A/N: Sorry! I was doing essays – I have about a month to finish this one freakin' essay and do my final. Boooooo!

Kain turned off the engine as he pulled into his designated parking spot. The Kurans had a flair for the dramatics – enough so that they had built yet another mansion in this part of the country side. He had understood that it had been for Yuuki's protection but, he still hated the excess.

He pulled out his phone, shielding his eyes from the bright glare of the time. Ten minutes early. He rested his head on the steering wheel. If there was anything about the Kuran's he knew well, it was the stipulation of arriving exactly when the summoning had stated. But, he also knew that if he was left alone, he would start thinking. Already, he was on dangerous ground, falling through his thoughts into the activities of the day before. And, just like that, he slipped.

Zero had become quiet, a slump in his shoulders suggesting defeat. Kain followed him through the door, watching the Hunter slip off his coat and throw it to the chair. Kain twitched nervously, his hands curling into fists. They had returned from the city and, as much as he would have loved to follow Zero throughout the apartment, his paranoia was getting to him.

Deciding that Zero wouldn't destroy everything in his path, he eased the itch, scrutinizing the dust on the night table and dressers. He could clean that.

Satisfied, he sat on the couch, watching as Zero slumped into a seat. Kain had learned quickly how to block out the emotions of his intended. He sighed deeply, allowing the gate to tear down. Zero glared at him. "Don't."

"Then, talk to me." Kain answered, rebuilding the wall.

"There's nothing to talk about."

"I get that I embarrassed you. I just thought it'd be a nice surprise." Kain leaned back, taking in the stranger sitting on the recliner. "At least tell me if that's what it's about."

"Ha." Zero shook his head. "No, I appreciated the sentiment."

"I can't fix it if-"

"Who said it was yours to fix?" Kain was taken back by those cold, violet eyes.

"I just meant…" Kain tried again, his brows furrowing. "Was it something I did?"

"If you had, I'd have told you."

"Then…" He shuffled closer to Zero. "What?"

Zero inhaled deeply. "Don't you ever get tired of living a lie?"

Kain bit his lip. "What do you mean?"

Zero fixed him with the cold stare. "You said you wanted a real relationship, yes?"

"Affirmative."

"Then, why do you lie to me? Honesty, communication… They're all a part of it."

Kain broke the eye contact, staring at his feet. Zero had to have known – he wasn't that good of a double agent. "I never lied in the matters of the heart."

"But, you have lied to me."

"Haven't you lied?" Kain dared to meet his eye.

"You're the one bonded to me so, you know that answer."

"A bond isn't going to do anything."

"I don't want a bond, Kain."

"Then, what do you want?"

Zero stood, shaking his head. Kain followed in suit, grasping Zero's shoulders. "Let me ask something."

"Haven't you already?"

"With your permission." Zero nodded, his eyes behind Kain. Kain lifted and turned Zero's chin toward him. "Are you afraid because of how serious we've been getting?"

Zero's cheeks flushed, his eyes narrowing. "No."

Kain felt the pride swell in his chest. It may have been in defiance but, at least he had achieved a straight answer. "Do you want us to end it?"

Zero opened his mouth to answer. Kain felt his breath quicken, terrified of the answer. Zero shut it and nodded slowly. Kain closed his eyes and stepped back. "Because I lied?"

"Yes." Zero didn't look at him.

"I can work on the lying thing…" He was begging. Kain seated himself, the energy to fight leaving him drained. How long until the frustrated crying? How long until the nightmare didn't hurt? His eyes rested on the decanter.

"It's not enough." Zero answered. Kain knew he heard the catch in his throat. "I'll move out."

"No need." Kain was proud of his ability to control his emotions, falling into the monotone. It helped in situations like this. He stood and poured himself a glass. "I'll be going to America."

"And, that's just one reason we don't work. We don't have the time."

"Regardless…" Kain dared to turn to the other man. Zero was working on his phone. "You can stay as long as you like. I don't know when I'll be back."

"It's yours, though."

"It was never mine. I may own it but, aside from it being a place to sleep…"

Zero nodded once. "Thanks."

"Yeah." He downed the drink.

Kain forced himself to return to his deadpan expression. The tears that he had spilled were already too many for this scenario. He rung the doorbell, dread coursing through him. One minute late. He sighed and rested against the railing.

"You're late." Kaname stated as he opened the door, turning around and heading to the boardroom. Kain followed, not bothering with excuses.

The boardroom was filled with three things: leather, brown and friends. Kain bowed his head to Ruuka, Hanabusa, Touya, Shiki, Yuuki and Ichijo. He sat in the only empty chair, his eyes downcast. Touya offered a friendly smile, taking his hand.

"Nothing new to add, I assume." Kaname interjected. Kain shook his head. "No matter. It seems as Zero has chosen a new target."

Kain's heart skipped a beat. It wasn't the relationship, then. Suddenly, he wanted to leave and find Zero. "Then, I should stay."

"No." Kaname's voice was firm. "Lady Yuuki has already made arrangements through several different companies. And… You would just be a distraction."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Touya asked.

"Well, he has to stay for the wedding." Ruuka insisted. "I already have his suit and he's the best man!"

"No." Kaname reiterated. Ruuka and Hanabusa shared a look. "Tomorrow at midnight, Kain will be on a plane to America. Shiki will join him. Ichijo will court Zero."

"I'm sorry, what?" Touya interjected. "Why is Shiki going? You know damn well I'm the better option for that."

"You're the only person other than Kain that Zero connects with. You are essential to bringing him down."

"Can we go back to the part where Sen… Shiki will be with Kain?" Ichijo added.

"Shiki knows the cities like the back of his hand. With his modeling career, he can influence people."

"Why are we going to America, anyway?" Shiki asked, resting his feet on the table.

"Kain is invested in the well-being of any family that has been attacked by a Level E." Kaname was becoming testy. Each vampire shifted in their respective chair. "Are there any valid concerns?"

"Just one." Touya answered. Kain ignored the red tinge in his eyes as he studied Ichijo in the glass. "When will Kain return?"

"A reasonable question." Kaname stepped away from Kain's side of the table. "When Zero's dead."

Kain gripped Touya's hand hard, careful to keep the rest of himself neutral. Touya returned the squeeze. He lifted his head toward Kaname. "I have more questions than the others."

"Yes, that I figured." Kaname rested against the wall.

"When did everyone figure it out?"

"Please." Ruuka snorted. Kain turned his head to his cousins. "We know you, Akatsuki. And, you're the worst double agent that ever existed."

"I was told." Shiki added, as if it were some sort of consolation. "But then, I figured you wanted to screw with a Hunter so."

Touya whined under her breath as Kain's nails dug into her skin. He kept his breathing even. "Why Ichijo?"

"I thought that'd been obvious. He's the closest to me – and therefore, Yuuki. You were his way in."

Kain nodded, loosening the tension on a grateful Touya. That made sense. "Last one."

"Of course."

"Why are you shipping me off to America when you know damn well that a distracted Kiryuu would be easier to take down."

"You're the one who told me your loyalties have always been… muddled." Kaname threw the word in his face. Kain hung his head. "Anymore questions?"

"No. Thank you, Lord Kaname." He exhaled slowly.

"I'd like to talk in private with Shiki and Ichijo. The rest of you, there's a party in the ballroom." Kain followed in the obligatory bow, following the line through to the said ballroom filled with a mixture of people and vampires of the elite class.

"It sucks that you won't be here for the wedding." Hanabusa commented. Kain nodded.

"Yes."

"Eh, we'll hold off. Do the blood bond ceremony over skype and the actual ceremony when you come back." Ruuka answered.

"Yes, that seems reasonable." Kain returned. Touya held him up.

"Should we sit on the terrace?" Ruuka asked, lowering her voice. "Our messages are going to be intercepted. You know this."

Kain allowed himself to be led outside. Touya forced him to sit. Hanabusa leaned against a column, his eyes on the door. Ruuka slid her hand in Kain's. "I know how you feel about him. I'll do everything I can to make sure no harm comes."

"It might be better if you do." Hanabusa interjected before Kain could reply.

"Hana…" Ruuka glared at him. "Can't you tell that the Hunter is Kain's first love?"

"He'll have others." Hanabusa answered. "The best thing that we can do and, I'm sorry but… It's to mess him up a little. One mistake, head lopped off. Quick death."

"It would be easier." Touya joked. "But, no. Ruuka's right. And, he's already bonded to Zero."

Hanabusa strode, smacking Kain across the cheek. "You bit a freakin' Hunter?"

"Like you wouldn't have fed me your blood if it meant I'd have lived?" Kain spat the blood from his mouth, his eyes on his cousin.

"Course but, not to bind you." Hanabusa shook his head. "You should have told us."

"Hanabusa." Ruuka stood taller than her fiancé. She pointed to the column. "You are biased. Stand there and let no one come near us."

Hanabusa's face softened. He returned to his original position as Ruuka sat. "It's a pity. I was actually planning to get to know Kiryuu."

"Thank you." Kain turned away from them, his eyes unfocused on the garden below. Ruuka nodded, dragging Hanabusa by the hair as she left Touya and Kain. Touya rested on the railing.

"Kain."

"Hmm?" He turned his attention to Touya.

"I hate to say it but… This is the best outcome we could have hoped for."

"What? Me not dying?"

"I'll do what I can to make sure Kiryuu is safe. If it had been between you two, though…" She gestured that Zero would have been her choice.

"Touya, by killing him, you'd kill me." He leaned against the railing. "They joke about first loves but…"

"He's your only love." Touya stated. "Just as Sayori is to me."

"If it comes down to a slow or quick death…"

"I'll do it myself. Kuran orders be damned." Touya rested a hand on his shoulder. "Give me your phone."

"What? Why?"

"Just trust me."

They stared at each other, Kain giving in with his phone unlocked. She stepped away from him and tapped something into her phone. Then, she smiled and returned it to him. Kain tried to guess her actions, studying the blank screen. His gaze returned to the gardens, finding peace in the moonlight.

"Guess it'll just be you and me for a while." Shiki's voice entered his thoughts. Kain turned his head. A long time ago, he would have smiled with a blush on his face. Shiki's smile didn't reach his eyes. "I'm a blanket hog."

"You can have the bed. I'll stay on the couch."

"Or, we can start on the couch." Shiki's hand slid up Kain's back. "And make our way to the bedroom."

Kain stepped away from his touch. "Shiki… Don't play with me."

"Who said anything about playing?"

Kain didn't answer, his eyes on the reflected sun. Someone said something shrill. The same someone, he assumed was Touya. It had taken him a while to return from his blank state to confirm it. She had taken his keys and was driving.

"Touya… What are we doing?" He gulped at the familiar street.

"Kiryuu's waiting."

"For… What? Exactly?"

"You."

"Touya…"

"Oh, for the love of…" She held up a hand. "At least wait for me to park."

"He doesn't want to see me." He whined.

"Did I bring my nephew with me?" She handed the keys to the valet and pulled him out of the car by his shirt.

"It's a big mistake."

"No, it's not." Touya led him by the wrist. "You have exactly twenty-four hours."

"Little less than."

"Exactly."

"I don't understand."

She spun around, facing him. "We're on the same page, Kain. All of us, pawns in the Kuran games. And, as much as you guys don't talk about mushy stuff like loving each other, you do."

"So, I should… bring him flowers?" Touya smacked his arm hard. Kain rubbed the imprint. "You're violent."

"Do I have to spell it out for you?"

"Yes. I have no clue what you're going on about."

"One night doesn't change anything." Touya hinted. "But… You have one night with him."

"Are you... I'm confused."

"Oh, for the…" She shoved him into the elevator. "You'll understand."

A/N: Three more chapters. And yes, you understand – Kain's a freakin' innocent baby. XD Sorry but, I do believe that Zero would dump anyone who got close to him.