

It seemed a little suspicious, but Zero was willing to play along. At least, he had been until the girl had gone and excused herself to the bathroom. Thirty minutes ago. Now, Zero was familiar with the female ritual of taking longer than necessary in that sacred place of theirs, but this was ridiculous. He knew she wasn't passed out in there, she hadn't even touched her drink in the short time they'd been here.

"Hey."

The strobe lights flashed across a short brunette who appeared out of the blue, smiling at him a little flirtatiously. Lavender eyes lingered on the heart shaped face encasing big brown eyes before lowering to the thin white straps of her night club dress that clung to her peachy shoulders. Long, wild, yet tamed hair danced around her lithe frame, falling over subtle breasts and passed her tapered waist.

"Tch." The girl made a petulant sound, crossing her arms and giving her hips a slight tilt as Zero's eyes lifted back to meet her annoyed gaze. "You didn't look like a pervert, but I guess you really can't judge a book by its cover."

"How old are you?" Zero asked, taking up his forgotten drink.

Brown eyes blinked, surprised by the question. The girl's angry fortress crumbled as her arms came uncrossed in her uncertainty. The silver haired guy wasn't even looking at her anymore. He had a drink on the very tip of his lips, taking a swig of his alcohol before his irritated eyes- oh, and you can see that irritation sparking right inside- turned to her. "You shouldn't be allowed in here. You're a minor and it's a school night. Go home and stop worrying your parents."

"Huuuh?" The brunette made a strange face, looking at him like she was either drunk and couldn't comprehend him or like he'd just grown a third ear out of his nose. One of her thin eyebrows twitched and Zero could have sworn she muttered something along the lines of '...still the same...' She then took a breath, straightened her shoulders and reached out to wrap her arms around his. The abrupt move caused the drink in Zero's hand to slosh and churn, almost spilling over as he was dragged to his feet with a surprising strength that had him gaping for a moment. There was a beautiful smile on the girl's face as she stared up at him with an arrogant lift to her chin. "I'm a lot older than you think, brat."

"Brat?" Zero gaped as the girl began to drag him towards (hell) the dance floor and through barriers of sweaty and tipsy people. There was nothing more that turned Zero off than persistent girls. And this one was persistent. She turned in the middle of the crowd, her body easily adapting to the flow of the music playing over the loud speakers while lights spazzed this way and that in different shapes over her face.

"I don't dance," Zero grumbled in an attempt to free himself from this situation and especially the crowd- someone just elbowed him. In a way, he figured this was like a moment in which a wild animal would gnaw its leg off to set itself free from a trap, only the struggle was less physical. "Besides, I'm here with someone."

The brunette made a show of looking around as if she could spot this person he spoke of (who she wouldn't even recognize had she spotted her) before frowning innocently at Zero. "I don't see her."

Duh.

She laughed at his scowl. "Come on, just one dance."

*.｡. o ~o .｡.*

Kaname was angry.

He stood in the shadows of the club, avoiding as many of the humans as possible. To his utter annoyance, however, there were plenty of them flocking to him in hopes of something he would not give them. He was used to this sort of attention; albeit, these women were more forthright than the female vampires at the soirees he was accustomed to dealing with. He refused to decide whether this was a point in their favor or not.

The longer he remained in this place, the more dangerous it was becoming. He was dulling his senses in order to save himself the torment of the blaring music and the nauseating mixture of scents; perfumes, sweat, alcohol, and the distant smell of vomits. If he had to stay much longer, he was sure he might take advantage of one the many drunks in the place and drink them dry.

However, none of those issues were reason enough for Kaname's anger. The blame for Kaname's fowl mood was out on the dance floor in the form of his younger sister who was currently dancing with Kaname's unknowing lover. Because he'd dulled his senses, he hadn't noticed she was here. She had long ago stopped following after him and hadn't spoken a word against him seeing Zero; Kaname hadn't expected her to do something like show up before him because of that.

He watched the way she was dancing a bit too closely for his liking, but Yuuki was smart enough to keep her distance. With good reasoning, as well. His sister she may be, but Kaname would not tolerate this sort of behavior between those two. The moment Yuuki had made her appearance, Kaname had decided to allow her the satisfaction of completing whatever it was she'd set out to accomplish. However, she needed to put an end to this behavior.

Sensing his fowl mood, his wise little sister immediately subsided. With his eyes narrowed on Yuuki, he watched as she smiled at Zero, thanking him for the dance before slipping into the crowd. Zero's expression became a cross between surprise and annoyance before he rubbed the side of his face with his hand, shook his head, and began dissecting the crowds on his way off the dance floor.

*.｡. o ~o .｡.*

Long brown hair swayed behind her as Yuuki rushed down the hall to the girls restroom where the 'out of order' sign was hanging. Gripping the door knob, she glanced around to be sure that no one was paying attention before unlocking the door and slipping inside. As she came around the dividing wall, she spotted a young lady slouched against the wall across the room at the far end of the sinks.

The click of her heels echoed loudly in the empty room as she walked over and knelt down to level with the girl. She was young, around present-Zero's current age. She had a cute face that went well with the curls of her brown hair. It was obvious she had spent a lot of time dressing up for her date tonight. Yuuki almost felt bad. With a dipping in the corner of her lips, she placed a warm hand on the girl's head. "Forgive me miss Nadeshiko. It's nothing personal, but I can't let you have Zero. He already belongs to someone."

The girl whimpered as Yuuki smiled, picking up the glasses that were on the girls lap. "Don't worry. He's a bit insane when it comes to Zero, but everything will be..." Trailing off, Yuuki stared at the spectacles in her hands quietly, willing the soft reflection of herself in them to finish her sentence. "Kaname wont let anything happen to him this time..."

*.｡. o ~o .｡.*

The girls' bathroom was out of order.

Where the hell had his date gone, Zero wondered now starting to get worried. Were there other restrooms around here? He was about to ask one of the girls who were walking down the hall, but- the blonde in the middle turned and began hurling against the wall as the brunette, who almost got her shoes vomited on, screeched- he decided not to disturb them. He walked back out into the main room in search of an employee, but with the only lighting coming from the strobes above, it became a bit of a hassle.

When Zero finally found an employee, it was only to be intercepted by his brother who was slipping through the crowd to get to him. He reached out and caught Zero's arm, yanking him forward and screaming in his ear just to be heard. Great, they were standing near the speakers. "Zero, what happened?!"

"What?" Zero found himself screaming over the noise, grunting when someone jostled him from behind. He grabbed his brother by the elbow and shoved past people till he found a less crowded and noisy area.

"Nadeshiko called Mairodori," Ichiru was yelling. "She said she was heading home. What'd you do?"

"I didn't do anything," Zero said over a siren from the dj, irritated now that he had been worrying over a girl who had already gone home. "She disappeared to the bathroom about an hour ago!"

Ichiru looked perplexed at that. "Then who the hell were you dancing with?"

Ah. That. Zero rubbed over the tattoo on his neck. "Some brat."

There was a sly expression that slunk onto Ichiru's face as he nudged him with his elbow. "Zero, I didn't think you were that type."

Zero's eyes narrowed. "I'm not."

"Sure," Ichiru laughed. "So what are you gonna do?"

"What do you mean? I'm going home." Now that he had no obligation to be here, he was free to leave. He was at least grateful for that much. When Ichiru frowned, Zero noticed he looked disappointed to hear that he was planning on escaping. For a moment, he almost gave in to staying for a bit longer, but he really wasn't keen on that. "Look, Ichiru, I know you wanted to help," Zero revealed. "I'm grateful, but I can't stay here a second longer or I'll die."

Ichiru didn't seem to be consoled by those words. In fact, he kinda looked like a kicked puppy. When they were younger, this was the expression that always had Zero caving in. Now that they were older, it had absolutely no effect. "I'm leaving now." Zero gave a half-hearted wave over his shoulder as he walked away, ignoring the people he was brushing against on his way to the exit, aka freedom.

"Alright, alright. Go," Ichiru shouted after him. "Don't kill anyone on your way out!" That look had been Ichiru's final (only) trump card. He let out a sigh, running his hand through his hair and wondering when Zero had become immune to that look. "Seriously..."

"Guess your plan failed," a feminine voice spoke against his ear before pulling away. Ichiru turned to face Mairodori, the vet he'd been going out with for two months already.

"Yeah," he agreed, looking to where groups of people covered up the trail Zero had created to escape. Mairodori had offered to help Ichiru with his plans on setting Zero up, but only because her friend had a crush on Zero. In a way, they had both failed. "Is your friend okay?"

"She was just feeling sick," Mairodori explained with a frown. "I offered to go check on her, but she said she was just gonna sleep it off."

Ichiru nodded in response, reaching down to catch her hand and leaning over to speak into her ear. "You wanna get out of here?"

Her red lips curved into a smile. "Yeah."

*.｡. o ~o .｡.*

The moment Zero had stepped out of the club, the chilled air had washed over him, clearing his head almost immediately. It may have just been his imagination, but Zero could feel his brain pulsing to the beat of the club in some weird sort of after effect. Taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling, Zero felt the tension ease out of his shoulders and the phantom pulsing cease. Tonight was another night to add to his failed dates, but on the bright side, it was a nice night.

*.｡. o ~o .｡.*

"Alright, up we go. Come on," Yuuki grunted as the body slumped on her back almost fell over again. The employee's exit was just a few steps away, she could do this. There was a heavy thud as the girl's bag fell onto her feet, titling over and spilling its guts onto the floor. Groaning, she watched as a concealer rolled away before hitting the wall and falling flat to a stop. With a childish whine, she put Nadeshiko down and gathered the girl's cosmetics as quickly as she could. Securing the bag and dragging Nadeshiko's arm over her shoulders, she began to haul the unconscious girl out once again.

When Yuuki made it out the door, she let out a small cheer in victory. ("Yuuki.") And then nearly pissed herself when she heard her brother's voice behind her. Turning in the small alley, she found Kaname giving her that disapproving expression that made her want to curl up and apologize for anything she'd done to upset him. Which, in this case, was probably quite a bit of things.

"Mind explaining to me what you were doing."

Yuuki glanced at Nadeshiko, who's head was lolling uselessly against her shoulder. Despite the passed out body she was holding up, Yuuki still managed to smile innocently. "...nothing?"

Kaname's eyes narrowed, a flash of red emitting the aura that had Yuuki instantly sighing in defeat. "Okay, I just- I really wanted to meet him." Her features lightened as she recalled her run in with the reincarnation of the past Zero. "He really...its really him, huh?"

Kaname stared at her for a long time, his expression hiding away any and all of his thoughts. Yuuki imagined he was coming up with a suitable punishment and she was a bit happy not to be able to see any of his thoughts. So when he simply looked away and said: "Of course he is. I've already told you as much." Yuuki was a bit surprised. Did this mean she was off the hook? She was tempted to ask, but why push her luck?

"Ah, I should get this girl home now," she said, keeping up a cheerful front. "Wouldn't want her catching a cold or something." Now that she was outside and away from curious eyes, she easily lifted the girl in her arms. "Well, I'll be go-"

"You didn't have to interfere."

Eh? Yuuki blinked at her brother. She stared at him for a long time. The firm expression on his face reaffirmed his words, but there was something beneath the cracked surface that had been so blatantly hurt to see his lover with another. Yuuki glanced away, her gaze on some stupid point in the dark alley's dirty floor. "I had to, Kaname. This girl really loves Zero. I could see it in the way she looked at him..."

Kaname moved forward, but she didn't raise her gaze. She felt his hand in her hair, pulling lightly on a few strands as he drew his hand away. "Thank you, Yuuki."

Her cheeks pinked. They spoke no more as Yuuki walked further into the dark of the alley and then vanished. Kaname didn't watch her go. His attention was drawn to the entrance of the alley where a familiar scent was whispering to his senses. He walked down the path quietly and came across a beautiful sight: on the side of the road stood Zero, his lashes resting against the cream of his slightly flushed cheeks. His hands were buried in his pockets and his head was tilted upwards towards the sky. He was visibly breathing in the night air like it was his first time, his breath being released in small, wispy puffs that faded into the blue hues of the night.

The sight of him was heart-wrenching.

Kaname's arms longed to snatch him up and press warm kisses to that chilled skin; to whisper sweet words to a man who had never realized his own worth. But he couldn't do such intimate things. He, Kaname Kuran, a pureblood; royalty: he could not touch this man whom he'd longer for for so long.

*.｡. o ~o .｡.*

"So this is what you look like out of uniform."

A quiet voice interrupted Zero's moment of a strangely peaceful melancholy. Glancing over his shoulder, he recognized the brunet in the dark coat standing near the entrance of the alley. "Kaname..." he murmured, the name slipping off his tongue like he was used to speaking it thousands of times.

"I didn't take you for the night club type," Kaname said, a warm smile lingering on his handsome face as he stepped closer. Zero was surprised to see him here. He honestly never expected to bump into Kaname outside the restaurant. If Ichiru were here, Zero was sure he'd be screaming something about stalkers.

"Stop." The laughter of a woman drew away Zero's attention as she fought not to stumble into him. Her friends, who had not so subtly pushed her towards him like a group of high school girls, giggled as they passed. They were probably drunk, Zero surmised, turning to Kaname with a grimace. "I'm not."

"I didn't think so." Kaname smiled, his expression faltering for a second. "I was on my way for a drink. Would you care to join me?"

Standing with his hands in his coat's pockets on a still relatively young night, Zero considered the invitation. Staring at the handsome semi-stranger before him for a bit longer than what was possibly polite, he decided: what the hell, why not?

Someplace somewhere, Zero felt his brother face-palm.

*.｡. o ~o .｡.*

The bar of Kaname's choice was a small place inside a local hotel. It was a dimly lit room shrouded in a warm glow emitted from the clear, sphere pendant lights hanging from the ceiling and the tealight candles arranged throughout the tables. The soft luminescence of the room was reflected in the black granite floor of the bar, giving off the strange sensation that one was standing on a dark lake lit by lanterns. Despite the lavish décor and intimate setting, Kaname seemed perfectly at ease. Zero wouldn't be the least bit surprised to know Kaname was used to places that breathed of elegance and wealth. It certainly was possible, seeing how easily Kaname could play the part.

They were sitting on the leather bar stools, their drinks resting on the cherry wood countertop of the bar. It ran down a few feet before curving left and extending further around the room than Zero could see. There was a black Hailun Grand Piano set up in a low dais in the far back of the room. A man in his late forties was currently playing a melody that touched on the clear treble and the deep, yet mellow base of the piano; adding yet another elegant element to the place. It hadn't taken long before the lovely sound managed to enchant Zero.

"You enjoy the piano?"

Turning away from the pianist, Zero felt a bit self conscious about the way he'd been gaping. Even so, a small smile dawned across his face as he fiddled with the lip of his glass. A distant memory of a woman glowing with a warmth that would always be unmatched came to mind. There was a soft smile on her lips as her delicate fingers caressed the ivory keys; her twin boys sitting on either side of the piano bench completely enthralled by her.

"My mother used to play," Zero answered, unaware of how intently Kaname as staring at him. "I've always found the sound soothing."

"Do you play?" Kaname asked politely, looking away from the face of the man he loved. Despite having known everything about his lover in the past, this Zero was still new to him. There were things about this Zero that Kaname had yet to discover.

The silver haired man besides him scoffed and even that sound filled Kaname's heart till it swelled in his chest. "I was horrible at it. My brother used to play," he said. "But after our mother died, he refused going near the piano again."

"I can see how that would be difficult," Kaname commented, fingers curling around the lowball glass and watching as the edges of an ice cube melted. It clicked against the glass as its icy formation slumped and he raised his drink for a taste.

"You mentioned not being the clubbing type earlier. If that's so, why were you there tonight?" Kaname tried for a tone of nonchalance, but was unsure of whether he'd accomplished it as well as he hoped. "If you don't mind me asking?"

"It was a double date set up by meddlesome brother," Zero confessed, admiring his drink. The creamy liquid in the old fashioned glass tasted a little like coffee, but he was seventy percent certain there was vodka in it. "It didn't go as planned, I guess."

"Younger siblings can be a hassle," Kaname muttered knowingly. When he recalled Yuuki's earlier actions, he couldn't help the wry twist of his smile. His reaction seemed to interest Zero, who turned to scrutinize him closely. "You have a younger brother?"

"A sister," Kaname corrected, taking pleasure in having those eyes on him once more. "She can be a handful."

Zero's eyes lit up with what Kaname assumed was pity and amusement- they didn't match well in Kaname's opinion. Especially not when directed at him, but if it was Zero, then surely it was fine. "I don't envy you. Having a sister seems like trouble on a whole other level. I'm a bit thankful Ichiru is a guy."

Kaname beckoned the waiter over. "Despite the troubles she may cause me, were it not for her, I would be lost. She's very precious to me. I wouldn't trade her for the world."

With a subtle nod, Zero finished up his drink while Kaname ordered another round. Zero was completely on board with Kaname's train of thought. He felt the same way about Ichiru. Even though Ichiru had dragged him into some sticky situations and there had been times when they had fought with each other, Ichiru was his other half. Zero didn't know what he'd do without him. Ichiru was the reason Zero hadn't lost his mind after the death of their parents. Even now, there were times where Zero wanted to lock himself away and shun the world. Yet, like a loyal brother, Ichiru would always kick his door down and drag him out by blackmailing him or bugging him until Zero finally caved in.

As the atmosphere of the bar (and maybe the drinks, as well) began to set in, Zero became lost in the soft chatter and the clinks of glasses that were subtle beneath the melodious shroud of the piano. He and Kaname drank in companionably silence for a while, which left Zero feeling a bit surprised by the lack of awkwardness between them. They didn't even know each other very well, yet there was something in the air around them that seemed so familiar.

"Can I get a gin on the rocks," someone called out from the other end of the bar, catching Zero's attention. He couldn't recall the guys name, but Zero was sure they shared a class. Wondering if there was anyone else present whom he'd know, Zero sent a quick glance around the room. His eyes strayed to a couple sitting just a few feet away on one of the tables. Zero couldn't really see the man who's back was to him, but he could see the woman across from said man. Her hand was touching his arm in a very open manner; her eyes lowered and seductive; lips pulled up into a glossy little smile while she leaned over the table, showing off the top of her little black dress. Zero caught the sparkle on her finger from the candlelight and noticed the woman's ring. It matched the one the man was wearing.

"It must be nice," he mumbled wistfully.

Kaname tore his gaze from his wine, the clear glass reflecting the warm lighting, to give a brief glance back at the couple. His gaze refocused on Zero. "Being married?"

"In love."

Kaname's fingers tightened on the stem of the wine glass as he very deliberately brought it to his lips. "Haven't you ever been in love?" Kaname asked and when he sipped his drink, it took a conscious effort for him to swallow it down.

"When I was younger, I thought I was in love with this girl I dated." Zero fiddled with the glass in his hands and was silent for a moment before shrugging it off. "But, I don't think that's what it really was. How about you?"

"I fell in love only once in my life." Kaname stared into the red of his wine, his own reflection staring back at him with whispered memories of long ago. "It is a feeling you do not readily forget."

It was a scary thing, Zero thought, recalling his last conversation with Kaname at the restaurant. Back then, Zero had wanted to ask if Kaname thought such a thing from experience. Now, he surmised it must have been. "Do you regret it?"

Kaname gave an unnoticed flinch at hearing such a question from Zero. He couldn't bring himself to look at him and was quite thankful for the low lighting of the room. Had he ever regretted loving Zero? There were times, he admitted, where he wondered if he'd be happier never having loved Zero to begin with. Would he be happy now if he had never fallen for him?

Zero was feeling a bit like a jerk for asking a question like that. It was obvious the alcohol was making his tongue a bit loose. Normally, he wouldn't have asked such a personal question. Kaname was staring into his glass, though Zero had a feeling he was seeing anything but the red wine in front of him. There was a solemn expression on Kaname's face as he sat there in silence. And then finally, he answered: "I don't."

Slowly expelling a breath he wasn't even aware of holding, Zero took the opportunity to quietly study Kaname's profile from the corner of his eyes. The man wore a blue suit with a blazer he left unbuttoned. The suit looked rather expensive. It suited Kaname well, Zero noticed. He wore no tie and the top buttons of his white shirt were undone, giving him a bit of a relaxed and casual feel.

The collar of his dress shirt was left open, exposing the column of his neck where the vines of his dark hair tickled its sides. The man's face was like something an artist of immense talent would have longed to create, fully aware that he would never do the true thing justice. Long, thick eyelashes gave a brooding look that enhanced the russet of eyes that held a sorrowful depth to them. There was an aristocratic feel to him; from his narrow nose to his high cheek bones and near perfect jaw.

Kaname was the type of person who looked like he ran in the highest of circles. Why he insisted on showing up at a simple little family restaurant each night without fail was beyond Zero. Everyone had come up with their own little theories on his identity. Both Yagari and Kaito were convinced he was some sort of Yakuza leader; Kaien believed he was some famous tycoon who became lonely and tired of his lifestyle; Ichiru thought he was Zero's stalker. Amazingly, Kaien's theory seemed the most rational.

But Zero had his own theory. He couldn't pin point it really. Honestly, he wasn't even certain of it, but there was this nagging at the back of his head that kept pushing the idea. Staring at the bottom of his White Russian where few of the ice cubes swam in the creamy liquid, his lips parted and words fell out. "Have we ever met before?"

Kaname was quick to turn to him, his russet eyes holding a hint of surprise in them. "Why do you ask?" His voice sounded a bit tense.

Zero's hand came up to rub at his neck in a self conscious manner, unaware of the eyes that immediately followed the action. "How do I put it..." He took a breath. "I get this strange feeling that we've met before. Outside the restaurant, I mean. Every night you come in, I feel like there's something on the tip of my tongue that I need to say to you. But there are never any words."

Kaname studied the way Zero was keeping his gaze lowered, his eyes focused on the bar. He kept replaying Zero's words in his head, hearing them over and over and still not being able to find the will needed to lie. Even knowing it would be the right thing to do... Lowering his gaze back to his wine, Kaname felt something inside of him surrender. "It is possible we may have crossed paths once. I certainly wouldn't forget it."

Zero's drink was on its way to his lips when he paused, his breath on the glass as he chuckled, instantly dispelling the tendrils of forlorn that lingered in the air. The glass made a soft thunk as it returned to its place on the counter. Lavender eyes lit with humor turned to Kaname. "Was that a line?"

Kaname couldn't help being taken back by the man beside him. Zero's face was alive with amusement, the luminescence of the room casting him in soft shadows. He was so breathtaking openly laughing like this. He wanted to reach out, touch his lover's face, and trace those lips with his own. It was such a shame that this used to be a rare sight for Kaname. He wondered if he had tried harder in the past, could he have made Zero laugh like this more often?

"That's the sort of line you should be saving for women," Zero was saying, heedless of Kaname's thoughts. "I'm not much of a catch."

Kaname's eyes flashed, studying the self deprecating smile on Zero's face that suddenly killed his good mood. "Is that what those women you've dated said to you?"

"Not so much in words, but more or less," Zero mumbled, staring at his glass and wondering whether it was his fifth or sixth- what the hell was he drinking, anyway? Hadn't he just finished his drink? Where'd this one come from?

"Maybe you're just meeting all the wrong people," Kanamed remarked.

"Yeah," Zero shrugged, failing to notice the hard tone in Kaname's voice. "There aren't many women who share my ideals."

Kanama watched Zero lift his drink to his mouth. Deliberately turning his chair in order to stare more openly at him, Kaname placed his elbow on the counter top and leaned his head on the back of his hand. "What about men?"

The poor guy made a choking sound as he spluttered and nearly drowned in his drink. The bartender immediately came over, asking if everything was fine. When Zero settled down, he assured the bartender he wasn't going to die and the man walked off, eyeing them wearily as he went.

When Zero turned to glare at Kaname, the bastard's eyes were lit with humor. They looked like there were candles burning behind them and he couldn't bring himself to snap at him.

"None?" Kaname continued to tease.

"No."

"Never?"

"Never."

"Are you interested?"

There was a tic to his brow now. "I don't fail at relationships because I'm gay, if that's what you're getting at." Zero carelessly reached out for his drink (the one that kept magically refilling itself) and took a large gulp. Fortunately his drink had little bite so it didn't kill him when he swallowed. Zero let out a heavy sigh. "Maybe love's just not for me. But, I guess a part of me still thinks it would be nice."

"You're a romantic."

"Hm?" Zero turned his weary gaze to Kaname, surprised to find the man sitting in a way that showed Zero had his full attention.

"You don't want to settle for just anyone because you are waiting for that one person you are destined to be with for the rest of your life."

"...when you put it like that, it makes me sound stupid."

Kaname chuckled. "Quite the contrary, its rather cute."

"Its pathetic," Zero grunted, then frowned. "...did you just call me cute?"

"Zero."

"What?" Zero mumbled, his eyes lucid from the alcohol and a small frown giving his lips the impression of a pout. He may or may not be a bit buzzed at the moment.

"Sleep with me."

...wow, its been so long since I've done this. lol. Um, don't hate me for the cliffhanger-ish thing. I would have kept going, but I think this chapter became longer than expected. I only meant to stop at 5k words, but it ended up being 7k. Anywho, review and all that other nice stuffs. :)

I think I deserve a nap now...

Sometimes, I just read through my stories and facepalm.

.

.

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I was craving coffee. Thus, Zero became a coffee addict.

The power of being an author...

...is the power to have disjointed comments in your ANs.

...I seriously need that nap now...