A/N: And I'm back again with a new chapter *waves in greeting*

Your wonderful reviews were a joy to read and reply to, and all the favs and alerts never fail to make me smile. Thank you so much for them all, dearests *bows deeply*

Disclaimer, warnings and everything else still stand. All mistakes are mine, so I apologize for them in advance *bows*

And now with all that out of the way… Please enjoy! :D

Chapter 3: Dealing With An Idiot

Zero heaved a long, tired sigh, lowering the book in his hands to his lap.

He had tried to ignore it, he really had, honestly believing — and hoping — it would pass with time. But it was clear to him now that he had been wrong and underestimated the problem, because, apparently, there were things — and people, mostly people in this case — that just didn't know when to stop.

"Aidou…"

Aidou Hanabusa started at the sound of his name, automatically hiding himself from Zero's sight.

Zero breathed another sigh, heavier this time. "What is it now?"

Aidou hesitated for a long moment before leaving his hiding place behind the library bookshelf and revealing himself. "You've noticed," he stated the obvious with an embarrassed blush adorning his disgruntled face.

Zero frowned at the other. "Of course I have, you idiot stalker."

"I-id-" Aidou spluttered, his blush deepening angrily. "How dare you insult my intellect!"

One silver eyebrow rose. "So you don't deny being a stalker."

"I'm not that either!" Aidou exclaimed hotly.

Zero snorted. "Yes, you are."

"Am not!"

"What the hell are you doing following me around, then?"

"I am not following you around!"

The only response Aidou got was a skeptical look that only provoked him to argue more.

"I'm not!" Was what he said, yet his face only reddened further, because even he knew he was lying. So he tried to make his actions look less questionable by voicing the reason behind them, "It's research!"

Zero frowned. "What?"

"Research."

"I heard the first time. What the hell kind of 'research' is that even supposed to be?"

Aidou placed both hands on his hips and puffed his chest with what could only be pride, a self-satisfied smirk practically splitting his face in half. Zero didn't bother to hold back from rolling his eyes at the blond; he just looked that ridiculous.

"Research on pureblood omega hunters turned into vampires and mated to ones!" Aidou declared, looking even more ridiculously proud of himself, if it was possible.

Zero had no idea what kind of response was expected of him, but apparently it wasn't the one he gave.

"W-what's with that look?" Aidou asked after an uncomfortably prolonged silence, visibly losing his confidence. "You think something insulting about me again, aren't you?"

"Oh, wow," Zero feigned surprise. "How in the world did that idea occur to you?"

Aidou flushed deep red with frustrated embarrassment. He was being made fun of, and he knew it. But he refused to admit defeat. Huffing, he crossed his arms over his chest and countered with a condescending smile, "As if someone like you could understand my greatness!"

"Ah, that's right," Zero nodded, his expression as unimpressed as his voice. "I definitely can't."

Somehow that response left Aidou even more flustered. "Gah! Just leave me alone!"

Zero raised an amused eyebrow, snorting. "You are actually saying that to me?" he teased, smiling playfully.

Aidou's blush deepened yet again. "S-shut up!" he yelled indignantly, then gave another childish huff and turned away to storm off. "As if I have any more time to waste on an ungrateful brat like you!"

And so the idiot was gone.

Zero only breathed a sigh of relief at finally being left alone and happily resumed reading his book.

-o-

Not so surprisingly, Zero's peace didn't last for long; Aidou was back to harassing him after only two and a half days.

Zero sighed heavily at the feeling of a certain someone's eyes boring into him, his annoyance steadily growing by the minute.

"Um, Zero-kun...?" Takuma spoke up uncertainly, throwing discrete glances in the direction where Aidou was hiding every now and again. "What's going on?"

Another sigh left Zero. "Just ignore him," he dismissed. "That idiot can do whatever he wants. You concentrate on what we came here to do."

Takuma hesitated, but shrugged and agreed in the end, "If you say so."

They both sensed Aidou move to what was probably a more convenient spot for 'spying', but ignored him and took their positions some distance from each other. Takuma unsheathed his sword and adjusted his stance while Zero parted the skirts of his kimono and pulled out his daggers when, all of a sudden, an all too familiar annoying voice broke the tense silence between the two opponents.

"Wh-wha-!" Aidou rose sharply, his eyes wide and face red, shocked indignation all over his features as he exclaimed, "What on earth are you doing, Kiryuu!?"

"Huh?" Zero turned sharply to Aidou, scowling at the interruption.

Takuma blinked at the younger blond in dumbfounded surprise.

"The hell are you doing hiding in the goddamn bushes?!" Zero yelled back.

"That's not important right now! What do you think you're doing exposing yourself like that behind Kaname-sama's back!? You cheater! And you!" Aidou turned to an even more dumbfounded by now Takuma, pointing an accusing finger at him. "Ichijou! Why are you just standing there allowing this obscene behavior?!"

"Um...Aidou...?" Takuma honestly didn't know how to respond.

Zero, however, did. "Have you completely lost your mind, you goddamn stalker?! The fuck are you even yapping about?!"

"Stop calling me that!"

"Stop following me!"

"And don't just show your skin like that! Have you no shame?!"

"Like what, dammit?!" Zero's voice rose further, it was obvious that he was getting closer to exploding the longer they argued with Aidou.

"Like that!" Aidou repeated, louder, also growing more and more agitated. "Why do you even keep weapons there?!"

"It's only my leg!"

"Exactly! What are you thinking showing it like that to everyone!?"

Lavender eyes blinked indignantly before narrowing again. "Who the fuck is 'everyone'?!" Zero demanded. "We're the only ones here!"

"That's more than enough!"

"I'm not a goddamn woman to worry about that crap!"

"Wha-!?" Aidou's turquoise eyes widened further in genuine bewilderment. "You're Kaname-sama's omega!"

"So?" Zero challenged with a raised eyebrow while placing his hand on his hip and shifting his weight on one foot.

"'So?'" Aidou repeated, frowning, then exploded again a moment later, "Show some decency!"

"The fuck is that supposed to mean?!"

"Stop baring your skin so shamelessly!"

"That does it," was the only warning Zero gave before reaching for more daggers.

"Argh! That agai-" Aidou started, but was unable to finish due to five hunter daggers flying his way with alarming speed and precision. He managed to dodge, but barely, and while he had been busy with that, Zero had already taken Takuma's sword out of its rightful owner's hands and started charging at Aidou.

And so their fight began.

Takuma sighed as he watched the two, silently wondering if he should stop them. He knew he probably should, mostly for Aidou's sake, but...

Shrugging his shoulders, he sat down and made himself comfortable on the grass to watch the show unfold, knowing better than to get himself between Zero and the idiotic source of his justified irritation.

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-to be continued-

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A/N: Haha xD Mii, my dear, your reaction to my last reply to your questions was a joy to read. I'm truly happy it pleased you that much *hugs*