Chapter 24: Moving in Together
by lightpathetic
"EXCUSE ME PLEASE, MA'AM, SIRS. The Second Leader requests your presence on the aft deck."
Shizuka looked over to where her sons returned her inquiring glance from across the sunlit lounge and stood, going to follow the… uh… attendant to mount the stairs.
They were on an undoubtedly commandeered yacht of massive size and luxury heading towards their new undoubtedly commandeered home. But they held their tongues on these points, all too grateful, even Ichiru, to be anywhere else than the stark mountain retreat, essentially imprisoned with the Supreme Leader, of all people.
Their new home promised more freedom and more of the familiar and they all had a soul-deep, powerful yearning for this. So much so… their scruples were momentarily buried and their excitement had become unbearable. Not even the thought of it being a cruel trick could dampen it, especially when the aircraft had cleared the mountain range of blue-grey rock that had been their imposed limits for too long. Shizuka had actually begun to tear up, she was so relieved.
"Mother…"
"It's alright, Zero. I'm just… so…"
"I know. I know. But you mustn't let them see…"
Even Zero suspected it was too good to be true. He felt the pressure to be on their best behaviour just in case… He didn't know what he would do if he were again to wake up in that place.
"Please stand over here."
The "attendant" – really a soldier in a linen, dark green, double breasted suit, red shirt and a tie, adorned by a lapel pin with the unmistakable emblem of the Regime, which they were sure was the compromise Kaname had reached with himself on the point of making them feel less imprisoned and more "protected" – gestured politely to the railing facing the shore, beside the ramrod straight, highly decorated officer that was already there.
"Sir! The Kiriyuus are present, Sir!"
"Dismissed."
"Sir!"
The attendant/soldier/guard clicked the heels of his highly polished laced boots and left as the family looked over at the officer inquisitively, if with a little apprehension. They'd been ordered removed from the decks earlier and it had only increased their tension.
"Come on. Stand here. Next to me," Kaname ordered, impatiently reaching out and taking Shizuka's hand, guiding her gently but firmly to the railing, all the while looking behind her to ensure her sons followed suit. "I apologise for leaving you all in the lounge like that," Kaname continued, reading their censure on their faces, "but I wanted you out of the way for the final preparations."
The Second Leader wore dark, gold-rimmed aviator sunglasses hiding his gaze, his face otherwise unreadable. It was now several weeks since he had returned and he was a great deal closer to his old domineering self. He stood more comfortably now, his arms free of slings and now clasped behind him as if to keep them out of trouble. His ribs, arm and leg were still tender and he walked with a slight limp but he considered that acceptable in his line of work.
Despite their intimacy it still made them nervous when he was like this, which he well knew. He liked keeping them on edge when it suited him. Went to help the imbalance of power between them into his favour, in his opinion. Such power was very evident in the way he closely watched their faces even as the gorgeous coastline of … rolled by them.
"Preparations for what?"
"No questions. Just keep watch. Tell me what you see."
Kaname turned fully on the view to unabashedly continue his scrutiny of their faces as the yacht proceeded on its journey, leaning back on the railing in an odd lapse of his rigid posture. All they could see was a tree-lined, rocky coast at this point. None of them looked impressed, especially as they've been staring at the same view for a long while before their sequester. They seemed more interested in keeping their hair from being whipped into their eyes.
"I think I see it!" Shizuka gasped, pointing above their heads, pulling back from the railing and away from the stoic officer's side in her excitement.
"Where?" Ichiru asked, squinting into the distance.
"Up there! I can make out a roof…!"
"That high up…?" Zero asked, crowding her as if to borrow her line of sight. He wondered about livestock or farming on such hostile terrain.
"I don't see anything…"
"It's a spire of some sort! Up there! I'm sure of it!"
"A spire? Out here…?"
"I don't see anything," Ichiru said again.
It was then the boys looked over at Kaname and noticed his careful unreadability. Too careful. It was a tease. They knew it. They both looked at him in suspicion, missing the exact moment the tree-line and rocks gave away to an expansive sundrenched aquamarine horse-shoe shaped bay and…
"Oh my God!"
That was Shizuka, her hands pressed to her mouth to stop any more involuntary utterances, forgetting the bit of roof she thought she had just spotted in the bush, as the boys' jaws just about hit the floor.
And only then did Kaname finally relax his greedy stare, relief taking over his features as he closed his eyes to savour then file away that glorious mental picture of their happiness in his mind for future, quite obsessive, reference.
THEY HAD left the Fort by airplane five days before. The airplane itself had to make several stops for fuel over three days, during which time they were ushered off the craft and hosted in the various locales in a manner that again reminded them of just who Kaname was.
They had full access to everything. They visited the best restaurants, were allowed to sleep, wash and change in some of the finest accommodations and were even plus-threes when Kaname visited the local military headquarters, Kaname seemingly unwilling to have them more than a couple rooms away from him at a time. They were left in a designated apartment when he had to work, always there when he was ready. Waiting dutifully.
Like trained animals.
"Wasn't Her Eminence coming?" Shizuka asked once, as they got into the car, again, for the fifth time that day.
"Why do you ask?" Kaname demanded, only briefly delaying the answer by turning to take the proffered bundle of a briefcase and a folder of paperwork from his attendant before dismissing him to the front passenger seat.
"Just curiosity, Kaname," Zero responded, eyeing his mother in frustration. He'd reminded her of what Yuuki had said while they'd chatted in the office, waiting for the Second Leader, seemingly unused to not having the Supreme Leader underfoot.
"Her Eminence's movements are never discussed, Shizuka," Kaname responded tersely as he discretely ascertained the contents of the folder before tucking it with practiced efficiency into his briefcase and placing said case between his feet. "Do not ask again."
Now, the Kiriyuus didn't claim to know Kaname very well. He'd only come into their lives less than two years ago and much of his past - and present, for that matter - were secrets he guarded quite carefully. Attempts to ask about his origins or even his current circumstances would engender the vaguest responses. He wanted nothing as useless as the past and his origins to cloud who he was now and what he meant to them. Sometimes, various nuggets would slip out about him but they seemed to be judiciously elicited, a way to apologise or explain that would accompany an endeavour to be better.
Even Yuuki seemed to respect this desire. Some of her favourite fodder for dinner conversation, after much effort by her adoring husband, was revised to encompass her own past, – she did like to talk about herself – discuss politics or tease Kaname about his naivety about the gentler affairs of life. The war and what they'd gathered was Kaname's harsh upbringing were divorced from their interactions so as not to contaminate them. The present issues were to be risen above, to the point of even viciously shutting down an officious general that had had the temerity (or bad luck) to invite him to a firing squad in their presence. He wanted, craved, the fresh start in their eyes and they knew they faced an uphill battle to learn more. A hard, but not impossible, task. They all had their means…
That being said, what they did know of Kaname made them wonder if all this delay, his careful control of their movements and his imprecise, unnecessarily sharp answer, meant she was already… there.
Shizuka, rather than be offended, gave Zero a rather pregnant look as he sat across from her beside Kaname, his own suspicions dawning on his face. Kaname looked up on the completion of his exercise and caught it, just before Shizuka began to pretend to be staring at the scenery behind Zero's head. Kaname searched the carefully blank faces of the other occupants in the car before jamming his sunglasses onto his face and training his gaze out of the window, settling into a sulk.
He hated being this familiar sometimes. It had ruined so much effort to surprise a certain nosy family.
SO NOW, as the yacht began to turn into the bay, the almost cloudless sky allowing the sun full reign to play off the seemingly endless expanses of stone and masonry that formed the apex, the family finally moved for the first time in minutes, the Second Leader quite forgotten, and walked towards the bow, never letting their eyes leave the vision for a second.
The first thing Zero noticed was the scale of everything. The rocks that framed the prongs of the natural deep-water bay successfully hid the gradual slope of the massive expanse of hills and valleys around the enormous mansion, if you could call it that. The building was an imposing edifice of glistening marble and stone that sat atop a hill in the distance, a long driveway met numerous stone steps that rose from the water as though they had just been birthed from the depths.
There were several hefty columns to the entrance, a two-storey high patio that led to an arched doorway with enormous wooden doors. Your eyes having digested this detail, would then follow the several French windows and balconies thrown skyward to the roof with a design that simulated cresting waves, and around it, flung outward to the wings of the abode that would each comfortably house twelve families. A stone pathway eventually divided the edifice from beautifully manicured hedges, shaped into points, hiding what lay behind them in glorious mystery. The hedges went on and on but did end at a short wall that gave way to the expanse of green slopes, where Zero did see livestock milling around in gentle habit, blissfully unaware of any changes to their lives their showing up would wrought.
Shizuka and Ichiru too noticed all this in various modes of contemplation for what it would all mean… as well as, of course, the "attendants".
Several guards stood in their new uniforms along the stone pier and in two rigid rows up the steps and then the driveway, forming a gauntlet of humanity for the important arrival. The yacht, they realized, was slowing down as it maneuvered towards the impact-insulated end of the stony causeway. Something looked odd about the stone in the water and then Ichiru realized there was no darkened stone or moss anywhere. Everything must have been scrubbed to perfection. It was then a tarnish finally set in for Ichiru on the immaculate vision before him that was quite at odds with the monumental effort to create the opposite effect.
The Kiriyuus stayed on the bow until there was no choice. Kaname hated to disturb them even as they had docked, the ropes having been thrown and tied securely, the attendants waiting patiently in the sun, two near a vehicle with the top down, the better to see the supple tan leather upholstery inside. However, even the Kiriyuus had guessed without the small immaculately coiffed woman appearing in the columned patio five minutes ago, that the sheer number of soldiers meant someone else besides Kaname was in charge here.
"Dearest," Kaname whispered gently, low, so only they would hear despite the other soldiers who had boarded to attend to them, using the intimate endearment to soothe their obvious intimidation, smoothing his hands over their backs and moving in close to press his body to theirs in affectionate encouragement and physical assurance of his protection. "Please. It's time to go… home."
They all turned to look him in the eye at this and, appearing to like what they saw there – and he in theirs – they turned to follow him off the boat that had been their luxurious accommodation for almost two days to indulge in the positively obscene hospitalities that now awaited them.
"AND THIS is our apartment."
Yuuki was elsewhere by this time. She'd stayed for the extravagant welcome, – there had been a live band that had begun playing as soon as they'd stepped onto the pier – partook in the late lunch she'd had arranged as she spoke animatedly of the main attributes of the place: beautiful, secure, remote and well appointed – there were two swimming pools as well as the beach, of which Yuuki had spoken knowledgeably about the prospects for a good swim and her latest movie – then walked with them, her arm in her husband's, as they explored the main floor before excusing herself to tend to some business. Kaname kissed her adieu like a good husband before continuing the tour, his focus obviously on one aspect he wanted their reaction on, deeming the maze of gardens, the outer buildings and virtually eighty percent of the household, places they could explore at their leisure. He did show them the stairs to the main kitchen, the "large" ballroom, – where he expected a housewarming party to be hosted in the near future as he met Shizuka's defiant stare - the "small" salon, - bringing to mind their after-dinner chats on their farm – before heading towards a sweeping stone staircase which led to the second floor. It was soon clear the reason for the half-assed tour.
"What do you mean by 'our', Kaname?"
"I'm glad you asked, Zero," Kaname replied, taking his hand and leading him off to the left. "This is your room. You'll find the decor very familiar. As will you, Ichiru," Kaname mentioned, taking Ichiru's hand as he had come in to look and marched over to an adjoining door, which he opened and pulled Ichiru through. They were both familiar. Too familiar.
"Kaname, you didn't have to…"
"I know, Zero. You'll notice the views of the fields. See? I've thought of everything. Shizuka? There you are. Come!"
Kaname trapped Shizuka's slim waist in this right arm and guided her through the doorway to the common area set up with four graceful antique, stuffed chairs and a low highly polished redwood table next to the French window and balcony with a view of the gardens and cliffs.
The boys had time to notice that their belongings had already been unpacked, put away and arranged, even in their own private bathrooms before following the excited Second Leader, across the plush rug on the cool marble flooring, to the open doorway of the room opposite.
"Do you like it? I thought you would like the view of the sea and the larger room. You'll need the space if you are to dress appropriately as mistress of the household."
"What?" Shizuka croaked, quite breathless at Kaname's uncanny attention to detail. The surroundings were not just familiar. The carpet was the same fucking shade…
A dimple appeared in Kaname's cheek as he walked over to a pair of double doors in the corner, flinging them open wide.
"The designer calls it 'a walk-in closet fit for a queen'," the officer edified, moving between the laden shelves and dresses like an ingratiating realtor at an open house all while the family stood speechless at the door. "You'll find everything you need in here and some things you don't. Still, it would please me very much if you wore them for me. Including for our party. You'll notice I didn't forget to pack my gifts to you."
"Kaname, I don't…" Shizuka began, as she blushed at his meaning, the well-lit glass case mocking her as the glinting jewels taunted her cruelly. She was sure no-one would look under the mattress…
"… Know what to say?" Kaname finished for her, well past his initial anger at her attempt to thwart him. "That's alright. You can thank me later. … By wearing this emerald set to dinner, I think."
Kaname winked then strode past the family, exiting to open a door next to Shizuka's room.
"Zero and Ichiru have a similarly appointed closet but slightly smaller. Men don't require as much fuss, I was assured.
"Here we are. Welcome to my room."
Kaname stood to one side as the family peered in. It faced the ocean fully and was a great deal smaller and simpler, but also familiar. Shizuka was oddly touched by this. Of all the design choices, he'd chosen his room at the estate as inspiration.
"I don't require much," Kaname edified, his hand still on the doorknob as the family lingered outside uncertainly, not sure they would all fit. "Just you."
"Really, Kaname. Must you lay it on so thick?" Shizuka scolded, folding her arms as she began to wonder to whom this home had belonged and backed away. She needed to get angry. Remind herself…
"Yes. I must. When I'm away and you begin to doubt me, the evidence will surround you and remind you. I want you to love it here. It's very important to me that you… love being here.
"And don't worry about my room. I don't plan to use it very often."
Kaname said this while holding Zero's gaze and they quickly got that besides his travel, there would be at least two other reasons for his neglect of this room. Shizuka's eyes went to the doorknobs for reasons of security. It was as she suspected: no locks.
"What about your wife?" Ichiru asked, aching to take the self-satisfied smile from Kaname's face.
"She's fine, Ichiru," Kaname replied smoothly. "Thank you for asking…"
"You know what I mean…"
"I do, Ichiru. And it won't work. I'm too happy we're here together. Still, I'll assure you that the Supreme Leader's wing is on the other side of the house overlooking the outdoor pool. It is also outfitted with the best money can buy and absolutely fantastic views from sea to shore. She won't hear, or care about, anything we do over here."
"Do you have to be so crude in front of our…?"
Ichiru was silenced by Kaname's sudden march over to him and being hooked into a kiss. He was happy. Very. And it didn't help matters that he had just spent the night with the younger of the twin.
The boy knew exactly what to do to him, how to play him like a finely tuned instrument, taking him to just about every edge he possessed mentally and physically without letting him fall over into irreversible damage. Kaname still could not believe how perfect they were together, getting what he needed each time. And last night was no exception, even with him merely having given in to temptation and showing up at Ichiru's cabin door without notice in the middle of the night, with just the look in his eyes the boy knew how to read by now. This miracle worker had done it all with the aid of a length of rope he'd left to borrow from a steward and a candle from the dining area. He would loathe to admit now he'd had his doubts when he'd spied the lone candle in Ichiru's grasp after waiting anxiously for several minutes, but he was soon expertly bound and exquisitely tormented in ways that still made his toes curl thinking about it. His back, thighs and… well other delicate parts were still sore and throbbing deliciously from use and abuse. Hell, even his eyes ached from rolling so hard each time he came. He was now lit up with a sensory ache so encompassing that it threatened to rob him of his ability to function. As such, he was perversely ready for round two. His having knocked the ball out of the park like this with them only made him happier and hornier. He couldn't wait for tonight.
Zero and Shizuka turned away strategically to the stunning views at this point, Zero inexplicably feeling no joy as the gaily sun-swept coast met his eyes. He still had this stupid jealousy, this possessiveness of Kaname he couldn't shake. Even as he realized Kaname was determined to have them both, and he had shared lovers with his brother in the past, he felt bereft when Kaname was elsewhere. Like last night. Like this morning when Kaname'd shot him a smug look and asked him how he'd slept last night knowing he'd heard them, his room being next to Ichiru's, on the other side of a solid partition but a much more sound-porous porthole.
Like now.
Zero did feel his surprise when he felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned to his face being cupped tenderly and Kaname leaning in to touch his forehead with his. Did he notice his irritation? His… silly… feeling of…
Probably.
He thrived on it, no doubt. He probably got off knowing Zero was on the other side of the wall yearning to sink himself just as deeply into his heat…
Bastard.
"Would any of you like to rest before dinner?" Kaname finally offered, holding Zero's gaze for several beats before turning to face the others as he pulled Zero into his side, resisting his efforts to separate.
Kaname was heady from his own freedom. They were finally together. He would hide nothing of his feelings. He refused to believe the happiness he felt, this love that overwhelmed him, was wrong. The sooner they accepted it, the better for them all. And he knew he could make it all worth it if they let him. Easily surpass the efforts of those dinky little politicians and elites that had had custody of their hearts and bodies and squandered it.
In return, Zero just had to sit in the chair by his balcony and let Kaname leisurely suck him off a couple times before dinner, with the orchard as a backdrop. Like he'd done three nights ago at the hotel. He'd come out of his room and found Zero just sitting there in the living room by himself looking out over the moonlit city in … He'd been in awe of the size, the grandeur, the artistry of everything and Kaname had vowed to bring them back and show them around. Then he'd kissed him. Bent and kissed the youth's upturned, happy face. He loved knowing them, sharing his life with them. And loved the idea that the world would know it. Soon, as his tongue lanced leisurely into his mouth, his hand roamed down Zero's taut stomach to possessively cup, then massage the boy's burgeoning length through the material of his shorts: stroking, squeezing, slowly but firmly rubbing until the anticipated gasp against his mouth, the impatient moan a plea it didn't occur to him to resist... He'd next found himself on his knees with the youth stiffened in need and pressing back into the chair as if to escape as the brunette licked, kissed and swallowed his tender, hard, long, dripping flesh whole, over and over, all with the City of … sprawled below them in unconscious witness. He'd lost all sense of time, his entire body on fire, throbbing, aching, electrified, his lips and throat tingling sweetly every time he made contact with the boy's smooth, weeping head, all as he cherished each breathless groan of his name in the dark.
Zero'd had to beg him to stop, to fight him for it, to tear him away from this bliss. And when he'd finally won, covering Kaname's mouth to still him, to quiet his long, harsh moans apparently from the pits of his devastated soul as Zero reached down to run his hand against him until the brunette finally capitulated into it, the youth had had to help him mop up, all because he'd been so turned on, he'd unknowingly soaked the floor with his…
Two points were made clear: one, he had to hydrate far more around these two - Zero had even gently teased him about giving him a nickname after a certain plumbing fixture simply because of how wet he'd gotten as he'd worked to clean the floor and save the rug before the others woke up, only relenting to go kiss him when Kaname had covered his face in shame and wonder as he lay recovering where he'd fallen, his limbs too afflicted by his efforts and culmination to render much assistance.
And two, he liked being on his knees like that to Zero. Liked it… very much.
"Not me. I'd like to go riding. See more of the place," Zero answered, still trying to pull away, evidently not thinking much of the "offer". Kaname fought, though, his arm was like a steel band as he met his eyes in an unsubtle demand.
"Good idea. I'll meet you outside," Ichiru replied as he headed for the door. Kaname lost some of his joie de vivre as he finally released Zero's waist.
"Okay, fine. Shizuka? Want to discuss the…?"
"No. I'll take a walk. See the gardens and greenhouse." She was already outside of the door to their apartment by this last.
"Really…?"
Kaname seemed unable to digest his disappointment. He didn't like being excluded. Or reminded he should be.
"Kiriyuu family meeting, it is," he said, almost in distaste, as his face resumed a careful guarded mask for the first time in hours as he marched past them all.
"I'll go deal with some work. Dinner is at seven. Don't be late."
"WHAT THE FUCK!"
"I know…"
"The. Fuck!"
"Ichiru…"
Zero said this last in warning, eyeing their quiet mother in concern as Ichiru paced back and forth on the cliff overlooking the vast blue ocean and the estate. They had ridden up there, Zero collecting their mother as she emerged from the maze of gardens, and settling her carefully on the back of his chestnut thoroughbred mare.
"What is he trying to do...?" Ichiru yelled mid-stride. He was in turmoil. They all were. They'd sat speechless for several minutes on the cliff and looked around at… paradise.
The epitome of paradise.
A stolen conveniently remote paradise.
Don't get them wrong. They did know it would be stolen but they were expecting something less unique, less…
Less.
Knowing Kaname he'd probably killed some other aristocratic family in a twisted private joke.
"Fuck!" Ichiru said again.
"What do we do now?" Zero asked, his fingers threaded into his hair. He was scared for another reason. Afraid of being seduced into doing nothing. It was clear what Kaname wanted. What Yuuki would let him have. The place was enormous and hedonistic. They'd had to take the car – it was assigned to them, you see, and the place was huge - to the stables. And they were already being addressed as "Master" and "Madam"…
"Kaname, doesn't play fair. He never did."
The boys looked at their mother at this. They could feel the reason for their unease. It was another prison, though beautifully appointed. It was everything they could want, had wanted at their home. They could stay here and forget. Let the world and the war recede to the back of their minds. Hell, they didn't even hear aircraft. Nothing but waves crashing and animals lowing in the distance.
"How did they even find this place?" Ichiru mused, finally still.
"Why wouldn't they?" Shizuka asked bitterly, turning from her almost hypnotic regard of the household and lands, secretly feeling the inadequacy of her own efforts at her estate. "They were hunting elites. And spared no effort to do so. They tortured people brutally until they broke. Until they gave up even their mothers. I remember…"
"What?" Zero asked when Shizuka stopped.
Shizuka shook her head and turned away again, hugging herself tightly. Zero's heart hurt at this. She did this when she remembered something horrible from the camps.
They stood in utter melancholy for a few more moments, thinking on the family that had cherished this place for generations and then were probably brutally…
"We should ask him," Zero said finally, "or her, what happened to them.
"We should find out."
"They won't tell us," Ichiru replied, kicking a stone into the sea. "And if they did, it'll probably be to say they're in prison somewhere so they can hold that over our heads too. Like with the Royal Family…"
"Ichiru, you know he didn't kidnap them for leverage over us…"
"It doesn't matter! He hasn't released them and he knows we won't run away and have them on our conscience!"
"You are overthinking this. We tell them. We shouldn't let them forget we know that they are thieves and murderers…"
"And now so are we."
"No!"
"We are. He started talking about moving down here when he lived with us. He took this place to make us… happy and to pen us in like sheep," Ichiru sneered this last, truly disgusted with himself. "He is a cunning bastard. Don't let him fool you with all this talk of love…."
"I know, Ichiru…."
"Do you? Do you really?"
"Ichiru, you're lucky I know you're just as lost as we are…"
"I hate what we've become. But," Ichiru began to tremble as he met Zero's eyes, "I'm not going back to 'that place'. I'm not…"
"I didn't say we should…!"
"Then why bring it up? To anger them? Make them pick someone else less deserving and throw us away? We can't do any better. At least out here I can… I can breathe…!"
"Ichiru… stop it…"
Zero grabbed his brother and held him tightly, wishing he could take the trauma from him.
"I'm happy, Zero. Is it so bad that I'm happy? I hated being there," Ichiru sobbed into his neck, fisting his brother's shirt as though to melt into him. "At least out here there is hope."
Zero felt his own tears as he looked over to their mother who'd stayed quiet during this exchange, seemingly still off into her own thoughts. He knew she was going through a similar agony but didn't know what they should do.
"Maybe they aren't dead," Shizuka said quietly, finally, wiping her cheeks as she turned back towards them. "Or in prison. Maybe they were lucky enough to get away. If I'd lived here, and knew what I know now, I would have had a boat and just sailed away from here with my children when I saw the soldiers coming. To return after the war."
Zero gave her a tremulous smile as Ichiru stopped crying to listen. They held onto this a little too desperately for their own reasons.
For survival.
"This fucking war… it can't last forever," Shizuka continued, clenching her fists. "It can't. It will end sometime, as they all do. Such evil… has to be defeated. And when it is, this place will be here for them to come back to. We'll just… keep it for them until then. Take care of it like it was our own. Make it thrive in return for letting us be here. Until their return.
"We Kiriyuus can do that," Shizuka said, going over to hold her crying boys. "Until we can all go home."
ZERO entered "his" room from the bathroom to find Kaname sitting near his windows in the cold light of dusk, dressed in a chocolate brown suit and gold tie, looking fully ready for dinner and some. Zero rethought his choice of grey buttoned-down shirt and trousers.
He never did get used to Kaname's level of access to them. He wished he could lock his door. Zero only paused to briefly notice him but continued over to the drawers for some underwear as he toweled dry, hiding his face a few more minutes until he could compose himself…
"You've confirmed it."
"What?"
"What you all were talking about."
Zero sighed and simply pulled on his briefs, continuing to towel his hair.
Kaname was fishing. He saw a young man with too much to lose that may just spill his guts to save himself and his family if caught. He needed to get up much earlier to try that on a man who had spent almost a year living with the Supreme Leader.
"Come here and sit down."
"Kaname, dinner is in fifteen minutes and we're not even sure where to start looking for the dining room…"
"It's too much? Is that it?"
"No, Kaname."
"I saw your faces when you returned. You'd all been crying…"
"So what, Kaname?"
"I didn't expect that. I'd hoped…"
"That we could forget that you stole this place from some other family?"
Kaname stood at this and went over to the windows. Zero let him stew on that bit of misdirection and put on his trousers before going into his closet in search of a belt. Come to think of it, he thought he'd seen the perfect jacket in the back…
"So, you can't be… happy here?" Kaname asked carefully.
"We didn't say that, Kaname. We're just adjusting. It's a gorgeous place. We were riding out, looking at everything, then it hit us, you know?"
"I see…"
Zero came back out of the closet carrying his shirt and the salmon blazer he'd found in there.
"Do you?"
Zero's concern did show on his face and Kaname spotted it, almost gratefully. He walked over and encircled Zero's bare waist, pulling him into him.
"I do. I mean… I understand. I didn't factor it in. You all knew wherever we moved to would have been appropriated for the Cause. But you seemed happy to come. To leave the Fort. I didn't think it would still be a factor now…"
"Of course, it would be. We lost our home the same way…"
"You didn't lose it," Kaname countered testily. "We're holding it for the…"
"I know. I know. You'd asked why we were upset. Remember?"
"Do go on."
"However, it's a lovely place. We are happy here."
"Really? You all have a funny way of showing it," Kaname commented petulantly.
"Yes. Really," Zero responded emphatically, holding the brunette's gaze easily as he reached up to stroke his tense jawline. It was then Kaname grinned, his dimples showing, his relief evident.
Zero continued, a smile softening his features as he sought to reassure the Second Leader, "Personally, I can't wait to get into the fields. The soil is some of the richest I've seen. Ichiru thinks you overdid the sheep…"
"Ichiru knows he just has to…" Kaname began irritably, beginning to fret that something wasn't perfect for them. Zero cupped Kaname's face then and kissed him, quieting him effectively.
"He knows, Kaname. We all do. Stop worrying…"
"What about Shizuka? Why…?"
"Mother was the one that reminded us of the price but I think it was just…"
"What?"
"To bring us down to earth. We were all too excited. It could just as easily be taken the same way…"
"Over my dead body, Zero."
Zero became transfixed by Kaname's stare of cold determination for a few moments before sighing and mussing his dark hair. Such a nutcase… Kaname pulled away and scolded playfully, tucking back in the wayward strands. Zero then gave him a dazzlingly happy smile which he'd practiced to touch his eyes and Kaname returned and hugged him tightly, sinking his face into his shoulder in relief.
"I love you. I love you so much. I'm sorry that this is all I can…"
"Shhh, Kaname. It's wonderful. Perfect. We love it. It was just overwhelming. Stop analyzing it.
"Now come on. Yuuki's probably arranging our arrest for being late…"
"Weighing whether to shoot us based on the excuse… I know. We should go. I barely talked her down the last time."
Kaname winked and grabbed Zero's shirt and helped him into it, assisting with his cuffs and buttons while they spoke in hushed tones about the plans for the place: Kaname bragged about the size and potential, Zero showed interest and made suggestions that Kaname insisted should be implemented right away. It was like old times except they were fully lovers and … in love. Bare skin on either person got a few kisses before they both were fully dressed, Kaname finally helping Zero into his blazer.
But it was only when Kaname had threaded his fingers possessively into the youth's hand and turned away to get the door did the despair briefly close in on his face. He was scared again. Knowing that the explanation freely given for the misery he'd spotted on their faces was not the whole truth. But it was only the first day here. He would know it all eventually with careful questioning, all while he continued to try his best to win them over until he won or…
Well, he wasn't in this position because he couldn't make the hard decisions.
to be continued
lightpathetic wrote this but these are not my characters. They were borrowed from Vampire Knight.
