A/N: I would like to apologize for the hiatus I took but here is another chapter. It's more of a filler chapter but I am going to post another chapter. I'm actually going to start writing the rest of it right now but I wanted to upload something because you all deserve that!

So, without futher adue, here is your chapter!

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own KnS but I do own the plot and whatever content I create~

I could say it, but you won't believe me
You say you do, but you don't deceive me
It's hard to know they're out there
It's hard to know that you still care
I could say it but you wont believe me
You say you do but you don't deceive me
Dead hearts are everywhere
Dead hearts are everywhere

Dead Hearts by Stars

[ Kazuma ]

Although the walk to the buffet wasn't that much of a battle, the silence that encompassed both Ayano and him was almost deadly. He knew – well felt – that Ayano was nervous due to the constant flinching and shifting of her eyes every time they walked too closely together. Over the past few months since Ayano's return to the Kannagi estate, he had noticed many, many things about Ayano. For one thing she is a very stubborn, hard-headed, prideful girl and has a tendency of blowing things way out of proportion. Aside from those defects, Ayano is also very determined. When she sets her mind on something there isn't a single existing element that could possibly stop her from reaching her objective. Not only is there fire in her veins, but also in her heart. She is a passionate person who defends what she loves with every ounce of energy she withholds. And yet, after seeing the most unattractive and beautiful sides of her, Kazuma had never, ever, seen Ayano Kannagi nervous.

"Next." The bright and cheerful woman at the front of the buffet line called out looking at both Ayano and him.

When Ayano didn't move, Kazuma sighed and placed his hand on her lower back to push her forward.

"You'll find that if you move your right foot, then your left, your body moves forward therefore allowing the people behind us to advance and finish off their lunches sooner." He whispers under his breath for only her to hear and from the corner of his eye he can see as Ayano straightens up, her chin jutting out in defiance; he smirks.

"J-just shut up and give her the damn tickets!" Ayano hisses his way. She purses her lips and looks away from him, towards the ground while waiting.

Well, at least his jibe caused a slight ripple in the agonizing silence.

Kazuma outstretched his hand and the woman took the tickets, ripping them in half and handing them back. But just as he meant to take them back, Ayano plucked them out of the girl's hand and moved past the bars, over the velvet rope, and towards the buffet line. She didn't even bother to wait for him or even look for a table for the two of them. No. She went straight towards the food. Not that he could really blame her, the food smelled amazing.

By the time Kazuma reached her side she had a mountain of food on her plate already.

"Are you really that hungry?" Kazuma leans down to whisper into her ear.

Ayano jumps and moves away from him ever so slightly, but not slight enough for him to not notice.

"I'm starving." Ayano mutters, taking her plate and stacking it up with more food.

"You do know that you can come back, right?" He smirks and begins absently placing food items onto his own plate.

"Yeah…" her eyes take on a faraway look and Kazuma stares, watching as she quickly shakes her head and turns around to look for a table, "Do you see any empty tables?" she reaches onto her toes to look; Kazuma rolls his eyes and walks forward.

He doesn't turn to make sure Ayano is following because he knew she would. As he expertly swerved through the spaces between the crowded tables, Kazuma made his way towards the back of the dining room. There were several empty tables all around them, but he didn't want just any empty table, he wanted a private booth. He wanted to be away from the large mass of people who stared at mountain of food on Ayano's plate. Like they've never seen someone eat so much. Granted, it was odd to see a woman pack on so much but what was it to them how much she ate?

"Kazuma where are you going?" Ayano hisses behind me in a low voice, "There are empty tables all around!"

Kazuma smirks, shaking his head slightly, "How complacent can you be." He mutters and steps onto a platform then walks towards a booth.

"I'm not being complacent." Ayano scoffs.

Once at a booth away from people, Kazuma slips himself onto the cushioned seat, setting his plate down.

"Oh, but you are. Sitting anywhere is being complacent. Isn't this much better?" He smirks watching Ayano sit across from him.

"Whatever." Color taints Ayano's cheeks and she picks up her chopsticks.

Kazuma chuckles, picking up his own utensils.

"Itadakimasu!" she mutters loudly under her breath and digs into her food.

Silence follows.

It doesn't take relatively long for both Kazuma and Ayano to finish their food and refill their drinks several times in the process. The entire time, however, they don't speak. The only noise that comes from their mouths are the soft sounds of chewing, swallowing, and sucking up liquid through a straw. All around them are the ignorable voices and conversations from the booths ahead of them and then again the tables in the dining room. Both of them – Ayano more than Kazuma – got up to refill their plates, and it amazed Kazuma how much food Ayano seemed to be able to fit inside of her system. He supposed, absently, that she probably ate so much because of all the exercise and training she did on a daily basis.

After a few plates of food, Kazuma sat back, stretching his arms behind his head focusing his eyes on Ayano. Her red hair fell down her face as she ate, and there was a contemplative look across her expression. What could she be thinking? What's going on through her mind?

How frustrating.

"By the way you eat, I'd think you'd be fat by now." Kazuma teases; Ayano tenses.

Pushing her plate away, she squares her shoulder, "Yeah, well, it's a good thing I burn what I eat." She snaps.

Kazuma raises a brow.

She usually didn't react too badly to his jibes. At least, not in this manner.

"You don't have to stop eating." He points out.

"I'm done for now." Ayano shrugs, looking down at her hands.

Kazuma lets it slide.

"So, what brought this on?" he asks.

"I haven't eaten all day so I was hungry." She answers quickly.

"Sometimes it evades me that you need everything spelled out or else you reply stupidly," Kazuma rolls his eyes, "So, why did you invite me out to eat?"

"Oh, that." Ayano bites her lip.

"Yes, that."

[ Ayano ]

"So, what brought this on?" Kazuma asks. His tone is firm but she can hear the slight curiosity in the undercurrent of his voice.

"I haven't eaten all day so I was hungry." Ayano answers, too quickly. She didn't want to start explaining the real reason behind her invitation.

"Sometimes it evades me that you need everything spelled out or else you reply stupidly," anger rose up inside of her and she looked up, her eyes dancing, "So, why did you invite me out to eat?"

The anger disappeared.

She couldn't postpone the explination any longer.

"Oh, that." She bit her lip.

Kazuma locked eyes with Ayano.

"Yes, that."

There was no turning back now.

"I-" Ayano paused and sat up straighter, folding her hands and placing them on her lap, "I wanted to thank you." For staying with me last night and taking care of me.

Not that she'd actually admit to that.

Not that she'd actually say it out loud.

Not that she didn't know he'd drag it out of her.

Ayano sighed.

"Thank me for what?" Kazuma leaned forward, raising a brow, "For staying with you last night?"

Ayano nods.

"How conceited." He laughs humorlessly, "That wasn't for your sake. I did it for Ren. And it wasn't for free."

"Y-You charged him for staying with me?!" Ayano slams her palms against the table, "I thought you said you weren't going to charge him!"

How dare he? She was just trying to be nice and here he was being insufferable as always! How frustrating! Why couldn't he just do something out of the niceness of his heart! Or was it that he really didn't have a heart? Was that it? It had to be.

Ayano scoffed.

"Of course." Kazuma states matter-of-factly, "I don't do anything for free."

"You-You bastard!" she screams, thankful for the fact that they were away from people, not that she'd really care if anyone heard, she just didn't want to keep being stared at.

"Business is business, sweetheart." The corner of his lip upturned into a smirk.

"You're incredible." Ayano shakes her head.

That was enough. She didn't have to explain anything else to him. It wasn't an obligation, it was something she had wanted to do but now, now she didn't even want to look at him. Her debt was repaid and she had nothing else to do here.

With that thought, Ayano stood up and slid out of the seat.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" Kazuma demanded just as she felt a warm hand on her forearm holding her back.

"The hell away from you!" Ayano yanked her hand back but couldn't loosen Kazuma's grip on her.

"Touchy, touchy." He chuckled, "Sit back down. We're not done yet."

Although it went against her initial thought to leave, she could feel the eyes of people on her and if she left now, Kazuma would undoubtedly follow her, not only that he would continue to bug her until she told him what he wanted to know. Not because he cared, but because he loved annoying the life out of her.

A groan escaped her lips.

"Fine." Ayano sits back down.

Kazuma chuckles once again.

"Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?" he baited.

"Screw you." Ayano mutters.

"My, my, if that's all you wanted we could have skipped lunch all together and get to the point." He winks.

Ayano can feel heat rush to her face and she raises her hand to slap him but he stops her before she connects with his face, "Pervert!"

Another chuckle from Kazuma, "Stay." He orders.

"I'm not a dog." She growls.

"Yeah, yeah," he waves a hand dismally, "Now, back to business," he clears his throat, "Why did you bring me here? Instead of just giving me a ticket and being done with it, why did you come along with me?"

Ah, back to the point.

Ayano bit her lip and wrung her hands out, contemplating the best way to start what she had to say. Looking down, a strand of her red hair fell into her eyes and when she looked up it stayed obscuring her appearance. Her eyes met Kazuma's again and she noted his outstretched hand reaching towards her. He pinched the strand of hair between his thumb and index finger then tucked it behind her ear.

More heat rushed to Ayano's face.

"It was bugging me." Kazuma shrugged.

"O-Okay…" Ayano breathed out and squared her shoulders, locking her gaze with his, "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Kazuma arches a brow.

"How I reacted this morning." Ayano looked down, averting his gaze, "I shouldn't have-I mean, I-I just," she sighed.

"So, you do remember what you dreamt?" Kazuma leans forward, elbows pressed against the table.

"Not…exactly." She mutters, "Kazuma," she exhales, her tone becoming more and more serious, "before you found me there were some things that…happened. Some things I had to…do. And I-"

"Stop." Kazuma shook his head, "You don't have to explain anything to me."

Ayano snapped her head upwards, glaring at him, "Can't you just let me finish explaining!" her eyes burned and she squeezed them shut, "Why can't you care for once!"

Silence.

The silence continued but she didn't want to open her eyes, she didn't want to look at Kazuma. She didn't want to see the empty expression that was undoubtedly displayed on his face. It would be too much for her and she couldn't understand why it was too much for her. Why did he have to have such an effect on her!

"That's not-" ring, ring.

Ayano could hear Kazuma's sigh.

"What?" he demands; Ayano opens her eyes.

Frustration masks Kazuma's face and annoyance flickers in his eyes.

"Right now?"

Who was he talking to?

"Fine whatever." The call ended.

"Look, you don't have to explain anything to me. What happened wasn't your fault so stop being melodramatic about everything and get your ass up," Kazuma stood up, "We have a job to do."

A/N: Look forward to another chapter soon!

Let me know what you guys think! I'm sorry that this is a small filler chapter but I promise next chapter will be a helluva lot better!