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I leaned back against the door, causing it to close behind me with a faint sound as the bags fell off my hands carelessly on the floor. Taking deep breaths I tried to relax my body and yet I couldn't find the strength to do it. It was still fresh in my mind and despite my efforts I wasn't capable of pushing the thoughts away.
Just stop thinking about it. Just stop thinking… stop…
I brought my hands on my face, covering it in shame as I felt my cheeks burn. The chairman had warned me to stay away from him. Why didn't I listen to him? How can I be so stupid? I lowered my hand from my face as I felt my body slip on the floor. Bringing my knees close to my chest I wrapped my arms around them before placing my chin on them while staring emotionlessly at a certain spot on the opposite wall.
…I felt my body relax while my hands moved slowly, one resting on his neck and the other snaked its way around his shoulders. My lips soon fell into unison with his, which seemed to excite him more as he parted his, darting his tongue to give a soft lick on mine.
"How long do you plan to sit there?"
I jumped in my place as I straightened up at the sound of the familiar voice only to find a certain silver-haired leaning casually against the door frame of the small hall. I felt my eyes narrow dangerously at the way he was smirking down at me. Stretching my legs in front of me I crossed them as I folded my hands in front of my chest, trying to make myself comfortable.
"As long as I want."
The boy's smirk widened as he shoved his hands in his jacket's pockets, his eyes scanning my form up and down carefully as if he was looking for something. It was weird to feel such anger towards him while the same eyes of a different owner were making me relax, not to mention weak in my stomach.
"My, my… I wonder how Zero puts up with this attitude. He must have his hands full of you all the time."
No sooner had I part my lips to throw at him a snide remark about minding his own business than the chairman barged in the hall with that cheerful smile on his lips.
"Angel-chan, you're back! Oh! And you brought what I asked you too!" He exclaimed in utter happiness and before I knew it, I was squeezed in his arms as he started his mumbling about how good of a daughter I was. My lungs started hurting at the lack of oxygen and I tried to push him away but failing miserably. What was with that man and his bone-breaking hugs?
"Chairman, she can't breathe. I think she's starting to turn blue…"
"What?!" The man shouted as he quickly pulled away and kept me in arm's length, his eyes giving me a concern look as he took in my appearance. From the sigh of relief he let out I was assured that what the brat told him was not true. Thank god…
"Ichiru-kun! That was not funny!" He pouted at the boy only to receive a shake of the latter's head while he rolled his eyes at the older hunter. "Anyway! The vegetable soup must be ready. Ichiru-kun, would you mind checking it?"
The boy nodded softly at the man and with a last glance at my way he left the hall, heading to the kitchen. As soon as I heard the door close behind him I turned quickly to look at the chairman with a look of curiosity and slight suspicion. He just gave me a big smile. Yet, as soon as he noticed my eyes narrowing dangerously at him the smile fell from his lips as he cleared his throat.
"What is going on?" I hissed but his face remained emotionless as he responded.
"Now, now, Angel. Don't get so dramatic. I just invited Ichiru-kun to have dinner with us."
"You just invited?" I curled my trembling hands into fists as I took in deep breaths in order to calm down "Are you out of your mind, Kaien?! If Zero sees him he'll be furious! Did you forget what he did?"
"Angel, calm down." He spoke softly and from the tired and serious tone in his tone I shut my lips as I waited patiently for him to explain despite my state. "No, I did not forget. But I'm willing to let anything aside if it means for him to choose the right way. After all, he is Zero's brother."
I swallowed thickly as I turned to look away from him while crossing my hands on my chest. Beside me the man let out a deep breath before he continued with the same calm tone.
"Ichiru is the only family Zero has got. Don't you want him to at least have that after everything that has happened to him?"
My face fell a little as I felt a tight knot in my throat preventing me from speaking. A warm hand was placed on top of my head caressing my hair softly. I breathed in deeply before exhaling and from the corner of my eye I could see the soft, loving smile forming on the man's lips.
"I know it is difficult for you but imagine how it is going to be for Zero. He just needs a small push in order to mend things with Ichiru. And I believe you're exactly what he needs." My cheeks grew warm at the last comment and yet I tried to mask my embarrassment by just rolling my eyes at him.
"Whatever…" I muttered, trying to sound uninterested but it only caused the man to chuckle a little at my response.
"I know that over time you'll come to see things like I do. Besides, everyone deserves a second chance."
I lifted my head to face him, taking the soft expression on his face in before breaking our gaze and looking above his shoulder at nothing in particular as I lost myself into my thoughts. Perhaps he was right. Maybe we should try to approach him, especially Zero. Both of them had gone through a lot and they only had each other. But how would Zero take it? He would be furious with us, that was for sure. But then again, I knew that deep down he still cared about Ichiru despite the fact that he was trying to hide it.
"All right." I muttered earning a relieved smile from the hunter. "But" I added as he parted his lips to speak. "if he plans to murder us after this I'll just say it was your idea and that I had no part in it." I stated with a threatening tone in my voice before I hurried my way towards the kitchen with the man running behind me.
"Angel-chan! Wait! You don't mean it, right? Right?!"
I just shook my head a little, trying to suppress the smile that threatened to make its way on my lips and failing in doing so. Yet, the minute I stepped into the kitchen and faced the boy that occupied himself with the cutting of vegetables I felt my insides turn into a knot. Our gazes met and remained there for a brief moment as if one expecting the other to make the wrong move. None of us moved a muscle as we continued our staring contest until a yelp brought our attention to the other occupant of the room. I turned to look towards the chairman seeing him shaking his hand furiously.
"It hurts!" He exclaimed as he continued his ministrations and I rolled my eyes at him before heading towards him and taking his hand, placing it under the sink.
"Take it easy, chairman-"
"Dad!" He pouted at me as he looked down at me with tearful eyes.
"Just try not to burn yourself again." I said, giving him a small smile before moving towards the counter next to the other boy, setting some vegetables in front of me. I felt the younger hunter's stare on my form as I took a knife in my hand. Catching a glimpse at him from the corner of my eye, I couldn't help but smirk a little at the wary look on his face as his eyes moved from the knife to me and then back at the knife.
"Stop staring. I don't have any particular interest in stabbing you." He scoffed at that.
"As if you could hurt me." He muttered as he took his own knife and continued cutting down in small parts the vegetables in front of him. I felt my eye twitch but I preferred to remain silent, biting the inside of my cheek as to achieve it. What a nice start we made…
"Ichiru-kun! Can you set the table? The plates are in the cupboard-"
"I'll do it!" I said as I untied the apron from around my waist and placed it on the counter.
"And what makes you so sure of yourself that you can do it?" The mockery in his tone made me roll my eyes at the younger hunter before walking towards the cupboard.
"I'm perfectly capable of setting a table. Thank you very much."
"I meant reaching the plates." I stared at him for a few seconds trying to comprehend what he was actually hinting until it finally clicked. I felt my blood boil as I fixed him with a murderous look.
"Are you implying that I'm short?" I hissed as I watched him closing the distance between us.
"No." He run a hand through his locks before he opened the cupboard with his other. "I'm stating it plainly and simply." Taking a few plates he handed them to me totally oblivious to the fact that I was glaring holes at the side of his head. Or he was just ignoring me. "Off you go." He didn't wait for me to say anything as he turned his back at me and walked towards the chairman.
I stood in my place for a couple of seconds debating upon whether I should indeed go and set the table or just smash each and every plate on the brat's head. Needless to say the former won. And only because I was in no mood cleaning up the mess and burying a body afterwards. I clenched my teeth as I exited the kitchen and headed to the dining room before placing the pile on the table not so gently and started setting them. After I was done I let out a deep sigh, feeling a lot calmer than earlier. I stretched my hands above my head as a small yawn escaped my lips.
"Stretch as much as you want. You'll never see an improvement." I gritted my teeth as I snapped my head towards the intruder only to meet with his smirking face. Oh, how much I wanted to just smack him hard right now.
"Keep going and I'll just have to take drastic measures." His smirk only widened at that.
"You mean slapping me?" A small chuckle escaped his lips as he pushed against the doorframe he was leaning against and walked towards me until he stopped right in front of me. "We both know that you're incapable of doing this." I clenched my hands tightly trying to control my temper as best as possible.
"Don't be so sure." I hissed causing him to roll his eyes at me, his smirk never falling from his lips.
"But I am for two reasons. One, you can't reach my face…" My temper was almost out of my control and I was sure now. One more word from the brat and I would spend the rest of the night digging a hole in the garden to dump his corpse. "And two, that would be very unlady like. What would Zero think?"
"That he is the lucky twin, perhaps?" I crossed my arms in front of my chest as I fixed him with an annoyed look. He just shook his head at me softly before he brought a hand at the top of my head, ruffling my hair and earning a groan of protest from me.
"Whatever you say, shortie."
"I'm not short!"
"You barely reach my chest. Which makes you short."
"Or maybe you and your brother are just too damn tall!" I exclaimed as I threw my hands in the air in exasperation. The boy parted his lips probably to make another smart remark only to be interrupted by the sight of the chairman hurrying towards the door. Both me and the boy stared at him curiously as he opened it while we made our way to him. But as soon as we did I felt the boy going rigid next to me when he realized who stood behind the door. My body tensed too as my eyes fell on the two newcomers especially when I met the gaze of the boy's. The strange feeling at the pit of my stomach was too much to bear especially when my mind was filled with images from the incident at town…
No… don't think about that now…
"Welcome home!" The chairman greeted cheerfully at the other two. "Today we have a special menu! And a guest as well!"
But it was clearly unnecessary to point the obvious since Zero had already taken notice who was standing beside me. In a few seconds his features darkened and I saw his hands curling into tight fists. Panic run through my entire body, making my stomach twist painfully in fear as well as anxiety. However, I didn't let it show as I brought a big smile on my lips before swaying my way towards Yuki and Zero. I wrapped my arms around him from behind as I rested my chin on his shoulder before I spoke.
"Come on! Dinner is ready and I'm starving! How about you, Yuki?" I sent her a small smile yet the look on my face must have been one of slight desperation.
"Oh yeah! And we'll finally get to know Ichiru! So let's get inside!" She hurried herself in without noticing that Zero was glaring daggers at the both of us or she may have decided to just ignore him. From the corner of my eye I saw Ichiru retreating back into the house, following Yuki who was mumbling to him whatever first came to her mind. Next was the chairman who followed suit after he sent both me and the hunter a small grin. Once we were left alone, I tightened my grip around him before bringing a hand on one of his cheeks, tilting his head so that he was facing me before I placed a kiss on the corner of his lips. The hunter took a deep breath and for the first time this evening I felt him relax in my arms.
"Don't think I'm even agreeing to this. Not even for a second." I pouted at the hard tone in his voice before kissing him again on his chin this time.
"Really, Zero. You have to let go eventually. He's your brother after all…" The glare I received from him gave me goosebumps but I maintained the emotionless look on my face and didn't let it cease my efforts to persuade him.
"Give him a chance. For tonight at least." Our gazes remained focused on each other, no one daring to break our staring contest until I received another tired sigh from Zero. I couldn't prevent the small smirk of victory from my lips nor the excitement that filled me as I showered his cheek with small pecks.
"I knew you'll make the right choice! I knew it!" I exclaimed among kisses before I felt him turn around in my arms and wrap one strong arm around my waist. He brought his face close to mine, only inches separating us, causing the tips of our noses to rub gently against each other.
"Just consider yourself lucky that you're so damn cute." I narrowed my eyes dangerously despite the burning feeling in my cheeks. The hunter smirked down at me before he pulled away and walked towards the entrance.
"Aren't you coming?" I let out a snarl in response as I followed him in silence. First, the one calls me shortie and now the other cute. What an annoying pair of stupid twins…
I leaned back against my chair as I let myself stare back and forth between the twins that stood on either side of me and across from each other. There was a heavy silence between us as the chairman and Yuki were in the kitchen. I started getting impatient with the two brothers who weren't even bothering to spare a look at one another. Talk about stubbornness…
Time passed so slowly even the seconds seemed awfully long. I let out a deep breath as I started patting my fingers on the table in a certain rhythm . Again, no reaction. Was I invisible or something? I brought my other hand too to rest it on the table before it mimicked the movements of the other. I took notice of the grimace that appeared on Ichiru's face for a few seconds signaling his annoyance before being replaced with that usual emotionless look of his. I started tapping my fingers louder on the wooden table.
"I understand that you're getting excited for even managing to reach the table" ouch… "But can you at least limit this excitement to yourself?"
My only response was the murderous look I sent on his way before removing my hands from the table and folding them on my chest. Stupid jerk. I looked away from him, the hard look on my face not even relaxing especially when I caught Zero trying to suppress a smile as he brought a hand to cover his lips pretending he coughed. What…? He was laughing at me? Over something the jerk said? I fumed more at that. Well, at least he was warming up to his brother. Even if that meant he would sleep another night alone in his room. Jerks…
Fortunately, the moment of my torture was over when Yuki entered the room holding a tray with four glasses of juice. My mood perked up slightly at her sight and I straightened my pose on the chair before I took one of the glasses in my hand. The girl sent me a questioning look as she pointed with her eyes towards the boys who didn't make a move to acknowledge her. I just shrugged at her before bringing the glass to my lips and took a small sip from the cool sweet liquid. The girl sweat dropped, noticing my bad mood before she decided to take matters in her own hands.
"So…" She started with a warm smile on her lips. "You are really identical!" I bit my bottom lip before I took another, longer this time sip from my drink. Way to go, Yuki. State the obvious. She must have realized her mistake at the looks she received from both boys.
"I mean… earlier when me and Angel were in the infirmary I was still fuzzy from sleep and I mistook you for Zero! You-"
"What?!" Oh no…
"Zero-" But it was too late for me to calm him down. He was already on his feet as his glaring eyes fixed on his brother, signaling the pure fury he was feeling.
"Did you try to do something to them?!" He yelled at Ichiru but the other hunter remained still in his place as he stared down at the table. I quickly jumped on my feet and closed the distance between me and Zero as I placed one hand on his arm, trying to sooth him.
"Zero, nothing happened! Ichiru just happened to be there-"
"Don't screw with me! We both know he was planning something! Like the last time!"
"Zero-"
"Tadah! Sorry for keeping you waiting!" Both me and Yuki turned to look at the chairman and I couldn't help the wave of relief that washed me while I was on the verge of kissing the man for the right time he decided to cut in. As the man walked towards us with a tray containing bowls of hot vegetable soup, I focused back on the boys only to find them still in the same state as if we weren't interrupted.
"You'll see Ichiru that I make the best vegetable soup-"
"I'm leaving." Ichiru said with a surprisingly calm tone in his voice as he pushed back his chair before standing on his feet. The feeling as if I had a knot in my stomach returned and I turned to look at Zero, whishing that he would change his mind and try to make amends with his brother even at the last minute. But from the furious look on his face I knew that my hopes were pointless.
"What…? Now…?Now…?" The chairman mumbled helplessly as he stared at the boy, seeming at a loss. As Ichiru reached him he stopped for a moment as if thinking about something before shaking his head lightly.
"It's useless… It's too late to choose another way to live." And with that he was gone. The room was filled with awkward silence before the chairman's moping broke it.
"My special menu. And we tried so hard…!"
"We'll eat it! Right?" Yuki took the tray from the man's hands as she turned to look at us, seeking some kind of support. I only managed a small nod as the boy beside me remained silent and stared off into nothing in particular. I let out a sigh as I nudged him lightly on his side, causing him to stiffen a little.
"Come on. Before it gets cold." I said as I motioned towards the bowls that Yuki was now placing on the table. For a moment the boy seemed shocked as he took notice the contains in the bowls and I tried to resist and not slap him at the back of his head as I felt my temper rise again.
"Ichiru insisted we make vegetable soup." I didn't even try to hide the annoyance in my voice nor the look of disappointment when Zero focused on me with the same expression gracing his features. I shook my head at him before taking my sit again along with Yuki and the chairman. The boy lingered in his place for just a few seconds before he sat back down on his chair and ate his meal in complete silence for the rest of the evening.
I watched Zero closely from my spot on the bed as he dried his hair lazily with a towel. His mood hadn't changed one bit since what happened at dinner and he barely uttered a word to any of us unless he really had to. Not that I expected him to take it any better than he already was. He still hadn't forgiven Ichiru for siding with a pureblood and the murderess of their parents as well. I could only imagine the dilemma he was facing. But that was not my only concern.
As soon as the door of my room closed behind us I felt the familiar feeling of guilt wash over me once again. It was so intense that every time I met his gaze I couldn't hold it for more than a few seconds before looking away and trying to keep a straight face. He hadn't mentioned anything about it. Maybe he thought that I was still angry or upset about the turn of things. Which I was, don't get me wrong. But the more I saw his gloomy face the more my insides twisted painfully at what should be my next step. Should I tell him? But then what?
Zero stood up silently and headed towards the bathroom with the folded towel in his arms and I found the opportunity to release a deep breath. Without thinking about it, I dived under the covers pulling them all the way until I was buried under them and closed my eyes tightly, trying to force myself to sleep. I wasn't going to tell him. Things have been perfect between us. But of course the stupid pureblood had to mess everything to get what he wanted. Selfish little bastard. And quite full of himself also.
That good?
No. It was not that good. It wasn't good at all. He was only a slimy git trying to prove himself in the most pathetic way he could come up with. So full of himself. Annoying. Annoyingly full of himself-
The bed shifted as the covers were lifted and I was soon joined by the hunter. Immediately my heartbeat increased rapidly as the same thoughts filled my mind again. I waited frozen in my spot, not daring to move a muscle. It was only after hearing him sigh heavily when I gathered all my strength and courage to turn around and fix my gaze on his form, my fingers clenching the cover tightly and lowering it until it reached my chin. His face came to my view and my expression softened more at the tired look on his face as he stared at the sailing. He seemed like he was lost in his thoughts and I knew that I shouldn't interfere. But it was me we were talking about. Not to mention the fact that the troubled look have always suited him…
I shifted closer to him until I could nuzzle my face on his arm, my hand moving to grab the fabric of his sleeve in an almost desperate way. Another sigh. He turned his head on the side to look at me. Our eyes met for a few seconds before I hesitantly brought a hand to rest on his cheek. His eyes fluttered close before he shifted in his place and moved his head on the crook of my neck. I slowly wrapped my arms around him, one resting on his back while the other at the back of his head, running my fingers through his numb hair. It wasn't long until his breathing slowed down but I continued my ministrations, savoring the feeling of having him this close to me…
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