A/N: And it's this time of the week again, so I'm back with another chapter.

As always, thank you all for your support *bows* It means the world *_*

Disclaimer, warnings and so on are still the same. All mistakes are mine, and I'm sorry for them.

Happy reading! :D

Chapter 5: Unexpected Encounter

He was lost. Completely, totally, utterly, hopelessly lost. Had been for quite some time, actually, and he had been aware — albeit in denial — of that fact since an hour or so ago, but his pride just wouldn't allow him to admit it. Even now, it was stubbornly protesting against that simple and more than obvious truth, as futile as the effort was.

Zero heaved a sigh. Who on earth had thought it would be a good idea to wander the freaking hedge maze he had already gotten lost in each and every one of the very few times he had entered it, anyway?

Oh, yeah, that was him. Because he couldn't seem to stay away from the place. It just had this…inexplicable pull over him that kept him coming back. That, and he was too stubborn to pass up the challenge that the maze certainly represented in his mind. He wanted to conquerthe damn thing, and not getting lost there for once would be a nice start.

Unfortunately, it didn't look like that would be happening this time either.

Of course, he could always take a few shortcuts with the help of his abilities, but that would be cheating, and Zero wanted to win fairly.

He breathed another sigh at yet another fork in the maze, vaguely wondering which turn he should take. Shrugging, he decided it didn't really matter and picked at random. Then again. And again. And a few more times. The maze still seemed as endless as it had at the beginning.

Zero continued wandering for what felt like another hour, taking his time to enjoy his stroll now rather than trying to win against the annoyingly sneaky maze that kept mocking him with its limitless twists and turns. It still felt like there was no end to the damn thing, but then after a few more minutes, he suddenly found himself in one of the gardens inside the maze. Seeing it felt almost surreal after all the time he had spent surrounded by nothing but ceaseless green.

Zero sighed in reluctant relief. At least now he knew he hadn't gotten himself trapped in some weird-ass labyrinth meant to lure and imprison its unsuspecting visitors for the rest of their lives. Because it certainly started to feel that way at some point pretty much every time he explored it.

So he finally managed to find his way out. Good.

Zero mentally nodded to himself.

And he hadn't resorted to cheating, too. Even better.

Another mental nod.

Now, if he could only…

"You're a new face."

Zero's eyes widened as the unfamiliar voice reached his ears. He turned toward it, successfully finding its owner. It was a man. A man with strikingly familiar features that were a dead giveaway. Zero immediately knew that the other was a Kuran. And an alpha, judging by his scent.

The man smirked after giving Zero a once-over, his previously neutral expression changing to one of appreciative interest. "And a beautiful one," he added, then started making his way toward Zero. "Who are you and what is your name, little one?"

Zero frowned at the last part, somehow feeling conflicted about being addressed like that. He let it pass, however, and replied instead, "I'm Zero. Kaname's mate."

The man blinked, seeming to be genuinely taken aback. It was only at that moment that Zero noticed the uniqueness of his eyes. They were different in color; one of rich burgundy, just like Kaname's, and another one of beautiful blue. It was a little uncanny to see such coloring on a Kuran, probably because all the other Kurans Zero had seen and was used to didn't have it, but he thought it suited the man somehow.

"Kaname's…?" the man echoed, blinking again, evidently astounded still. Then his lips curved into a smile, and a small laugh escaped him. "Seriously?" he continued, an expression of disbelief mixed with amusement on his undeniably — but of course — handsome face. "That prude actually took an interest in something other than his precious books?"

Zero didn't miss the mocking nature of the man's tone, but he could tell it wasn't one of the malicious kind — rather, of the more light-hearted, playful one. So he didn't comment on it either.

"Not that I blame him," the man continued, his smile stretching into a somewhat lecherous smirk. "You do look far too tempting to pass up."

…Nor on that. The man was clearly — and unashamedly — flirting with him, as was common for all alphas of this particular type. Granted, Zero had seen enough of those to remain unaffected by that sort of behavior.

"And you are?" he answered with a question of his own, completely ignoring the older man's previous words.

The response made the different-colored eyes twinkle with amusement, their owner's lips curved further. "Rido. Your precious mate's favorite uncle," the man now known to Zero as 'Rido' finally introduced himself, stretching out his hand to the hunter. "It is the greatest pleasure to meet you, Zero."

Zero eyed the offered hand carefully, but reached for it in the end, albeit with cautious reluctance. "Likewise," he said, clasping Rido's hand for what he meant as a handshake, when the man suddenly tightened his grip and pulled Zero sharply toward himself.

By instinct, Zero wanted to take one of his daggers and put it to the other's throat, but he held back. The man was family — or was supposed to be one, anyway. But more importantly than that, despite his abrupt actions and subtly aggressive — not to mention openly seductive — demeanor, Zero couldn't feel any truly vicious intent coming from him, so he forced himself to stay put, even when Rido placed an uncomfortably lingering kiss on the back of his hand.

Zero pressed his lips together. Rido smirked wider.

Zero tried to get his captured hand back, but Rido only held tighter. Zero scowled. "Let go," he demanded.

Rido's eyes narrowed in mirth. "Or what?"

"Or I will make you."

Rido chuckled, evidently unperturbed, but he did let go in the end. "A feisty one, aren't you?" He nodded to himself. "I like it."

"I don't care." Zero stepped away from the alpha, creating some much-needed distance between them. "Don't do that again."

"I can't make any promises," Rido replied with an elegant shrug.

Zero's eyes narrowed in a glare.

Rido chuckled before adding, "But I will see what I can do."

Zero gave a resigned sigh and dropped the topic, somehow knowing it was the best he would get from the man. "Whatever," he relented, turning around and heading for the maze. Rido followed without a second thought. "You know the way out of here, don't you?" Zero asked with a glance over his shoulder.

"Naturally," Rido snorted, smiling smugly.

"Then make yourself useful and help me get back."

Rido arched an eyebrow at the unveiled command thrown at him. Normally, he wouldn't allow anyone to speak to him in such a manner, let alone actually order him around like that. But he found Zero's audacity rather amusing for some reason, so he complied. For now.

Chuckling, Rido teased, "What, you got lost?"

Zero might have admitted the truth to himself, but he refused to admit it to this man. "I'm only asking as a precaution."

Rido didn't buy it, and his smirk said as much. Strangely enough, however, he refrained from voicing his thoughts and asked instead, "Are you sure it's wise?" He gave Zero a sidelong glance, they were walking side by side now. "There is no guarantee I will actually lead you where you want to go."

"The sun is my guarantee."

Rido blinked, a small frown crossing his features briefly. "What?"

"It will rise soon," Zero stated nonchalantly, looking up at the sky for a few moments before turning his gaze to Rido, an evil little smirk slowly stretching across his lips. "So unless you want to get your pureblood ass that you're most likely extremely proud of burned, you better lead us out of here before it's too late." His smirk widened as he added, "For you."

Rido came to a halt, wide-eyed and blinking rapidly, taken aback. For a few moments, all he could do was stare at his companion's back in silence. Then he burst out laughing, surprising Zero and causing him to stop in his tracks as well.

It was Zero's turn to blink dumbfoundedly as he looked at Rido. He really didn't get the man's reaction.

"I see," Rido spoke after a while, having calmed down, but still chuckling slightly. "Then I suppose we should hurry up, shouldn't we?" And so he resumed walking, stopping briefly only to ask a still unmoving Zero over his shoulder, "You coming?"

Zero blinked, coming out of his short-lived daze. With a mental shrug, he nodded, uttered a soft 'Yeah' and followed the man.

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-to be continued-

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