Ren-sama's Note:

Sorry for the long, long wait, guys~! OTL

I was out of the country for almost the entire year so it's basically difficult for me to continue. However, please rest assured that I will not abandon any of my ficts.

Here's the next chapter~! ᶺoᶺ

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Chapter 30

Kyou brought something out of his cloak's inner pocket and threw it towards Zero's direction in a mere second. The teen seized it without taking his eyes off the two hunters. From the flat shape and rough texture, Zero was sure it was a letter. Slowly, his eyes fell down towards the thing he was holding. It was a black envelope… His eyes widened a little in surprise. Why would they entrust him with a black envelope..? It's supposed to be a secret mission...

"You know what it means when you receive a black envelope, right?" Shin smirked as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Don't preach to me what the hell it means." Zero voiced venomously, crumpling the envelope in his fist. "I know full well what it means, hunter." It meant he was not allowed to tell anyone and no one should know of the mission at all except whom the envelope was named to.

Both Kyou and Shin's eyes darkened at the sight of Zero crushing the black envelope with his fist without reading it at all. It's almost sacrilege. It was as if Zero was cursing the Association and at the same time telling everyone that he was not loyal to it anymore. The teen did what he did knowing what it meant.

"You think you still have the right to tell me what to do, even though you've proven well enough that you are not my ally at all?" Zero asked, the crumpled enveloped clutched tightly in his trembling fist. He felt so angry and so hurt. After all the things they'd done to him, they still had the gall to think that he would obey them without question?

"If you want to know what's really happening, it would be best to simply do the mission." Kyou said without any emotion. His earlier enthusiasm towards Zero's lineage seemed to have been gone. Both he and Shin were just too surprised that a hunter who had sworn to serve only the Association – a hunter who was in the Elite Force no less – had the audacity to actually do something as outrageous as showing his disloyalty so explicitly.

Zero kept his glare at the hunters even after they've walked away from the place. He was trembling from too much rage but he was trying to control himself because he wanted to savor their appalled reaction. It was the least he could do to show that he wasn't their plaything, someone who simply mattered if they wanted him to do their bidding. He was a person just like them, for Kami's sake..! He started exhaling deeply to calm himself down.

Now… what should he do about the envelope..?

He looked at it and thought for a while whether he would open it or if he would simply burn it without looking at the content. He knew he would regret his decision either way so he simply sighed as his hunter blood won over the battle. He flattened out the crumpled paper before he read his supposed mission.

His eyes closed and his eyebrows creased. Would he really do something as outrageous as a mission like this..? It's almost as if they were telling him to commit suicide.

"A stand-alone mission to exterminate a pureblood, huh…" Zero snorted. "What a joke." Just because he was a half-pureblood didn't mean he could actually fight one on one with another pureblood. The fight he'd had with Rido had proven that point well enough. He's sure that not even Kaname would do something as insane as attacking another pureblood in his own home. Although, Zero was sure that if ever that would happen, Kaname was sure to win… It was Kaname after all…

He burned the letter together with the black envelope using his fire ability. He watched with indifference as the letter was rapidly eaten by his blue-colored fire. It merely took some seconds for the whole thing to turn to dust. As he stood there in the middle of the rubbles, with no one in sight and no letter in hand, he felt as if nothing had actually happened. There was almost no evidence of what had transpired except for the faint trace of the hunters' presences in the wind. But that too was slowly ebbing into nothingness.

As much as he wanted to, he could not possibly forget that he would have a mission to do. The content of the letter seemed to have already been engraved inside his mind, waiting only to be executed. So a large part of him was still a hunter, huh…

But exterminating a pureblood alone..? It was more than suicide. They should've just simply asked him to get a silver blade and thrust it in his heart. It would have made a lesser effort for both him and the Association. He was even so sure it was another trap set by them too, if only to finally kill him and end it all. He really didn't want to do it, especially since the Association wasn't the type to really give a pureblood extermination order without a dire reason to. And even if the reason was clearly stated in the letter, he was still dubious whether it was accurate at all.

And besides… his life wasn't his life alone anymore… Kaname's handsome smirking face immediately showed up in his mind and instead of the usual annoyance, he felt only longing and sadness. He didn't mind getting hurt… but risking Kaname's life was not something he could do…

"Ugh… what's wrong with me..?" He mumbled as he went back to Cross Academy in vampire pace. Kaname was just gone for almost half a day and he was already worried sick..? He knew he should trust in Kaname more… but the situation wasn't really allowing him to relax and simply think that everything would be alright.

The Association actually told him that if he could kill the pureblood in the address given in the letter, then they would gladly tell him everything. And by everything, it meant everything he wanted to know and everything he wanted to ask. It oozed of too much 'trap' and yet it was too hard to resist. It might even be the only chance he'd have in order to finally know what the hell was really going on.

The sun was already high up in the sky when Zero returned to his room. He sat on the chair near his study table and sighed as he stared at the ceiling. He felt restless and at the same time exhausted. Not to mention the content of the black mission was still nagging at the back of his mind.

He didn't know how much time had passed or how he even managed to sleep after that whole ordeal. However, when he next came into consciousness, the surrounding outside his window was already dark. He yawned as he stood up and stretched. His neck was strained because of his sleeping position, implying he had slept for quite some hours. But at the same time, his mind was a lot clearer than when he first entered his room earlier.

He took out his phone and immediately dialed Cross's number. The mission's date was set tonight so he needed to seek some advice – whether it was alright to actually do it or not. He also needed someone to talk to and at least let them know that one way or another, the members of the Elite Force were not innocent to all the incidents concerning him. That would post as a terrible problem since all members of the Elite Force were either legendary hunters or young but talented ones…

His eyebrows creased when the Chairman wasn't answering his call. He then dialed Yuzuru's number after some more try on Cross's phone. However, Yuzuru was also not answering. When he had swallowed his pride and dialed Yagari too without much success, the hunter was already on the brink of breaking his phone. Zero cursed under his breath as he immediately went to the bathroom and took a quick shower. He changed clothes and left the room in a hurry only to come face to face with none other than Takuma.

Both of them blinked in surprise because Zero was actually moving in vampire speed in his haste. Takuma smiled and greeted the hunter but Zero simply nodded back and walked past him. The blonde actually blinked at the unnatural behavior before he turned around to look at the hunter's leaving figure.

"You seem to be in a hurry, Zero-sama." Takuma called out, noticing the hunter's swift movement.

Zero stopped at that. It took some seconds for him to finally turn around and give an impromptu explanation. "I'm going to see Kaien-san. Also, just call me how you used to."

"I see, Zero-kun…" Takuma slowly walked towards the hunter. "However… I believe both the Chairman and Takano-san are not in Cross Academy at the moment."

"What?" Zero looked in between disbelieving and desperate. He felt like his only hope was shattered because of that statement. "Where are they?"

Takuma looked at him in confusion and worry. "The two of them called us earlier and asked us to tell you when you wake up. They are doing some investigation about what's happening. They said they'll be back tomorrow morning." His earlier smile had slowly vanished as he explained the situation. "Is there something wrong?"

Zero sighed. "No, it's just…" He could feel his restlessness growing but he was trying his best to control it. He knew that Takuma would notice something if he's not careful enough. It's not that he didn't want to tell it to Takuma. However, he felt that someone like Takuma would not understand his distress over the letter. Only hunters like him would know how dire the situation he was in right now.

Takuma would surely simply tell him not to go. The blonde would not even think about it at all. However, for a hunter like him, abandoning a mission was still something very hard to do… no matter how hard he tried to show Kyou and Shin that he could. It was in his blood. He's still a hunter after all… That part of him he could not deny to anyone nor could he abandon it.

Zero closed his eyes for a while in order to focus. There was no one he could talk to. Kaname, the first person he would consult with about these things, was at the Council. It would be too selfish of him to call Kaname at the moment… not to mention too dangerous. The brunette might get distracted if he were to tell about the mission and Zero wouldn't be able to take it if something were to happen to Kaname because of him. Thus, telling Kaname was out of the question.

Kaien and Yuzuru too were somewhere far away and he could not contact them. It meant there was no one he could talk to… except perhaps Aido and the others.

He opened his eyes once again and focused on Takuma's silently worried gaze.

"I will tell you." Zero said with a steady voice and a firm resolve. "However, you must promise not to meddle. You will not try to stop me at any cost."

Takuma could feel the tension in the air and he was sure Zero was about to do something really dangerous. He could see it in the hunter's powerful and determined amethyst eyes. "Zero-kun… I don't think I can do that…"

Zero's aura then turned quiet but his gaze became more intense and deeply overwhelming.

The blonde couldn't help but sigh. "Really, Zero-kun… I never thought you would be able to make me obey with your gaze alone…" He made a defeated smile then. "Kaname will kill me for this…"

Zero's eyebrows creased when he realized something. "Eavesdropping is not something a noble should be doing." He voiced loudly just as he scowled while Takuma chuckled.

"I wasn't eavesdropping!" Aido immediately came out of his hiding place – the corner of the intersection near the main staircase. "There's no way we could be eavesdropping if you two are talking in the middle of the hallway!" He looked in between huffing and pouting – obviously in the defensive mode. Kain also came out sighing while muttering something about 'Aido' and 'idiot'.

"Well, the idiot has a point, Zero-sama." Kain was smiling but his eyes were serious. He did not hear what Zero and Takuma were talking about but he was sure it was something dangerous, if Takuma's usually bubbly demeanor was absent in the conversation.

The hunter sighed. Now there were more problems to deal with.

"Kiryuu!...-sama… at least tell us what you two were talking about!" Aido demanded, immediately earning a light punch on the head from Kain. "Wha–? What was that for!?"

"Idiot, at least show some respect." Kain muttered.

Takuma chuckled before he looked at Zero meaningfully. "So… are you going to trust us, Zero-kun?"

Zero scowled at Takuma before he sighed. "It's not a matter of trust… It's just…" He sighed again before he gave up. "Whatever. Let's not talk here in case more eavesdroppers show up."

"You mean like us?" Ruka showed up from the corner where Aido and Kain came from. Shiki and Rima were behind her.

"Exactly." Zero answered before he walked back towards his room, all the other nobles following him silently… or not so silently since Ruka and Aido had already started their daily bickering while Shiki and Takuma were being so lovey-dovey again. Kain kept sighing one way or another while Rima kept eating pocky.

Zero could already feel a headache coming.

The hunter opened the door to his room and waited for everyone to enter before he closed it again. They all sat in the mini living room connecting to the main bedroom, a total replica of Kaname's room.

"So…" Takuma couldn't help but smile. To think that there would come a day when they would be sitting in a circle with Zero in their midst… with Zero as the one leading them… It was just too astounding to see.

Zero sighed. "Like I said, don't meddle with me. And don't even try to stop me."

"About what, exactly?" Kain asked, already being suspicious.

"Don't tell me you miss Kaname-sama so much that you want to go to the Vampire Council!? Or maybe you've finally lost your mind that you want to pay the Hunter's Association a visit!?" Aido asked, eyes widening in dread. "You can't do that! I'll definitely stop you!" And he received another punch on the head, courtesy of Kain. "Akatsuki! How dare you–!"

"Like I said, idiot, show some respect." Kain already gave his cousin a glare.

"So, is it something like that?" Ruka asked. She knew none of them would definitely let Zero do something as outrageous as that, even if they had to fight him.

"No, it's nothing like that at all." Zero said, his amethyst eyes darkening in seriousness. "It's something much worse." All of them looked at him either in dread or in surprise.

Zero knew that a black envelope meant he could not tell the content of the mission to anyone at any cost. It also meant the mission must be carried out no matter what happened. Even at the cost of the hunter's life… However, his life wasn't his life alone anymore. Such a reckless act could not only result in his death but to Kaname's as well. He would rather forsake his hunter oath of secrecy than to let his lover get hurt. He would be able to live with the humiliation… but if Kaname got hurt because of his carelessness… he wouldn't be able to live at all…

And besides, it would be a huge burden off his chest if at least someone else knew of his whereabouts.

Zero looked at each and every one of the nobles around him. He smiled to himself because he knew he could trust them with his life. He knew they might get angry or even try to fight him because of it but his decision remained firm. He had decided to tell them.

"I'll be having a mission tonight." He started and Aido already stood up from his seat. The blonde was about to make some comments but Zero's gaze alone rendered him speechless. In the end, he sat back down on his seat.

"What kind of mission?" Takuma was the one who asked what everyone wanted to. He knew it was something terribly dangerous if Zero wanted to consult with Kaien and Yuzuru about it earlier.

Zero looked at them all once again. "…Pureblood extermination mission."

And all their eyes widened.

"Zero-kun!" Takuma, who was usually the calmest among them, also couldn't help but stand up from his seat. His eyes were wide with both surprise and dread. Shiki immediately held his arm to calm him down.

Aido was just too shocked to even speak. Kain could only stare at Zero, mouth gaping a little. Ruka suddenly felt scared. And the fact was that they didn't know if they were actually scared for Zero or scared of him at the moment.

"And you want us to do nothing..?" Rima was the only one able to ask. Her fists were trembling slightly, from anger or from fear Zero didn't know. "You want us to stay here while knowing that you're about to slaughter a pureblood..? Zero-sama, I thought you're…" Her eyebrows creased but then she shook her head, as if dismissing a thought. "…you're a hunter after all. It wouldn't matter to you how vampires like us feel about it."

Zero understood what she meant even if she didn't voice some of it. He closed his eyes, embracing himself for the worst.

"Kiryuu…" It was Aido's voice. "Are you serious..?" Zero opened his eyes once more and nodded, his eyes determined.

The hunter didn't want to look at Aido's hurt expression but he gazed at those blue orbs for as long he could. He then looked at Takuma and saw the same expression. Kain's face was more subdued but it was bordering on accusing. Ruka had both of her trembling hands closed in fists but she wasn't saying anything. All of their eyes… looked hurt… Knowing how those eyes looked meant that this would be the last time he would accept a mission like that. They all trusted him and now they had learned he still had no qualms about killing a pureblood… He initially thought that they wouldn't understand what it was like to be a hunter. But maybe, just maybe, he was the one who didn't understand them.

Zero was about to apologize for hurting them unnecessarily but Aido spoke first before he could. "Who is it? That pureblood..?" His voice was quiet but it still echoed all throughout the silent and tensed room.

"I don't know." The hunter answered. "I also think it's better if I don't know. Only the address of the house was given to me."

"How can you kill someone you know nothing about!?" Aido blurted out as he stood up from his seat once again. "What if it's–"

"It's a pureblood who doesn't care about the treaty between the Council and the Association. That much is for certain." Zero answered, knowing full well what Aido was talking about. Of course, even the Association knew not to kill purebloods indiscriminately. However, the offense of the said pureblood was too severe to even enumerate. That was the reason why he didn't have any qualms about it. That was also the reason why it wasn't even in his list of problems.

"But just for that–" Kain was about to voice but Zero cut him off.

"Just for that we hunters exist." He finished before he too stood up. "I know I cannot convince you that what I'm doing is right nor can I ask you to embrace the Hunter Association's ideals. The only thing I want of you is to tell Kaname where I am in case he gets back here before me."

None of them talked for a while. They were all looking at him with almost vacant expressions. Or at least, that's how he would interpret their faces.

"So the reason…" Takuma slowly smiled as he understood. "…is Kaname after all."

"…I get it." Ruka seemed to have realized it as well. "This kind of thing… there's no reason for you to even tell us… And yet you went through all that trouble... because it's for Kaname-sama's sake."

"I don't understand." Aido pouted, suddenly feeling left out.

Kain sighed. "It means, idiot, that if it was under any normal circumstances, Kiryuu-sama wouldn't even tell us. But because the situation is dire, he didn't want Kaname-sama to worry about his whereabouts."

"That's the reason why you were trying to go to the Sun dorm earlier, to tell Chairman Cross about it." Takuma figured out. "The mission is really dangerous so you don't want to leave without telling anyone."

"And for that we must stop you at all cost." Rima was the one who spoke, seriousness and determination thick in her voice. "If something were to happen to you, then Kaname-sama too would be affected."

Zero blinked in surprise at the sudden turn of events.

"Don't you even care about Kaname-sama!?" Aido seemed to have realized the danger as well. "What if–!"

"Hey, don't jinx me." Zero scowled at them.

"It's not like that at all, isn't it?" Kain let out a small smile. "It's because Kiryuu-sama is the one most worried about Kaname-sama that he told us about his mission even though it's supposed to be a secret. He disregarded his position as a hunter, disregarded his oath as a hunter, and even disregarded his pride as a hunter simply because he's worried for Kaname-sama." Zero scowled at that. He wanted to deny the accusation but the blush slightly adorning his cheeks was already proof enough.

They all grinned knowingly when they saw the blush on the hunter's cheeks, no matter how much Zero tried to salvage his pride by scowling.

"I've decided." Aido was the first to talk. "I'm going with you."

"What!?" The hunter looked at the blonde in surprise and disbelief. "No, you're not!"

"Yes, we are." Ruka was the one who voiced this time.

Kain smirked. "And besides, even if you can go one on one with another pureblood, don't even think for a second that he'll be all alone in that mansion of his."

"You'll definitely need a helping hand, Kiryuu-sama." Aido crossed his arms over his chest, suddenly feeling smug about the turn of events.

"Well then, I'll stay here as a guard while you're all out." Rima spoke. She had obviously decided as well.

"I'll be with her so don't you worry about the school, Kiryuu-sama." Shiki seconded even before the hunter could voice his dissent.

"I'll be where Senri is. Alright then, let's all prepare!" Takuma said cheerfully, as if they're all going on a field trip.

Everyone went out of the room debating on what to wear or what food to bring.

Zero gaped at them all in shock before he sighed. "This is going to be really troublesome."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"I haven't been in this part of the country before…" Aido voiced as they all sat inside a first class compartment of a train. He was sitting beside Zero while Kain and Ruka sat together across from them.

"I've already been here… when I was younger." Zero's eyes were closed but his whole aura spoke of vigilance and seriousness.

"When you say 'younger'… you mean–" Aido voiced but he was cut off by Kain.

"Hanabusa." Kain's voice almost sounded like a warning. His cousin was truly an idiot… Although he couldn't blame Aido for not knowing, it was still quite insensitive of the idiot to ask. Kain had heard all about it when Takuma and Shiki were talking once. The Kiryuu family used to live in the place…

The blonde pouted. "…I was just curious."

"It's fine." Zero couldn't help but smile as he looked at both males. To think that Kain was more sensitive to those things than he thought… He didn't know how Kain knew about it but he was sure those crimson eyes meant the redhead knew something about his past. "I used to live here… specifically at the outskirt of this small village."

"Oh!" Aido initially looked surprised and excited, at least until he remembered the tragedy of the Kiryuu family. "Oh… sorry…" Now he knew why Kain was trying to stop him. "Che… He should've told me something important like that…" He pouted and gave his cousin a weak glare, at which Kain merely ignored.

"Like I said, it's fine." Zero felt a small twinge of pain in his heart. "It was a long time ago anyway." And yet… this would be the first time he'd return to the place after what happened…

"So this will be the first time you'll return." Ruka was the one who opened the topic. Her expression was hard to read and it helped Zero a lot. He didn't want to see pity in those eyes anyway.

The hunter gave her a small smile. "It is." He then looked outside the train, the familiar view of the meadows and the surrounding forest greeting his eyes once again. "It didn't seem to have changed much." And yet, for him, it would never be the same again… For he had lost everything he held dearly in this place…

"Uh… h-how about some snacks? I know I have some snacks here." Aido tried to cheer him up, which he appreciated deeply. The blonde rummaged his bag and brought out many snacks which surprised even Kain and Ruka.

"Where the hell did you get that?" Kain growled, knowing full well that his cousin was sneaking illegal things inside his room again. "The monthly inspection is getting nearer and yet you–"

"Don't worry, don't worry!" Aido smirked. "They won't know I hid it underneath the carpet!"

"Surely you realize that I'm actually a prefect, right?" Zero arched an eyebrow at him. Aido paled at that.

"You didn't hear anything! I never said anything about carpet!" Aido shouted. "Kiryuu, you idiot!" And he received another punch on the head for his disrespect, again courtesy of Kain.

"Idiot." Ruka muttered under her breath.

Zero closed his eyes as he tried to his best to relax while they still had time to. He had tried his best to dissuade the three nobles earlier but it was all for naught. They were more stubborn than he thought, especially Aido. The blonde just wouldn't hear the end of it. They insisted that they were doing it for their beloved Kaname-sama and not for him so he couldn't actually say anything to them. He could only sigh in defeat as they smugly won the battle.

In the end, he had to brief them about the mission or else they would charge into the battle without knowing anything. He told everything the letter indicated about the pureblood, including all his strong subordinates to be dealt with. The only thing he left out was the place. He knew they would learn of it sooner or later anyway.

Now that he thought about it, there really was no way he could do the mission alone. He couldn't even understand why he's so willing to do it now. Perhaps… because it would be the last time he would accept a mission from them…

"Everyone," Zero voiced, earning all the attention of the three nobles inside the compartment. "You should understand that this mission is most likely a huge trap set for me by the Association."

"And yet, knowing that, you're still willing to do it, right?" Kain looked at him in boredom just as the redhead yawned. "It's not like we can do anything about that. Anyway, there's no turning back now so don't even try to dissuade us again."

Zero smiled at him. "I know that. I just want to tell you to be very careful."

Ruka smirked. "You don't need to tell us that."

"Don't worry. We'll definitely protect you, Princess." Aido sneered before he received a not-so-light punch on the head, this time from Ruka. That was Zero's time to return the smirk. Aido gave Zero a weak glare before he muttered something about Ruka under his breath. Ruka, however, gave him a matching glare since she understood the insults thrown in her direction.

And thus, the nonstop bickering of the two had started once again and it didn't stop until they had eaten dinner and had finally left the terminal. Kain would only sigh once in a while at their behavior while Zero had already given up on making them stop. They had started walking towards their destination. Aido tried to complain earlier but Zero's expression as the hunter gazed at everything made the blonde stop.

The hunter felt so much nostalgia in everything. The scent of the air, the trees, the roads, and even the houses… He remembered that house on the corner where he used to buy bread together with Ichiru. That playground was the one where he liked playing snowball the most. That library was the one Kaien used to go to whenever they would go out. Those houses were the houses of all the kids whom he wanted to play with but couldn't. Those roads were the same ones his father and mother walked on when they leave and return from their missions. He also knew that the snowfall here was the prettiest. Because the snowfall here was the one he watched together with Ichiru… sometimes even together with his father…

He felt like crying. He had not completely moved on from their deaths yet… especially since it was just recently that he learned he was the one who got them all killed… And now, he had learned too that Ichiru was still alive. And yet… his twin brother was possibly not on his side…

The hunter closed his eyes to suppress the longing that was drowning his heart. The place was the same. Nothing much changed. At least, nothing much, except… the people whom he lived with were no longer around…

"The air feels terrible here…" Kain muttered, fighting the urge to shudder just as he pulled Ruka closer to him. Zero couldn't help but agree with the male.

"The lack of hunter presence must have made this place a perfect den for all those Level E bastards." Aido said with much contempt.

"No, it's different." Zero voiced, knowing full well that the air felt different not because of too much Level E presence but because of the presence of a very powerful pureblood. A very powerful, familiar scent of a pureblood…

And Zero's eyes widened. This... There was no doubt about it… "…Ichiru..?" His voice was but a mere whisper but his three companions heard him nonetheless.

"Your brother?" Aido was the one who asked, eyes slowly widening in surprise. "Don't tell me… the pureblood you're about to exterminate… is your brother..?"

Zero clenched his fists tightly in both anger and pain. If his suspicions were correct, the Association knew the pureblood was Ichiru… and yet they still sent him… "Those bastards..!" He growled, making the air turn really cold and deadly.

"Uh, Kiryuu-sama..?" Aido called out hesitantly since he could feel intense anger and sorrow coming from Zero's aura. He wanted to touch the hunter and comfort him. But Zero was… at the moment… very scary…

Kain pulled Ruka even closer as the three of them felt the unmistakable pureblood aura coming out of the hunter. It was so intense and dark that they did not dare utter any more word. They did not even dare move. They could simply stare in both awe and fear as Zero tried his best to calm down and focus his mind.

Zero closed his eyes tightly and heaved a deep sigh before he opened them again. "Sorry about that…"

"…It's fine." Aido answered immediately, his concern still outweighing his fear. He then decided that Zero wasn't a danger so he walked towards the hunter and patted his shoulder. "Don't worry about us. We will simply follow your lead."

"…Although, please refrain from doing that." Kain was the one who voiced their thoughts. "You'll get the three of us killed without a fight." Zero looked at him apologetically.

"…My brother is here." He voiced more clearly. "He might be… the one we're about to hunt tonight."

None of them talked for a while. They simply stared at him with wide eyes.

The nobles knew how important his brother was to Zero. The hunter loved his family too much and even now could not seem to move on from the pain of losing them. There was no way Zero could exterminate his own brother… However, they also knew how powerful this pureblood Ichiru was since he seemed to be the ringleader behind all the strange occurrences and all the killings. Thus, it was only appropriate to really apprehend him, if not kill him. To think the Association would be so heartless as to assign Zero to hunt his own brother…

"This is oozing of too much 'trap,' Kiryuu-sama." Ruka voiced. She knew she had no right to tell Zero to simply return back to Cross Academy but she also knew she could at least voice her mind. Zero just had that sort of aura.

"Are you sure we should still do the mission?" Aido asked. They all knew Zero had become quite shaken by the fact that he didn't know it was Ichiru the Association was trying to make him kill. If he wasn't strong and fast enough to recognize the familiar aura just with that one meeting with Ichiru that night, then he would have rushed inside the mansion without knowing who the enemy really was.

"Change of plans." Zero was still too angry at the Association for setting it up so he would be hunting Ichiru. If he hadn't met Ichiru that night… But there was also no way of knowing whether Ichiru was really the one he was about to exterminate. It's true that he could feel Ichiru's strong pureblood presence in the air and that there was no other pureblood presence in the vicinity except his and Zero's. But there was still no proof that the address given in the letter was Ichiru's.

The four of them stopped some meters beside the road to at least make everything clear. They made sure no one was in the vicinity, whether they be human or hunter or vampires alike.

"We still don't know if the address indicated in the letter is my brother's. We have no way of knowing that unless we walk a little closer to the place." Zero started. The three nobles were listening to him very intently. But more than being alert, they were simply being cautious. They didn't want to make him angry again. That was a really scary experience.

It's just like experiencing Kaname's anger too.

"So in short, the mission will be continued?" Aido asked, at least trying to confirm one thing.

"If it wasn't my brother…" Zero shook his head. "I know it will seem like I'm being biased because Ichiru is my brother but… I at least want to talk to him before we decide anything. I don't want to blindly follow the Association's order… because I've known my brother as a child. He wasn't… like this at all…" He wanted all of them to at least understand his side, to at least learn where he's coming from. But there really was no need for that. They all nodded and gave him their approval.

"One more thing is the fact that this may really just be a trap." Zero's eyes turned determined. "There's a huge chance that my brother is in cahoots with the Association and is really just trying to get rid of me." He immediately ignored a huge pang in his chest. "We may get ambushed on this mission."

"I get what you're trying to say." Kain nodded, eyes filled with seriousness. "It means there's a huge chance we'll all die here tonight."

"Hey, don't jinx us!" Aido scowled. "And besides, even if it's a trap… It's still a fact that Kiryuu-sama's brother is here. All we need to do is to really formulate a fool-proof plan to capture him alive and question him." His three companions looked at him with odd expressions. "What?"

"That is a good plan." Kain voiced in boredom. "…But also an impossible plan." The redhead then looked at Zero. "I just want to add one thing. If Kiryuu-sama who's pureblood powers were awaken just fairly recently is this strong, then that pureblood Ichiru would most likely be stronger since he'd acquired his power since they were younger… at least basing from Seiren's reports. It means he had all the time in the world to train both his strength and power."

"Capturing him… is not impossible." Zero was the one who voiced it out. "But I don't want to risk your lives trying to do it. If it turns out that we are terribly outnumbered or at a great disadvantage, then we will immediately use our remaining strength to retreat and escape. We will not risk our lives here tonight." There's no way he could ask his friends to risk their lives for him… There's no way he could risk Kaname's life…

They all nodded in assent and he looked relieved. He gave them all a small smile.

"There's also one more angle we're not considering." Ruka spoke quietly. "What if… Kiryuu-sama's brother and the Association are not actually working together? What if there are two perpetrators behind the scene and everything just happens to be pointed at your brother?" She then looked at Zero whose eyes widened a lot. Somehow, those words gave him hope that Ichiru wasn't such a bad person after all…

"Meaning… it might actually become a sort of 'hitting two birds with one stone' for the Association… or the Council, for all we know, if the two of you were to kill one another tonight." Kain finished for her.

"Well, we cannot accomplish anything if we remain hidden here." Aido said with utter seriousness for once. "Let's simply assume that they all know we're here and they're now waiting for us."

Zero heaved another deep sigh. Ichiru would be waiting for him, huh… "You're right. Let's go."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Zero could feel his fists tremble as he hid on the forested side of the road. On the other side was a huge and thick brick wall shielding a huge mansion from any outsider's view. His sharp amethyst eyes almost looked crimson in the darkness of the night. So their assumption was true…

"What now?" Kain whispered to no one in particular. He too was hidden together with the hunter. On his other side was Zero and on his right side was Ruka. Aido was some feet on the hunter's left side.

"We proceed with caution as planned." Zero was the one who answered, much to their surprise. They thought he had gone immobile. "The mission is to apprehend the pureblood Ichiru Kiryuu. However–"

"We will not risk our lives to apprehend him." Aido continued. "But we will risk our lives in order to protect the Princess." Both Kain and Ruka nodded in assent. Zero looked at them in confusion for a while before he scowled when he realized who the princess was.

And yet, thanks to their comforting presence beside him, Zero felt that he would not break this time. He would be able to at least enter the house without looking like he was about to cry. Aido's cheerful but worried expressions, Kain's strong presence, and Ruka's quiet but determined aura made them a perfect companion for him. They could make him feel that he would not be alone in this mission. And that he would not die…

The hunter closed his eyes to calm his senses down. He wanted to initiate the plan with a calm mind and aura. And he thought annoying Aido was the right thing to do if he wanted himself to relax. "I guess I'll have to tell Kaname about the chips and other garbage underneath the carpet of a noble's room when he comes back." Zero voiced to no one in particular. They all initially looked at him in confusion, most likely trying to comprehend where the statement came from, before Kain gulped and Aido paled.

"I humbly apologize for being rude, Kiryuu-sama!" Aido voiced imploringly, pouting and obviously wishing for Zero's pity. He simply whispered the words because he knew talking loudly would not make the silver-haired teen pity him. The hunter chuckled at the blonde's actions and indicated he was simply joking to ease the tension. However, Kain and Ruka could only sigh since instead of easing Aido's tensed atmosphere, it only added to the blonde's predicament as he kept trying to hide the prominent blush that appeared on his face. It was caused by the fact that Zero chuckled while being so close to him in proximity.

Zero was truly handsome… That much Aido could say.

Zero, on the other hand, didn't notice it since he already used the remaining time to check his bag for his hunter items. He also readied his Bloody Rose to indicate that they would finally move. He's truly glad that he could still hold it… Or rather, now that he thought about it, the gun was originally his father's. His father was obviously a pureblood vampire so there's no way he could hold a hunter weapon… Did that mean that the Bloody Rose wasn't actually a hunter weapon at all..? He sighed at that. There was no need to think about it. The fact that he could still touch it even when his vampire blood had become so strong was already enough. There were so many things that mattered more…

And thus, when the hunter looked at his companions next, all they needed was a final nod before they were all running in vampire speed towards the mansion.

It merely took a second before dozens and dozens of Level E vampires with synchronized attack tactics welcomed the four of them. No words were needed between them as they all used their powers in eliminating all enemies.

Aido immediately used his ice to freeze all those Level Es near him, rendering them incapable of moving. He would then break the iced structures some seconds after, also breaking the creatures frozen within the ice in the process. Kain's use of his power was much simpler and yet also as deadly. He would simply motion his hands to control the direction of the fire and all those who were reached by the blaze were burned as well. There was no need to put it out afterwards. He basically just burned them all. Ruka used her power and made the Level E vampires either kill each other or themselves. Zero could only look at them as they eliminated a lot of Level Es within just seconds. He didn't even have to do anything.

Unlike the last time when the school was attacked, all of them were ready to fight and were in the right mindset to do so. They weren't caught off guard and were actually on the attacking side so the vast number of enemies didn't make much of a difference to them at all. Zero didn't even have to use his power.

After some minutes, Ruka and Kain left the group as planned in order to kill all the remaining Level Es in the mansion's garden and on the first floor of the house.

They were initially insisting that they could move alone to make the job easier and much quicker but Zero didn't want a repeat of his previous mission with the hunters where one of his teammates died. He simply told them that the mission must not be performed with haste because it would be terribly dangerous to be low-guarded. Underestimating the enemy was also very dangerous. The enemy already knew they were coming so it would be best if they wouldn't move alone. Thus, Ruka and Kain were assigned as partners for obvious reasons while Aido and Zero teamed up. The lovers were assigned to eliminate all threats and all subordinates while Aido and Zero were the ones to hunt down the pureblood.

Zero knew Aido might not be of much help since there was no way the blonde could hurt a pureblood. It might even be more dangerous if the pureblood were to try to command the blonde. However, Aido made it clear to him that Zero was the only pureblood he would obey at the place. It meant that if ever the blonde received an order from the pureblood, Zero only had to nullify or cancel it and Aido would be free again.

And thus, the hunt for Ichiru had started.

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.tbc.

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Ren-sama's Note:

Wow, that was a little intense. And the fight had yet to start, everyone!

Anyway, please review~! ᶺoᶺ