Another long one. Thanks for the reviews!
Chapter 11: …And it Hit the Fan
by lightpathetic
KANAME walked briskly to a jeep, to which one if his guards was holding the door open for him. He barely acknowledged Zero in passing, giving him a brief nod and slightly uncomfortable smile. Zero wondered how it had all transpired, he being rather surprised to learn from Petkovic that Ichiru was staying at the cabin with the Second Leader. He'd been on his way himself, if only to save Ichiru or Kaname from being killed, but the rain was pouring by then and the winds were gusting alarmingly. Also, he had concerns about leaving his mother alone with Kaname's men during such a crisis, especially with the Second Leader being off by himself somewhere, even though she was more worried about what Ichiru might do.
However, as Zero laid eyes on Ichiru, he immediately knew what had happened. He gave Zero a rather pregnant glance before turning towards the corrals and leaving him to follow. He seemed slightly annoyed with himself, a happenstance that wouldn't jibe with having spent several hours together with someone he hated.
He couldn't say he was surprised by Ichiru and Kaname getting together, seeing as just the day before Kaname had finally… kissed him. Zero felt the jealously and anger tug at him and took a deep breath to dispel it. It didn't really matter which of them got in the door. The point was it had happened. Still… he'd hoped that to Kaname they were not interchangeable. That he'd seen Zero for himself, his own desire, and would have wanted to pursue it further with him. Zero was chagrined to find that he'd read him incorrectly.
"So it was an eventful night. At least mother will be relieved you didn't kill each other."
Ichiru stayed silent. He wasn't going to deny it. In giving his promise to Kaname he knew Zero would take one look at him and guess. The truth was Zero, in all things in his life, did not count as "another person". They'd been through too much together. It's not like they were creepily close. They didn't hold hands while walking together or anything. But it was pretty much up there.
However, Ichiru was more concerned about his charges than the Second Leader right now. He walked over to the corrals to inspect the damage, almost too afraid to look. Zero decided to leave the topic for later as well. There would be lots of time to discuss it.
It was wasn't too bad. The shelters had lost their roofs, the ground was very soggy, many of the animals looked damp and dishevelled, and Rose was restless but there was no loss of life. Some of the workers had already arrived and were working on the clean up. Ichiru sighed in relief and turned back to Zero.
"I'll be up to the house later. I want to look over the terrain first," Ichiru said as he approached Rose with his saddle. She did protest a bit but settled as he patted her.
"Fine. I'll see you back at the house."
"Yes. Later."
And Ichiru was gone. Last night was relegated to behind the other concerns on the estate, he knew. Which was why Zero felt it was also a shame. Ichiru would never have appreciated the battle inside Kaname, what it had taken for him to actually give in.
THEY'D SPENT the entire day outdoors, only stopping briefly to get a sandwich and a drink from the supply that had been brought out to the workers. Even though they were all relieved it was not worse, - and no lives were lost - there was enough damage to trees and buildings to keep them busy.
There had been a brief period of sunlight in the morning but the rains came again, which made many aspects of the repairs – especially the replacement of the shingles on the mansion's roof – treacherous. The Kiriyuus were exhausted by the end of the day and had no time to lament or rejoice – depending on your perspective – the departure of the Second Leader, who'd apparently quitted the mansion with his Guard shortly after arriving back at the house from his overnight stay at the cabin.
The boys did want to discuss last night's events but by the time Zero joined Ichiru in his room, the younger twin was asleep across the bed, only having removed his shirt and shoes. Zero decided to simply lay a throw over him to keep him warm before retreating back to his room, the discussion again delayed.
In fact it was only when they'd assembled for their meeting was the subject finally broached, his mother being similarly adept at reading her son.
The Kiriyuus had taken to developing a weekly ritual of having lunch in town at a café, one owned by a long-time friend of Shizuka's. The family, having been vetted by the Regime and found not "elite" enough to warrant exterminating – also it did help that the food was delectable – were allowed to continued their business, subject, of course to a tax payable to the Regime, as all businesses were. The family was willing to obey and cooperate so they were pretty much left to carry out their function in the new society, as were many of the working class, "productive" members. The down side was that the persons who were not… productive, depended on the other people to assist them or, besides being given former lands of the elites that were divided up for production by the landless or migrants from the "Home Country", were left without any provision. Shizuka was aware of the humanitarian crisis developing did ask Kaname about some provision for the infirm, the sick, the vulnerable. She did notice his irritation at being asked about the weak. She didn't sense it was her question so much being made to consider trivia. His world view didn't seem to allow for the weak surviving, apparently. She did mention having them come live with her here, observing there was more than enough room and provisions to serve them… and suddenly there was an officer in charge of "Social Outreach".
Anyway, the lunches developed so they could speak plainly about the plot. You see, the Kiriyuus were serious about cutting down the Supreme Leader herself, somewhat convinced, naively perhaps, that it would end the war. Or at least they were until it became clear that Kaname, who as well as being the actual brains behind the devastating campaigns against their country and their good neighbours and planned further conquests that seemed endless, had substantial ambitions himself. Even Zero realised he needed to die as well.
So the lunches were used, while Kaname was away, to discuss the minutiae. The how, when and where, as it were.
They weren't sure that the Supreme Leader would come. Kaname was vague on it, but that was his custom. Never had anyone been so close, so at ease with them and yet so distrusting. He never even let them know his movements. Shizuka did send off an invitation to her. But it didn't stop there. Shizuka tended to listen to "talk" carefully. She'd visited her usual fitters, caterers, suppliers and kept her ears open.
She'd always thought it was a drawback being associated with the Second Leader – she'd realised quickly it was definitely not a secret, even from the persons who came to apply for a position at the household. Perversely their estate was considered safer and less prone to the inconveniences of wartime because of his presence. Not that you could miss the chauffeur and guard Kaname insisted she travel with – the boys were allowed to travel without such encumbrances but then, Ichiru was the one that pointed out that he'd probably spotted that all that was required was that she would be in his custody to keep the rest of them in line.
And so, it was at the fitters, during a particularly strident ass-kissing by the manager, that she found out they knew who dressed the Supreme Leader and… could get her measurements. Shizuka was over-joyed! This meant a specific address… and the ability to persuade her with the right type of gift.
Shizuka did think that the right dress and occasion would make any woman come out of hiding. She decided on the dress – a pure white satin affair with a modest train and scarlet accents, the colour of the Regime. She was even able to source jewels and shoes to accessorise and, to top it off, sent a note with the package that spoke of her admiration of her ideals – Sayori had been instrumental with that – and her desire to meet her. The boys, as well as being scared of how single-mindedly calculating their mother could be, were in awe of the stratagem. They really hoped it would work.
Now for the mode of their demise.
They'd considered poison, weaponry, explosives, "accidental" drowning. Whether they should do it themselves or a contractor. You name it. It had to be quick and effective. They did realise they were planning the death of two people. It struck them often, even bringing Shizuka to tears sometimes. But they knew it had to be done. Or not…
They settled on poison. It could be secreted on their person and two of the three person present at the vote liked the idea of something that didn't involve violence. They did know poison was a liability in itself. The wrong person, including them, could ingest it. They decided it was worth the risk. They also thought that, perhaps, there was another way to deliver it.
Shizuka, after speaking to Sayori, found out there was one that could be delivered via the skin. Even a pin prick was fatal.
They decided they liked this.
So now, with just over a week to go, they were more interested in sticking to their routine than planning. Which meant there was ample opportunity for Shizuka to ask about her son's night with the Second Leader.
"Well? What happened?"
Ichiru took his eye off the retreating waiter as soon as he felt he could speak. He didn't however. He shrugged, looking a little bit ashamed of himself. He wished he could say he at least tried to kill him. Instead…
"I see."
"What do you see, mother?"
"I don't mean anything by it, Ichiru. He is quite… handsome…"
"It's not just that…"
"What?"
Ichiru looked over at Zero for help. It was on automatic response when either of them felt cornered by their mother. However, Zero did have a view.
"He doesn't… feel like a bad person, mother. You want to hate him but when you relate to him for any length of time, he almost seems to be... normal."
Shizuka reached for her glass of wine and sipped it to cover her own blush. So, it wasn't just her. He did have a talent for making you forget what he stood for. What he'd done. She often had to remind herself of the weeks of horror she'd experienced just so she wouldn't fall for his charm. That intelligent, sexy charm…
"We mustn't forget, Zero…" She finally said as she removed her glass.
"I know, mother."
"I haven't forgotten either. It was just the one night. He was also speaking about how much he wanted us to like him."
"Really?"
"Yes. It's actually why he didn't touch us in the first place. He wanted…"
"A future."
"Yes."
"He's insane."
"Yes. He even brought up…"
Ichiru trailed off and looked at his mother uneasily. She got it, however. She sat back in her chair looked away at the wall of the booth as he temper threatened to take her over. Was that all they saw when they looked at her children? A sordid fantasy?
Zero was equally upset. He had thought that Kaname was interested in them as individuals. It was bitterly disappointing to hear otherwise.
"Look, I know how you feel," Ichiru responded urgently. It was disappointing to have to revisit something they'd fought so hard to live down. Still he had to remind them that the development was a positive thing. "I was angry too but… this is what we wanted. No matter how it happens. It's because he has this… obsession that we're even alive to do any of this."
"That's right. It's why he'll be dead soon, anyway."
"Mother!" They never discussed the objective here. Just details.
Zero was watching his mother closely. It didn't escape him.
"You're disappointed he went after us for your own reasons, aren't you?"
Shizuka did want to deny it. But she decided to have some courage.
"Yes. He… He's like you say. It's how hard he tries that gets me. And… until what Ichiru admitted, I'd thought he wanted me."
"You?!" Trust Ichiru to miss the way Kaname related to their mother. Zero hadn't.
"He's playing us all."
"Wait… Did you say he went after 'us'? When did he go after you?"
Zero looked over to where Ichiru was staring at him.
"Three nights ago. By the pool. After you and mother had left."
"Son of a bitch."
Shizuka just gasped. Zero hadn't said a word.
"Why didn't you…?"
"I don't know. I wanted to but… I wanted him. I had hoped he would take up where he left off if I didn't say anything. Yet."
"Really. Anything else you're hiding?"
"No! It was just a few days! I was confused… Hell, he was confused. I wanted time to see where he was at with us…"
"That's enough. Enough. I've had it."
"Mother…"
"Don't mother me. We've let ourselves be side-tracked by a very cunning individual. Don't you see? If Zero is willing to keep this a secret then he is becoming a danger to us we cannot accept. Divide and conquer is too old a trick to fall for. I won't let him break up this family."
It was Zero's turn be ashamed of himself. He'd been jealous that Ichiru got to him first, had been suspicious of his attentions to their mother. He was losing the plot and it could mean their lives if he did. But he did find Kaname bewitching. He felt like he'd go nuts if he didn't finish what was started. But it didn't matter. Not really…
"I'm sorry. I just wanted time to think. My dedication to you and this plan has not changed. In fact, it's good we now know what he wants. We can turn it back on him."
"Hopefully she'll come and it won't be necessary. Can you see mother as a femme fatale?"
"Listen, Ichiru. I wasn't always an old lady…"
"No! I won't listen…!"
"Your father wasn't even my first…"
"Oh look! The meal is coming!" Ichiru shouted in desperation.
KANAME was sitting in his quarters at the Presidential Palace looking out over the courtyard as he ate the sandwich he'd ordered for lunch. The view of the courtyard was almost as stunning at the garden in the back. The driveway was circular and paved with glossy smooth dark grey cobblestones, lined by stone pots of flourishing, large red and white roses. There was a bronze of a healthily muscled woman in flowing, strategically wind-swept garb, with a rope and sword at her waist but was holding aloft a dove that was about to take flight. Everything about it was rendered in exquisite detail. So much so Kaname ordered it cleaned and saved, even though much of the official pictures and symbols of this country had been removed, replaced or destroyed. Every time he looked at it he thought of how he should sheath his sword and allow the people to take over. This was what all this was for, all his sacrifice was to achieve: to support and nourish the will and future of his people. He even thought of taking it with him to the new headquarters, to which he had sent Commander Souen ahead to prepare for him - it was an impressive enclave of millennia old buildings and gardens which was closeted off from the main country by a very high wall. It had belonged to some religious order or other – Kaname, evidently, had no patience for history besides the one he would make. The climate was wonderful, she assured, as was the beach on his new estate. He was aware that the pictures were already circulating in the Old Country, the Government Information Service working overtime to play up the gains of their army. Kaname was indeed feeling the pressure to leave this relatively small City. There was even a promise by the Supreme Leader to walk the gorgeous beaches of the … Sea with her people. Kaname did think the campaign was less about her popular support and more about applying pressure on him. She wasn't stupid. He did command the complete loyalty of the Armed Forces. His defiance of her thus far on this point must have shown her that her mere command of him was not enough anymore. Kaname sighed as he thought of the precarious position he was now in.
But yet, he had no regrets.
Even as he listened to the recordings from the file, all while biting into his sandwich and deliberately chewing slowly, remembering Ichiru's face the night before. Remembering everything about the night before. Kaname tuned out the audio banter, his mind still skimming for importance as it went back to that night.
The kid was talented. He'd never felt so… good. So desired or so cherished. He barely remembered how he'd behaved but what he did remember made him shocked at himself. He didn't expect that at all. It pointed to the truth of their experience. Their experience with… him.
Kaname shoved the other half of the sandwich into his mouth and stood, impatient with his thoughts. He was behaving like a cowardly, love-struck teenager, compounded by his bitter jealousy of a dead man. He'd hightailed it out of there rather than face any of them. And now he was sitting there mooning over a romantic night of sex like a young girl.
Actually, what he did want was more. Much more. He'd wanted to kiss Ichiru again that morning, run his hands over the gorgeous muscled physique he'd been finally able to claim for himself. He'd wanted to go to Zero and tell him how he felt about them. He was tired of hiding. Tired of fighting his attraction for them. There was no need to! Not where they were concerned, anyway. They were so comfortable with… this. It was whether they both would accept him.
He knew that Ichiru disliked the idea of his wanting them both, especially as it was reinforced by what they'd done before. The last thing they'd want was to relive that episode of their lives. He could choose to stick with Ichiru…
Kaname ran his fingers through his hair and began to pace. He wasn't interested in just Ichiru. Or just Zero. The thought of them both in his bed… Kaname groaned and leaned onto the window-jam. That was his problem. While ordinary people would have had to choose, he knew he had the twin in a unique position he could himself exploit… and it was hard to dissuade himself not to.
Because he really didn't want to.
Ichiru was angry that he'd wanted something they'd been misguided enough to provide as children. But now they were adults. They could still choose. They could decide whether there was anything about him they would want. Ichiru and Zero did appear to find him attractive, even if they didn't like him. Couldn't like him... But Ichiru also said that the transaction could be professional. It could be mutually beneficial. He'd been dead against using them like that but Ichiru had shown him that despite loathing him, he could demonstrate a mastery and desire that was… breath-taking.
Kaname looked at his watch going in his mind to where they would be. The lunch at the café. Every week since he'd last left. Therein lay the other problem. They were planning something. Something they didn't want his personnel to overhear. His intelligence personnel said they sat at a booth in the back of the restaurant and spoke in hushed urgent tones. They could read lips a bit and Mrs Kiriyuu did speak at length about ordering a dress, - she sat in the middle and faced the restaurant - which made him consider they were planning the party. But he didn't buy it. So, he had the place bugged and the recordings delivered to him personally. He would soon find out what was being planned so "secretly".
Kaname's attention came back to the audio when there was talk of "poison". He walked over to the table and sat down in front of the surveillance report, poised to make notes, a habit, in case the intelligence was valuable. He behaved as though he was carrying out a routine operation but he wasn't prepared for what he would hear. From people he had grown to love. The discussion surrounded the delivery of poison to him and the Supreme Leader. They did seem to think she would… oh yes, the dress delivery chatter. The certainty she would not be able to resist.
The bill was called for and the recording ended. Kaname sat there not having written a single note but the conversation rattled around in his mind without mercy or respite. He knew what he should do. The evidence was damning. He should have them shot.
He should have them shot…
Kaname removed he tape and placed it in the file. He then walked over to the fireplace and dropped it on the logs there. The next thing he knew he was holding a match to the slim glossy red folder and watching it shrivel into ash.
Kaname rubbed his tired eyes and walked over to focus on the statue again. He would miss this place. It was a metaphor for what he really wanted for his people: peace and prosperity. By any account their occupation of the City was a success. There was a thriving economy. They'd collected millions in taxes and more people were in work or working the land. The last rebel attack had been six weeks ago. He was disappointed that the Kiriyuus didn't see what he was trying to achieve for everybody, including them. He still wanted to make them see. Which even the Kiriyuus would admit was lucky for them.
Kaname eventually reached a decision. He would man up like the highly decorated soldier he was and deal with the situation. Deal with them. Besides, he thought, as he grabbed his jacket and his hat on the way to the door, he was just thinking about them and getting no work done anyway.
THE KIRIYUUS were tucking into their meal of filet of sole and white truffle sauce when they got the sense that people were leaving the restaurant, were being made to leave the restaurant. The boys turned around to see for themselves a soldier hustle an elderly man and his newspaper from the booth behind them. Zero stood to go peep around the corner just as the realisation of what was happening began to register on Ichiru's face.
Shizuka saw as Zero was backed up by the business end of a rifle and ordered to sit down. She sat back in the chair, the sweat of tension beginning to dot her upper lip as they awaited the inevitable.
The café became eerily quiet before there was a shout of "Clear!" Then there was the sound of a car door slamming and the purposeful march of boots in their direction.
Kaname came to the corner, paused, then turned his head to look at them. He noticed that both Zero and Shizuka looked suitably guilty as they met his eyes. Ichiru was staring at his fish. He felt distinctly unwelcome as he turned the corner and headed towards their table, grabbing a chair as he went.
"Good afternoon, Kiriyuu clan. You seem a little surprised to see me."
At this Shizuka forced a smile and rose to greet him.
"Kaname…"
"Don't bother, Shizuka. I don't want to interrupt. Please continue."
Shizuka resumed her seat but not her meal. It was obvious this was not a social visit. The way the soldiers had cleared the place, the way the gun had been held to Zero's chest. Kaname knew that was not necessary.
"To what do we owe the pleasure, Kaname?"
"Oh. A whim, really. I wanted to see the attraction of this place. You've met here every week, sometimes more, over the last five weeks."
"Really? Olivia is such a tattle-tale," Shizuka laughed, trying to dispel the tension. And there was a lot of it. They could tell Kaname was not himself. He seemed… cold.
"I wouldn't refer to my officers by their first names to me, Shizuka. Makes me think I should be worried about their ability to be objective where you all are concerned."
"Of course, Kaname. I didn't mean anything by it…"
"What do you want, Kaname?"
Ichiru finally spoke, hating the way his mother was being used as a verbal punching bag. Kaname turned slowly to him, as if he'd interrupted him unforgivably.
"Actually. I'm glad you asked, Ichiru."
Kaname reached out to pull Ichiru's plate towards him, then set about searching the table for utensils. He eventually lifted Zero's knife and fork off his plate and tucked in.
"Wow. This is good," Kaname exclaimed on the first bite. "I could almost be fooled this was your reason for being here… Are you done with yours?" This was posed to Zero, who pushed his plate towards Kaname. The brunette smiled his thanks and stabbed the fish with some vengeance before hauling it onto his plate. The others were startled by this, Shizuka covering her mouth with her hands.
"I'm sorry. I'm actually quite hungry and what's safer than food someone is already eating? Especially if you have to worry about being poisoned."
Shizuka actually went white as her boys looked behind Kaname to the soldiers standing there. They were cornered. Kaname was already halfway done when he next spoke.
"Had you decided? Whether strychnine or ricin? I've seen people die from both. Convulsing to death versus going into shock… It's hard not to take that sort of intent personally. But then you all are obviously amateurs, so maybe you didn't know. I mean, meeting the same place every time?"
"Kaname…"
Kaname dropped his fork and backhanded Zero hard across the face. Ichiru scooted forward to tackle Kaname, who twirled the dinner knife agilely and shoved it against Ichiru's neck. Ichiru stared into Kaname's cold, angry eyes, daring him to do it. He didn't care…
"All I'm saying is," Kaname said quietly, watching Ichiru's furious stare, "that I'm speaking and I would prefer if you did not interrupt right now. Alright?"
Ichiru did remove his eyes to the three guards who had their rifles trained on them. Ichiru sat back in the booth and Kaname lowered the knife.
Kaname closed his eyes and took a deep breath, turning his head back and forth in a telling posture of tension, unreleased anger and impatience. He was doing his best to not lose his temper.
"Your positions in my life, that I have allowed you in my life means I would prefer… not to kill you. But I must have satisfaction. I must show you I am not someone you can fuck with like this. Otherwise, I could end up dying in some horrible way for no fucking reason. So, I propose getting angry with those around you. Punishing those around you. Anyone you use, anyone you associate with, anyone who helps you, anyone you love. I wield the power but the power to make those around you extremely miserable or comfortable is up to you. I've tolerated the persons you've rescued from my soldiers at the estate. I've punished my own men because of the stories I've uncovered that you didn't see fit to fill me in on. I've changed a lot about my administration because of the mere fact you've frowned at something we've done. I am extremely attentive to you. To all of you. And that is why this is fucking insulting.
"I am where I am because I incredibly talented at what I do. I have many things that demand my attention. I delegate much of those other matters but not you. From day one I have been in charge of your surveillance. I have been the one to coordinate your security and your maintenance. Shizuka doesn't buy makeup without my knowing about it and you want to sit there and think you can just plot against me? You only insult your intelligence and mine."
They stayed silent for all of this. They were suitably impressed with the fact that they were outmanoeuvred. They waited for the other shoe to drop, only regarding him cautiously as he spoke.
"Bring them."
The Kiriyuus were quite put out to realise that he was serious. The café owner and her husband, the waiters were all marched into their line of sight and made to kneel.
"No! Kaname! They had nothing to do with this!" Shizuka screamed, getting to her feet. Kaname looked unimpressed as he took some bread to dab at the sauce.
"Kaname. Please don't do this to them. We're prepared to…" Zero began, visibly distressed by this.
"You are prepared to die. I know. But I'm not prepared to let that happen. That's the point."
Kaname looked from Zero to Shizuka to Ichiru, who staring at him with such loathing it was hard to take.
"Think about it, Kaname. How do you come back from this? You can't expect us to change our opinion of you if you do this. If you show mercy. If you behave as though you should have our respect then you can have what you want. Whatever you want…"
"Bribing me, Zero? Ichiru did explain your attentions can be bought. I assume I can speak plainly?" Kaname redirected his dark stare at Ichiru briefly before returning it to Zero. "I have to admit that I did have a taste of what was possible. I have to admit it was good. You two old pros could be worth my while. Alright, I'll consider what you have to offer. Let's hear it."
Zero did recoil at this. Kaname was creepy. He did get that they were sensitive about selling themselves. His slimy tone alone made him so… angry. Zero looked down at the dinner knife. He was so close to him...
"Go for it," Kaname whispered. "Show me you're more than just a pretty piece of ass." Zero looked back at him with such hate…
"Kaname, please. I understand how you must feel…"
"Don't patronise me, Shizuka. Don't you dare. You have no idea how I feel."
"Still… Please let them go. Please."
Kaname sat back in his chair and looked at those present at the table. Ichiru was silent and staring at him with such hate he almost wanted to flinch away from it, Zero was gasping for breath and Shizuka was in tears. He thought maybe he'd made his point. He also thought, maybe they should see why they really should hate him…
"Kill the waiters and waitress."
"No!"
Zero was up and past him before he could grab him. He launched himself at the soldier about to fire, the terrified screams of men and women giving him strength and speed he didn't know he had. He punched the man hard and grabbed for the rifle but the world went black soon after. He was outnumbered and had gotten a rifle butt to the head for his trouble.
Meanwhile, Ichiru had a go at Kaname with the knife, but his hand was grabbed by the said brunette and slammed into the table with such force he screamed before he was punched decisively in the jaw. Again and again. Shizuka watched this all with detachment that spoke of her feeling certain it was all over. A detachment that allowed her to notice that if she scooted to her left, carefully, she could remove Kaname's pistol from its holster while he was focused on the boys. She did try, moving carefully and lunging… and was back handed for her trouble. She fell back onto the seat, bouncing off the chair back and collapsing onto the table before moving her hand to nurse her bloody nose. Fucking bastard.
"Take them… back to the house," Kaname seethed as soon as Ichiru was grabbed by the guards. "Keep them under arrest until I get there."
It was at this that the Kiriyuus were dragged from the café and shoved into the waiting van. They were aware that they'd caused the deaths of their friends, the people in the café. Shizuka began to cry softly as the van pulled off, the only one to disturb the stunned, regretful vocal silence. He wouldn't kill them. It seemed an unreasonable withholding of their only dignified escape. Instead, he would…
As soon as the family had safely pulled off down the street, Kaname turned back to the kneeling prisoners. He shoved his hair back from his face and replaced his hat, visibly restraining himself from embarking on his instinct to lash out in this state of… upheaval. He consciously took deep breaths as he walked to face them. His dirty laundry was now even more public than he wished… but he recognised there was no way back with the Kiriyuus if he killed these people.
"You have one hour to pack. One hour. My men will then escort you to the airfield. I don't care where you go but I must never lay eyes on you again. Otherwise, you will be killed. Am I clear?"
"Yes," the owner replied as the others were too stunned to speak.
"Good." Kaname turned to his most senior officer present. "When they have left burn this place to the ground. I want nothing left."
"Sir!"
"SIR? ARE YOU ALRIGHT?"
Kaname looked his driver in the eye in the rear view mirror with such an evil intent the officer looked away quickly and apologetically. Kaname knew he was hiding again. He didn't need it to be pointed out to him.
He hated this situation. Didn't he know he did? How stupid it was? He had so much going for him, so much to do and he was sitting here letting his heart break over these people.
It was how different they were, otherwise they were not that special, he'd told himself. There would be other people. He'd met even more stunning people than they. Some had even offered themselves freely. Why was he here? He could forget them in time. All wounds healed in time. He'd tried and failed. They were never going to accept him furthest love him, especially after today. So why…?
Why? Because he was in love, that's why. Even now, if any of them so much as smiled at him he'd be theirs to command. Theirs. All he'd wanted was his haven in their midst.
Fuck. It was so stupid. They didn't even like him. They wanted him dead.
But only because they still saw him as their enemy. Kaname looked back at the entrance again, his body reacting to just their proximity, his yearning for them obvious. If he walked away it was over. If he did there was no hope to salvage this. But if didn't, he could still show them he didn't have to be the enemy, it could all change. They could change. And he'd have what made him happy. What made him thrive in the midst of so many demands. He knew he could make them happy too. He had the world at his fingertips, a vision of how good it could be. There must be something he could offer them, even if he himself was so unpalatable. Not that he understood why he was. He'd let them have whatever they wanted, besides this "freedom" they kept asking for. All he'd done was fairly matched his wits and military might against several states and won. His hands were dirty, yes. But that was the nature of war.
This was war.
"I'm ready," Kaname said this so quietly it was almost to himself. His driver heard, fortunately. He disembarked quickly, ran around the car and opened the door. Kaname got out and began the longest trudge up fifteen steps in his life.
He'll give them another chance. He had to.
KANAME came through the door and handed his coat to the maid on hand. He noticed how her eyes were averted, the tenseness in her baring. He felt unreasonably judged and his ire swelled again but he knew he was being… sensitive. He could guess how they looked. Even Shizuka had been bleeding when they'd been taken away two hours ago.
"Where…?"
"They're all in the large salon, Sir."
"I will go in alone."
"Sir!"
KANAME walked over to an end table and placed his hat. He then removed his jacket and dropped it over the arm. He ran his fingers through his hair, fluffing it slightly to recover from the weight of his hat. He then went and sat down in the chair and finally looked over to where the family was assembled at various points in the room. Shizuka was on a sofa with Zero while Ichiru was still pacing behind them, which he'd started when he'd entered the room.
"We need to talk… about what happened."
"Are they dead?"
Kaname directed his attention at Ichiru.
"No. They were spared, as you had asked. They were given the opportunity to leave the country, which they have accepted…"
"You... banished them?"
Kaname lowered his eyes to Shizuka. Her face was bruised and swollen. He longed to hold her and apologise, take her pain as his own… Kaname leaned forward onto his knees, the closest he dared go.
"You'd rather I followed through on my threat?"
"I'm ready to go back to the camps. I'd rather do that than see you again."
This was Ichiru. He was ignored.
"This is what will happen. Tomorrow you will pack and you will proceed to our place in … I will follow after the ball. I cannot cancel as I have plans for the event. You will go, settle in, think about your options, what is open to you despite what you obviously consider is a major drawback: me. Then we will talk again."
"Are you nuts? You're certain we're trying to kill you, you threaten to kill our friends and you want us to continue as if nothing has happened…?"
"Yes. I do, Ichiru. Count yourselves lucky."
"Fuck you."
Kaname stood and walked away to the window, ran his eyes over the view of the landscape that still took his breath away because of how close it was to what he'd seen in his dreams... then turned back to the family, slightly more composed.
"I've decided that the mere fact you want to kill me speaks to your misguidedness. Your system of government, your politicians are all gone. Your treasury and banks have been looted. If I accede to your request or I die, chaos will reign. Can you imagine the deprivation that would occur to you and your people if you did this now?"
"We'll bounce back. This is our country!"
Kaname shook his head in wonderment, in exasperation. They had no idea what it took to keep a country together.
"You have no capability to even provide security. I've seen to that. History shows that you would require external forces or the occupying one. You'll have neither. If you think I'm bad, wait until the frightened starving lawless masses outside those gates realise it is far nicer in here than out there."
"You're saying we should choose you?"
"Yes. From a position of common sense. My strategy has always been brutal and comprehensive. It's why we can assimilate and settle quickly. The Monoliths have taken over many countries because of it. You're plotting these silly stratagems because you have no idea of the bigger picture but it is to our advantage. Besides, killing me will not even set us back. I will be replaced and my playbook will continue. You will need a power equal to mine to defeat me. I know all of this and it just infuriates me that you won't see what you have…"
"Have? We've lost everything…!"
"No! You have everything! You have everything because…!" Kaname stalled and forced himself to calm again. His shouting, his getting angry, only made him reckless.
"You have everything because you have me. You all… have… me. My love, my devotion, my attention… my heart." Kaname's eyes rose to Ichiru's then. He knew he was telling the truth. He alone had witnessed his distress… and had tried to relieve it. Exquisitely. Right now, all it would take to destroy Kaname was to tell him he would never be touched by him again. He just refused to believe that.
"So, I'll leave you all to it. I'll see you in …"
"No."
Kaname turned at this. Shizuka had finally spoken. She raised furious, hate filled eyes to his, daring him to force them to go. She'd had enough of this. She could not go. She wanted to save her family from being entangled with the Devil. She could see it. The longer they stayed with him, the farther they would be sucked into the abyss. She would be sucked into the abyss. She wouldn't allow it. She wouldn't.
Kaname walked over to the sofa and the Kiriyuus. He was feeling that fear again, the terror of losing them, but he made himself listen. To them. He bent to examine Shizuka's bruises, but she flinched away. He felt sick it was by his hand.
"Leave us."
"No!" Zero finally said, breaking his traumatised silence in the face of the danger to his mother.
"Shizuka. May I speak to you alone? Please?"
Shizuka did match his stare for a long while before nodding and eyeing Zero. Kaname looked up at Zero and Ichiru and waited. Eventually Zero rose and walked over to his brother, touching his shoulder.
"Come on."
Ichiru divorced his eyes from Kaname and marched out of the door followed by Zero. Kaname then went over to Shizuka and sat beside her.
"I'm sorry about what happened today. I was angry and hurt that, after everything, you still wanted to kill me."
"That's not why I refuse, Kaname."
"Then why? Why won't you give me a chance?"
Shizuka gave him a rather obvious glance and Kaname looked from her to ahead of him in the room.
"If I could, Shizuka, I would turn back the clock and do so much differently. But here we are."
"What are your intentions towards my sons?"
Kaname sighed. He looked back at her.
"The same as the ones towards you."
Shizuka looked away from him. The son of a …
Kaname took the risk and touched her hand. She pulled it away. He then leaned over and pressed his face into her lap. Shizuka fought, hitting him, his hair flying, but he held on until she gave up, until her eyes squeezed shut on the vision of this man…
"What would you have me do?" Kaname whispered, his voice saturated with emotion. "You know me by now. The only reason you hate me is what I need to do as Second Leader. It's not the only thing I am. It's not the only thing I need. How can you blame me for fighting for you?"
"But my sons…?"
Kaname closed his eyes, squeezing away the tears as he straightened.
"I have no words. I didn't expect them to take me over as they did. I wanted to spare them my attentions but what they did with…"
"It's not that simple. They are both individuals…"
"I know. Believe me, I know. That's what I'm counting on actually."
"What?"
"I will protect you all, love you all, as much as I can. Where it goes on your side, is up to all of you."
"You think that I'd…?"
"Why not?"
"They're my children!"
"They're adults. You all are. And as such I will pursue you. I'm tired of fighting how I feel. You all excite me and I won't lie about wanting to make love to…"
Shizuka pushed away from him and stood. She was not having this conversation…
"I won't force you. I'll only insist on you all coming with me but the rest is up to you. Well," Kaname stood and came over to her and pressed his interested body into hers, feeling her melt a little at the contact. "I should warn you; I won't make it easy."
Shizuka straightened and forced herself to walk away from Kaname, heading for the exit. Kaname followed her and touched her arm, turning her to face him.
"What will you do? Will you come with me?"
Shizuka looked at this man in some puzzlement. What a fucking day. No wonder she was terrified they would lose the plot with this man. He desperately wanted them to. He saw no reason why they shouldn't just be happy together. None. She saw what they had been talking about earlier too. It was the way he tried so hard to get under their skin. The quality that made him sympathetic. It made them think it was possible… to forget… what he was.
"We've really no choice, do we, Kaname? I'll go pack."
ICHIRU did ignore the door. Only one person would be knocking. Eventually, it opened and in strode his tormentor.
"Get out."
Kaname did expect his welcome would not be warm. He walked over to where Ichiru sat in the window, his legs dangling outside. He voiced what they were both thinking.
"You'll survive that drop. The most that would happen is you break an arm."
"What. Do. You. Want?!"
"It's crazy, isn't it? I discover a plot to kill me, possibly the Supreme Leader and I'm the one on my knees to you all."
"That's your choice. Perhaps your conscience isn't clear…"
"Of course it is. I regret nothing I've had to do."
"Why not tell that to someone who cares?"
Kaname turned to back the large window to look Ichiru in the face. He noted the black eye and cut lip with some regret…
"I want to talk about what happened."
"At the café?!"
"No. Before the café."
Ichiru released a string of expletives that needn't be reproduced here. Suffice it to say that Kaname did get the message that he had some nerve coming in here to discuss that now. He simply inched closer, waiting out the boy until he drew breath, before grabbing him into a kiss. He'd been dying to do that since he'd laid eyes on him that afternoon. Ichiru fought but he clung to him, using his strength to stay connected to him. Ichiru did eventually sink his teeth into his searching tongue, causing Kaname to pull away then, with a sharp inhalation of breath. Ichiru's hand was pressed to his chest, his own heaving from the exertion. Or maybe…
Ichiru swung his legs inside the window and stood, facing the brunette with a murderous gleam in his eye. The fucking nerve…!
"You held a knife to my throat and now you want to…!"
"So you're saying," Kaname interrupted, as he moved forward and pressed his body against the teen's, his eyes closing briefly on the warm breaths on his face, aching as he was to... "you didn't find that the least bit exciting?"
Ichiru, after a rather stunned pause, grabbed Kaname into a kiss and then another, which the brunette opened to in short order. Ichiru pressed him back against the window, grinding his erection into him, shoving his hands under his shirt to roam his skin restlessly. Kaname pulled away and circled the teen, unbuttoning his shirt as he headed for the bed. Ichiru caught him, lifting him onto it. Kaname actually laughed as Ichiru pressed his face into his exposed stomach after he threw him onto the bed. The half divested shirt was forgotten as Ichiru already had his belt and zip open…
Kaname's mouth opened in a silent scream as his erection was settled with aplomb into a willing mouth and drawn on with the welcome he'd somehow known he'd get.
They'll iron out their differences later.
"TELL ME ABOUT this."
Kaname pried open his eyes and registered that Ichiru's warm mass was still lying on top of him and the youth was tracing the scars on his back near his shoulder. He came up on his left elbow and rubbed his eyes. He'd dearly love to stay here but...
"How long was I out?"
"Twenty minutes. Are you changing the subject?"
"No. I want to leave before your br…" He was aware they met up at night, you see. Not that he'd wanted to make it obvious to them that he knew but he was not his usual cautious self right now.
"Zero came in while I was 'eating' you. He let himself out."
Kaname rolled over to look Ichiru in the eye, to see if he was serious. Ichiru met his gaze unflinchingly. Kaname fell back on the pillows and covered his face with his hands, the shame taking him over. Kneeling, hips raised, face down and writhing against the sheets as Ichiru's face, his tongue was buried resolutely between his... legs. He ought to remember it. He'd come so hard with just that stimulus alone.
"What's the matter? Did you want him to stay and watch? He would, you know, but he's a bit stressed out by today. You understand."
Kaname came out from under his hands at this. Ichiru met his eyes assuredly.
"No! I... Was that… what you…?" It was hard to resist asking, so help him. Especially where someone as obviously uninhibited as Ichiru was concerned.
"Sometimes. I think you would enjoy it, too. Watching Zero go mad with lust while you were able to find relief right in front of him, all while I was fucking you. You know, if you're lucky and he doesn't come when I do, he takes over and gets a little vindictive…"
"Look," Kaname interrupted, pushing Ichiru away as he sat up, spotting the boy was deliberately toying with his desires. "I didn't come here for this. I came in here to talk about what had happened, to let you know it wasn't 'casual' to me." Kaname looked back at the teen as he said this.
"Oh?"
Ichiru rolled over onto the pillows himself and looked at the ceiling. Kaname reached to touch him but Ichiru pulled away.
"What? I don't care what you think. I'd barely remembered anything by mid-morning."
Kaname sighed and got off the bed. He began to look around the room for his clothes.
"I know what happened today is between us…"
"There is nothing between us, Second Leader. Us 'old pros' know how to keep things light."
Kaname ground his teeth together at this, counting backwards from ten…
"Shrapnel from a mortar round," Kaname said as he picked up his shirt and put it on, beginning to button it.
"What?"
"The answer to your question. I didn't duck fast enough into a building and my shoulder bought it. Hurt like a son-of-a-bitch. What really made it worse..." Kaname paused as he shoved his feet into his pants.
"Yes?"
Kaname looked up at the teen as he zipped himself up and closed his belt, his eyes dancing with smug mischief, knowing he had trapped an audience of one. If a look could make you shrivel, Ichiru's would. Kaname relented.
"They took me to a nearby house. This woman did her best with the items she had. Anaesthetic or surgical antiseptic was not among them. I am grateful for what she did but she was no surgeon. If you do it right you'll still feel bits of metal in the scars. This patch here," Kaname pointed to a mass of tissue near his collar bone, "was where the infection set in and they had to remove some skin later when I could get to a doctor."
"You must have suffered so much." Ichiru didn't sound empathetic. In fact, he looked a little… absorbed by the story. Kaname noticed, as he had the teen's open examination of his scars.
"Yes. Next time," Kaname emphasised, waiting until he met his eyes. "I'll tell you about the others."
"Fuck you."
Kaname had picked up his shoes to leave but at this utterance he came back to the bed and pulled the boy into a kiss. For whatever reason the chemistry between them was still scorching. Even with the anger and the last hour of pure…
"I'll see you in a couple weeks," Kaname finally said breathlessly, pulling away from Ichiru's hands, his lips, his own restless roaming of the boy's smooth, warm, muscled body, very reluctantly.
And left before Ichiru could say otherwise.
KANAME closed the door, studiously ignoring the guards as he walked back to his room. He only paused as he passed Zero's room, his eyes showing genuine regret. Was it just a few days ago they'd almost...? And now he'd seen he and his brother... Kaname closed his eyes and groaned softly, a type of pain taking his strength from him.
He wanted him to know it wasn't that he'd chosen Ichiru. That he still wanted him so badly. That the memory of his kiss still lingered. It was… It was just… God. This was so messed up!
Kaname lifted his head from Zero's door and pulled himself together. He'll make it up to him later.
Promise.
to be continued
lightpathetic wrote this but these are not my characters. They belong to Vampire Knight.
