Ren-sama's Note:

Here's the 31st Chapter. I hope you enjoy~! ᶺoᶺ

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Chapter 31

Zero could still feel Ruka and Kain's strong battle auras outside when he and Aido finally entered the seemingly deserted mansion. It was too suspicious for some reason since there was no Level E vampire inside the house.

The two males ascended the stairs quietly and slowly, alert for any impending trap or ambush. The hunter knew there were hunters and even vampires who could mask their presence very well. The silence of the house was very unnerving.

When they reached the second floor, Aido could already feel his whole body trembling from the strong pureblood presence in the air. It was very scary… Zero and Kaname were very scary too but that's only when they were angry. Their presences had become much warmer since they became lovers. Ichiru's aura, on the other hand, was oozing of too much darkness and hatred.

Zero could feel it too. So his brother hated him after all… He knew Ichiru must be blaming him for what happened that night. But it was still too painful to personally feel that intense hatred and void in his brother's aura. It's like Ichiru didn't even have any other will except revenge…

The hunter closed his eyes and exhaled before he opened them again. "Ichiru," he voiced with clarity. "We're not children anymore. Let's stop this hide-and-seek."

There was no movement in the surrounding for a while and both of them waited with bated breaths for Ichiru or any other vampire to come out. Finally, a ringing laughter much similar to Zero's if only the hunter would do so had echoed throughout the corridor.

Instead of liking it, however, Aido gritted his teeth so he wouldn't tremble from the coldness of it. Unlike Zero, it seemed Ichiru had already embraced his vampire blood to the point of no return.

"You've become quite cold, nii-san." Ichiru voiced as he appeared not too far from them.

Zero readied himself for the worst. Ichiru appearing in front of him now would mean his brother was intending to fight.

Aido was rooted in his spot when he finally saw Ichiru for the first time. He really was Zero's twin… He looked so much like Zero to the point where even he wouldn't see the difference... And yet, he was also nothing like the Zero they all knew… He was way, way scarier and colder.

Ichiru's hair was quite longer than his older brother's. It was ponytailed at the back. Those amethyst eyes that he liked were so different from Zero's too… Zero's eyes were always very warm and kind. Ichiru's eyes were full of hatred and coldness. Zero would always scowl even when he's happy. But it would still appear very natural and warm. Ichiru's smile, on the other hand, was quite cold. It did not reach his eyes. However… was that sadness he could see behind those cold orbs..? Aido wasn't so sure because it was gone when Ichiru blinked again.

"I was hoping to see you, Ichiru." Zero voiced for the first time, all the cooped up emotions inside him were trying to get out. "But not like this." Now that he had seen Ichiru once again, he could now be sure that it was really his brother. Ichiru was really alive… And yet, it still felt very surreal… especially since the two of them were on the opposing sides.

Ichiru's smile widened. "Don't be too stiff, nii-san." He then walked towards a huge set of oak doors and opened them. "Let's talk inside."

Zero was already about to follow his twin when Aido stopped him. He gripped the hunter's arm quite tightly. "Kiryuu… Are you sure we should follow him..?" He looked really worried for the hunter.

Zero smiled kindly at the blonde. "We don't have a choice."

Aido seemed to want to disagree and say something but the blonde looked down and let go of the hunter's arm in the end. He was worried about Zero… and about his Kaname-sama. He knew that if ever something happened to the hunter, the brunette pureblood would surely die as well. Not to mention even if their lives weren't bound, Aido felt that he would still worry for Zero just as much. Zero was just too kind for his own good… That pureblood Ichiru would surely just hurt him…

Zero entered the huge hall capable of holding grand and luxurious pureblood parties. Ichiru stood in the middle of the hall, as if waiting for Zero to start.

"Why are you doing this, Ichiru?" The hunter wished to confirm the situation on his own. He wanted to hear with his own ears the things that Ichiru did.

Ichiru's eyes darkened at that, but his smile did not vanish. "You really are a hunter through and through, nii-san." And then, much to Zero's surprise and dismay, Ichiru suddenly vanished from his spot, only for the older twin to belatedly realize that his brother just initiated an attack.

Zero knew he should have been prepared for everything. And yet, his shock when his own brother actually swiftly attacked him with a silver dagger in hand was still very prevalent. He just had enough time to use Bloody Rose as shield before they were both engaged in a graceful and yet deadly attacks. Zero could only block all the attacks, not having the gall to fire at his own brother just yet.

Aido didn't know if he would help Zero or if he would let Kain and Ruka know where they were. He knew he wanted to stay and help Zero if necessary but it was hard to not be overwhelmed by the auras of two battling purebloods in front of him. The air was so dense he was already having a hard time breathing. Not to mention he knew that if ever he indeed helped Zero directly, he would most likely not be successful in any way. Aside from the fact that there was no way he could raise his hand against a pureblood, there's also his nagging thought that it would make him hurt Zero instead. He knew just how much Zero valued his brother. Zero might hate him if he were to hurt Ichiru… He didn't want that. He would rather Zero got angry at him or hurt him. But if the hunter was to hate him… he would surely… be very sad and lonely…

The blonde could see that Zero wasn't attacking very seriously. The hunter was seriously defending and attacking but he wasn't giving it his all. He was holding back… Heck, he wasn't even using his power at all.

"You really are just too kind for your own good, nii-san." Ichiru voiced as he aimed for Zero's blind spot on the side. But his dagger was still thwarted by the hunter.

"You haven't answered my question yet." Zero answered while he dodged a rather skillful attack coming from his brother. His brother had indeed gotten terribly strong… Perhaps even stronger than any hunter he had ever met… But there was something puzzling him about his brother's attacks.

Was Ichiru really serious in all this..? Perhaps he was. And yet, somehow it felt to Zero as if Ichiru was merely playing.

Ichiru smiled. "What's the point of answering? Aren't you already convinced that I'm your enemy?" His eyes widened a little when Zero pointed the Bloody Rose at him. It made him stop moving.

"Why are you doing this!?" Zero asked more forcefully. He didn't want to just fire at Ichiru without knowing what his brother was thinking. He readied his aim just in case.

"If I say 'it's none of your business,' what would you do?" Ichiru saw that his brother had gotten serious at last. His smile widened before he attacked once again.

Everything happened in only a split second that Aido wasn't even able to react properly. Two shots echoed all throughout the mansion just as Ichiru screamed in pain. He skillfully dodged the first bullet while the second shot hit him on the shoulder. The next thing he knew, he was already on the ground screaming in so much pain. He looked like a wounded wild animal, someone who was driven into a corner and yet still very much dangerous to approach. Ichiru knew his movements were very swift and agile so there was no way he couldn't have evaded the bullets. For his older twin to still manage to hit him… Really… even if they were vampires now, it seemed Zero was still stronger than him…

Seeing his brother in pain somehow brought Zero out of shock and he immediately ran towards Ichiru to see if he was terribly hurt. It was a good thing the bullets he loaded weren't silver. If it was, it would have been very deadly even for a half-pureblood like his brother.

"Don't come near me!" Ichiru shouted in anger just as fire engulfed his whole body. The color of the flame was purely black. It was incinerating even the solid marble flooring surrounding Ichiru within seconds of its release.

Zero was too shocked that he literally froze, wide-eyed as he stared at his brother burning in front of him. Just like in his nightmares… "Ichiru!" He didn't care whether he would burn as well just as long as he wouldn't see his twin in fire anymore. "Ichiru, hold on!"

Ichiru was surprised when Zero was still approaching despite the scorching heat of the black fire. "I said don't come near me! Are you an idiot!?" He gritted his teeth because talking somehow made the pain escalate even more. And yet, Zero was still trying his best to withstand the heat. Ichiru knew that a mere two meter distance could already burn Zero just as much as if he was literally on fire. The younger twin then closed his eyes and tried his best to calm himself down.

Zero was surprised when the fire died out but he had a more pressing issue at hand. His twin was caught on fire. His twin was wounded with a bullet that he fired from his own gun with his own hand. And then he was burned with a black flame too. His twin whom he loved very deeply… "Ichiru… are you alright..?" He voiced as he knelt beside his twin.

Ichiru directed a glare at him before the younger twin gave him a punch despite the other's injured shoulder, although Zero managed to dodge it which only fueled Ichiru's anger. "I told you not to approach me, didn't I?!" For a moment he really thought he had burned even his own older brother. Zero's arms were burned a little but the skin was recovering really fast so Ichiru sighed a breath of relief… for now at least.

"Ichiru…" Zero didn't try to touch Ichiru anymore since it seemed his brother didn't want to. Although, he still didn't move away.

"Really… you really are such an annoying older brother…" Ichiru said as he lay on his back on the cold marble flooring of the hall. The pain was still blinding him but he wasn't moving that much anymore. Zero's presence beside him somehow felt very reassuring. "You really thought I was burning, didn't you?" When his older twin didn't answer, Ichiru let out a hollow laugh. "That's why I'm telling you how much of an idiot you are. If you only had stopped to think for even a second, then you'll realize that it's my own power and not yours."

Zero's eyes widened at that. His twin's power..? That black fire..? Now that he thought about it, he could control fire. It wasn't strange for his younger twin brother to also have the same ability. He couldn't help but sigh in relief. He really thought it was his power going haywire again… Also, there was no way his fire would change color so suddenly from blue to black… so it could only be Ichiru's…

Aido also managed to exhale the breath he was holding for a while now. He could no longer feel any resistance or any hate coming from Ichiru's aura so he knew the younger twin wouldn't attack anymore.

Zero didn't know if he would still demand an answer from his brother or if he would simply let Ichiru regain his strength again. He knew that they were on a mission at the moment and his name as a hunter was on the line. Not to mention Ruka and Kain were still fighting Level Es outside. And there was also the fact that Ichiru might not be on his side and his twin might simply escape after all this. He knew all that… And yet… he couldn't bring himself to do anything else right now…

Instead of worrying about many other things, Zero did the one thing he had been wanting to do since they were children. Since the moment he thought he had lost his family…

Ichiru's eyes widened when he felt the warmth that enveloped his entire body. He initially wanted to struggle and push his older twin away but his longing for such warmth won over his reasoning. It's been such a long time since he last felt a hug as warm as Zero's. In the end, he could only sigh as he decided to just tell his side. He just hoped… after everything was over… that Zero would still hug him… and not point his Bloody Rose towards him and kill him once and for all… "Nii-san…"

"Isn't it time for you to tell us everything, Ichiru-sama?" Aido also decided to approach the two of them. He gave Ichiru a deep bow before he looked at the other male in the eyes.

Ichiru, though in pain, arched an eyebrow at the bold attempt of a simple noble to make him talk. "I will talk… But lowly vampires such as you," he gave Aido a condescending look before his eyes turned colder, "should be as far away from me as possible."

Aido wanted to argue, knowing full well that Ichiru was still capable to kill despite being in pain. He didn't want to leave Zero alone with the other male. But one look from those cold amethyst eyes and he knew there was no way he could disobey.

And yet, those words and that condescending glare took Aido by surprise. He knew that most purebloods hated lower level vampires to approach them carelessly. Or even talk to them without permission. It's just that he had gotten very used to Kaname's gentle demeanor and Zero's 'not-pureblood-like' attitude that he had somehow forgotten. He had forgotten that he was always speaking out of turn when he should just open his mouth and talk to them when permitted… that he was always walking side by side with Kaname and Zero when he really should just walk behind them… that he was being impolite and uncouth when he should be revering them and devoting his whole life to serving them… and that he should not get close to them at all…

He had forgotten… because both Kaname and Zero were very kind.

Aido bowed down to his waist and apologized deeply. "I apologize for speaking out of turn." He was about to turn around and leave when Zero spoke next.

"No, Aido has to be here." Zero voiced when he saw just how hurt the blonde was. "I'm here on a mission together with them." Aido actually looked at him with wide eyes, obviously surprised and awed. The hunter simply arched an eyebrow at him, implying it was so unlike the blonde to be so formal and reserved like that.

Aido looked down, feeling so touched at those words. Even now… Zero still looked at him as if they were equals… In deep gratitude, Aido gave the hunter his sweetest and kindest smile. Zero blinked at that but still gave the blonde a small smile in return.

"Tch…" Ichiru tried to sit up to at least appear dignified and powerful in front of a lower class but the pain was still too much. He failed miserably to even move his right arm.

"Aido, help me remove the bullet from his shoulder." Zero voiced just as he started readying to perform first-aid.

"Ah, s-sure…" The blonde immediately put down his bag and ransacked the items inside. He readied all the necessary medical equipments before he watched as Zero performed first-aid. It was all he could do since he didn't know how to do anything else.

"No, you don't even have any time to be doing this anymore…" Ichiru said as he closed his eyes. He gritted his teeth when he felt how his brother slowly removed the bullet from his shoulder. It's true that Zero used anesthesia but he might as well have not used it at all from the intensity of the pain that he was still feeling. If there was ever anything that Ichiru could feel, it was the effect of the anesthesia itself. He could feel his consciousness slowly fading away from drowsiness.

"Just a little bit more." Zero voiced when he finally put pressure on the wound and gauzed it. He knew that it would heal in several minutes but it would still be inhuman of him to simply let it heal on its own without doing anything about it.

Soon afterwards, Kain and Ruka also entered the room. Zero felt them both but he was still busy giving first aid so he simply gave them both a nod of thanks. They both looked okay if not a little exhausted so the hunter was relieved. Aido immediately ushered them to the other side of the room and quietly explained what happened. The two of them seemed really surprised to see Ichiru in person for the first time but they both held their tongue and kept quiet. They simply stood at the far side of the room together with Aido. Like the blonde, the two of them couldn't possibly leave Zero alone with an obvious enemy.

"Listen to me, nii-san." Ichiru voiced quietly when his older twin managed to make him sit up straighter, his back leaning on the wall of the huge room. "Don't take any of the Association's missions anymore. They do not care about you at all. They only care about their image and their safety. They could not care less if they have to kill even their own men just as long they can be in control of everything." He knew the three nobles could hear just as well even if he was merely whispering and it really felt very irritating how they stood in the same room as him. He could feel his body slowly falling to his side again.

"I don't understand what you mean." Zero voiced, confused as to why Ichiru talked as if he wasn't part of the Association. The surrounding had turned eerily quiet now that the Level Es were all killed. It was a little bit unnerving. "Aren't you part of the Association?"

"I am, but…" Ichiru sighed and closed his eyes as he tried to sit up straighter. He didn't want to appear any weaker in front of those nobles. "Listen, nii-san. Unlike you, I did not become a member of the Association so I can become buddy-buddy with them. I did it because oto-san asked me to."

Zero's eyes widened at that. The report clearly said Ichiru became a member of the Association through the Cross Family's influence…

"The Association is a corrupt and rotten organization filled with shameless and deceitful monsters called humans." Ichiru spat out the words with venom, surprising not only Zero but also the noble vampires. The hatred in the younger twin's eyes was so intense and the rage so overwhelming that Zero thought Ichiru would attack him again. And yet, his voice remained calm and cool when he spoke next. "They sealed your memories, didn't they? Almost all of it from what I have heard…"

"…" Zero wanted to say something, anything, to counter his brother's arguments against the Association. He wanted to tell Ichiru that not all the hunters were corrupt or narrow-minded. And yet, just thinking about what he and Kaien had been through thanks to them, he was starting to find it really hard to deny…

"…Nii-san, I used to envy you." Ichiru's next words made Zero even more surprised. He could only stare at his younger brother's honest and determined gaze. "I used to envy you… to the point of hating you… because you always get the better half of everything." If he would tell his brother this… then he might as well tell Zero everything else… "I envied you because you get praised for even the smallest of your accomplishments while I had to do my best in everything and yet it still wasn't enough. I envied you because you're stronger and smarter than me. I envied you because our parents loved you more… Uncle favored you more… and even Rido-san thought of you more…"

"…That's not true." Zero found himself voicing. He knew that wasn't the case at all.

Ichiru, however, simply gave him a smirk, obviously not believing it. "Do you remember, nii-san, what really happened that night ten years ago?"

Zero felt his whole body freeze at the question. He didn't think Ichiru would ask about it so soon. He didn't want to have to tell Ichiru that he could already remember… And yet, he knew he couldn't lie to his brother either. How he wished Kaname were behind him to hold his hand while he says it… However, Kaname had yet to return from the Council so he had no choice but to be stronger and face the wrath his brother would definitely give him after his explanation.

He clenched his fists tightly and looked at Ichiru with determination. "I was the one responsible for that fire. It was me who–" He immediately stopped when Ichiru immediately grabbed his collar and shook him a little.

"What the hell are you talking about?" His younger twin's glare was intimidating but Zero knew he had to face Ichiru's anger head-on.

He sighed as he explained his side. He explained everything he could remember from that night. He knew Aido and the others could hear his voice too but he hardly cared for that right now. He wanted Ichiru to understand that he didn't mean it, that it was an accident, but he was still willing to take up the responsibility for it.

When he finished talking, Zero waited for Ichiru's reaction with bated breath and barely concealed fear. It was unnerving because Ichiru sat there motionless looking at him with wide eyes. He feared the instant his brother would recover from the shock. He feared it more than anything at the moment. And yet, the reaction he was waiting for didn't happen. Instead, he was the one surprised when Ichiru actually burst out laughing.

"Nii-san, you should see your face!" He managed to voice in between heaps of laughter. "Oh, this joke is the funniest I have ever heard!"

"I'm serious, Ichiru!" Zero didn't know if he would get angry or upset at his brother's response. With that, Ichiru stopped laughing. His eyes turned cold and his smile lost all its warmth.

"Really now, nii-san. I know your memory hasn't fully returned yet. But that attitude of yours is still very annoying. What, now you even want to get the better side of the story too?" Ichiru leaned really close to Zero so that their faces were aligned with mere inches as distance. He used both his hands to cup his older twin's face too. He stared at Zero's confused and hurt expression for a good minute or two before he spoke again. "It was me, nii-san. It was me who killed our parents and not you."

Zero stared at his brother's cold amethyst eyes for several seconds before the words themselves sank in his mind. His eyes widened and his mind seemed to have stopped processing. Ichiru killed their parents..? He couldn't understand what was happening. He couldn't understand why Ichiru would say such things. His mind couldn't comprehend it.

"…All this time, nii-san, it was me who caused that fire." Ichiru voiced again when he thought his brother had gone immobile from shock. "Why do you think I did not seek you out? Why do you think I hid myself from you all these years? It's because I did something wrong, that's why."

Zero's mind was reeling for answers. He knew he was the one who caused that fire. What was Ichiru talking about..? He remembered how he wanted to tell his parents about his new power. He remembered seeing them exhausted from their mission but he still wanted them to see it. He remembered how his parents' eyes widened at the sight of his blue flame. And then all hell broke loose…

Ichiru's eyes darkened when his brother couldn't seem to process what really happened. He sighed. He could still remember what happened as if it was just yesterday.

He watched from the doorway of Zero's room as Kaien sat on his older twin's bedside. He actually discovered something quite cool while playing and he wanted to tell Zero about it. However, it seemed Zero wasn't feeling well at the moment.

"Is Ichiru alright?" Zero asked as he lay in his bed. Cross sat on a chair beside him, taking care of him since he's sick. Ichiru watched them silently from outside the room. Kaien had forbidden him to come inside since he might catch his twin's cold.

However, he wanted to see it for himself. He was really curious why his brother who was far stronger than him would catch a cold. He wanted to tease Zero about it since their parents always made it seem like he's the only one with the weak body even though Zero could catch a cold too.

Cross chuckled at the question Zero asked. "Of course, he is. But you can't see him since you're sick. He might catch your cold." Zero only nodded at that.

Ichiru went to his own room right after that and sulked on his bed. He'd be alone tonight it seemed. He pouted as he readied himself to sleep. He initially wanted to wait for his parents' arrival from their mission tonight but he changed his mind.

He felt envious yet again because Kaien had never stayed beside him on his bed even when he's really sick. It was only always Zero who would take care of him during those times. And look at that, the moment Zero felt even the slightest ill, they would immediately come and give him comfort. It had always been like that. He couldn't help but be jealous of all the attention they all gave Zero. Even their parents would surely be by Zero's side the whole night if they learned of his condition. No one would bother to look at him.

However, he also couldn't deny that he felt slightly lonely because Zero wouldn't be able to play with him for a while. He knew that even if he was envious of Zero, he still wanted his brother to get better so they could play together again. He wanted to make Zero drink his milk again and sleep together in his bed.

His brother would always get the better half of everything. But it didn't matter to him because he liked Zero a lot too anyway.

And with that thought in mind, he finally slept in peace. He only woke up when he felt Kaien go to his room and give him a good night kiss on the forehead after checking up on him. It surprised him a lot but he pretended to still be asleep. His uncle even gave him such a fond smile before leaving the room and also the house to attend his own mission. Ichiru didn't know Kaien would do something like that. Did that mean his uncle would always visit his room and do that when he's finally asleep..?

When his uncle was already gone, Ichiru opened his eyes and touched his forehead. It still felt warm and tingly from the kiss. He couldn't help but let out a small smile as he slept once more.

Ichiru was woken up once again when the main door of their house opened and the hushed voices of their parents were heard in the living room. He was still sulky because of Zero's cold but he pushed it all at the back of his mind because he wanted them to see his new discovery. He wanted to welcome them and brag about the discovery that he initially wanted Zero to see.

He actually felt good about it and felt proud because it was something he learned on his own. It would surely make them recognize him too.

He excitedly walked towards the living room only to find it empty. He blinked when he heard their voices in the dining room. He grinned to himself and was about to show-off his new ability when he saw them talking to Zero from across the table.

"I want to show you something…" Zero voiced unsurely, as if afraid that his parents would scold him or get angry at him. However, Shiro's curious face and Kara's confused one allowed the older twin to take a deep breath and show them what he had been hiding underneath the table all along.

Ichiru's eyes widened when he saw his brother's palm holding a ball of fire. It was the prettiest fire color he had ever seen… vibrant blue… It was so stunning that even he was amazed for a while. He looked at his own hand and felt envious once again.

It really was true then… that even though they were supposed to be twins, Zero would still always get the better half of everything…

He could hear his father's praises about Zero's beautiful blue-colored fire and her mother's remarks about having such good genes. They looked really tired and even wounded from the mission, which was a first, but they still nevertheless looked happy.

He wanted them to be happy for him too…

"Ichiru, stop hiding." Shiro's voice was gentle but it was authoritative. He knew there was no way he could disobey his father's direct order.

He walked out from his hiding place and joined them. Zero gladly let him see the fire too.

"I too…" He voiced meekly before he showed his hand to them all. "I too have one…"

It wasn't as beautiful and sparkly as Zero's since its color was black but it still made Shiro and Kara have the same reaction. Zero praised him too which was an added bonus. He really felt very happy. He's so happy that finally, they acknowledged his abilities just like how they would always approve of Zero's.

But then his eyes widened when he felt the fire getting hotter on his hand. "Ouch..!"

Shiro and Kara's eyes widened before they tried to help him immediately. But it was all too late.

The next thing he knew, black fire engulfed everything. The furniture which his parents bought from the city, the couches and the kitchen set, the tables and chairs, the curtains, even the other appliances… and the stove which caused such a huge explosion.

His parents who were closer to him immediately hugged him tight while Zero who was a bit farther was thrown some meters away from them. Ichiru found himself facing down the floor while his parents were crouching on each of his side, defending him from the fire and falling debris. Everything was covered in black fire and smoke. He found out he couldn't breathe and he began to panic even more, causing the fire to be even more intense and powerful.

"It's alright, Ichiru…" His father's voice near his ear was so quiet but he still nevertheless heard it. "It's alright… calm down… It's alright… We're here for you…"

Ichiru heard Zero's quiet footsteps as he approached all of them. His older twin seemed to be crying but he couldn't understand what Zero was saying. He couldn't move and he couldn't breathe. He wanted to ask for Zero's help but then he heard how Zero fell on the floor too. He must have inhaled a lot of smoke and lost consciousness.

"Zero…" He tried his best to voice out. "Oto-san… Oka-san…" He tried his best to move and look at the parents who were still holding him tight from behind.

And his eyes widened at what he saw. They were both burning. His black flame was eating them both and yet their hold on him didn't waver even for a second.

He screamed in utter agony and pain.

He felt like he was losing his mind. There was no way all of this was happening. His parents finally recognized him… Zero finally looked proud to have him as a twin… There was just no way…

"Ahhhhh!" He clutched his head and screamed repeatedly until he was almost losing his sanity. He cried his heart out as he saw the extent of what he had done. He wanted to just die together with them but his fire only felt hot to his skin. It wasn't burning him enough to kill him.

"It was an accident… Please… It was all just an accident…" He sobbed as he begged them all to be alive. "Please… Oto-san… Oka-san… Zero…"

He didn't even know how he managed to get out of the burning house or how he was able to contact the Association to seek help. But the next thing he knew, he was running with all his might. He wanted to run away from reality… from what happened… and that's exactly what he did…

There was just no way they were really dead… Maybe he was just dreaming… Maybe it was all just a nightmare… He knew he was a bad child who did nothing but envy his older brother… But if he would be punished this greatly for that, he'd rather not have anything at all…

He kept running on the snowy forest and he couldn't care less if he dies of hypothermia or if some Level E vampire finds him and kills him. He kept running as far as his little strides could go.

"I don't want this power!" He screamed as he knelt on the snowy ground. "Please… I don't want it… I don't need their praise… just make them be alive…" His tears fell down one by one again. "Please… I don't want my family to die…"

Ichiru closed his eyes to dispel the bad memories. Everything that happened next was quite blurry even to him. But he was found by a normal human family in a near-death state and was rescued. He found out that he managed to travel quite far from his village. He refused to tell them what happened though and he pretended he didn't know his name or where he came from. When he received the news that the whole Kiryuu family was killed except the eldest son, he cried once again. He was happy that his older brother was alive but at the same time he wept at the death of the parents he loved dearly.

He felt awfully guilty for everything that had happened.

And he knew… no matter how kind and forgiving Zero was… there was just no way what he did to their parents could be forgiven…

And so he did not dare come back to Zero's side. Along the way, he met the pureblood named Rido Kuran and learned many things about his family and his father.

"It's fine if you hate me, nii-san." Ichiru looked at Zero's eyes again. Those same amethyst eyes were focused on him now. His own had become lifeless from having to voice out that nightmare from ten years ago. "Actually, it would be best if you hate me. After all, I was the one who killed them both and destroyed our family."

Zero gulped down the huge lump stuck in his throat. He didn't know those things. This entire time, he really thought he was the one responsible for their deaths… Heck, he didn't even know his brother envied him for many things. Even now, he still couldn't remember the part where Ichiru showed him that power but he knew that the fire which engulfed everything then was indeed black in color. He didn't know what to feel… Was it relief to know that everything wasn't his fault at all? Or was it pain and sadness knowing full well that Ichiru was haunted by their past even more than he was? It was the same… Ichiru must have felt the same excruciating guilt over the death of their parents as he did when he thought he was the one who did it…

Zero wanted to comfort his brother, to tell him that it wasn't his fault. He wanted Ichiru to know that it was an accident… that Ichiru was a mere child when it happened… Their parents must've known that too since he remembered seeing them hugging Ichiru with all their might even though their bodies were already burning. It wasn't true that they loved Ichiru lesser than they loved him… Zero knew his parents might be too strict on Ichiru but that didn't mean they loved him less. They were just worried about his health…

And then that night happened…

Zero clenched his fists tightly, noting that Ichiru stiffened when he saw it. He must be thinking that his own older brother would punch him for what happened… So instead, Zero closed his eyes and exhaled the breath he was holding. "Ichiru… I…"

"Ichiru-sama!" All of them turned their heads towards the huge hall's doors when it suddenly opened with a bang. All their eyes widened at the person who came in. The male did not even look at any of them and simply acted as if he didn't recognize them. "Ichiru-sama, they're here."

"…Yoru Miura." Zero's voice was hard with disbelief. He knew there was no way his classmate in Day Class could be here. And yet, there was no mistaking that the male in front of him, wearing a hunter uniform and armed with a hunter gun, was Yoru. The same Yoru who got him so annoyed in that cake house, the same Yoru who apologized to him by bribing him with milk, and the same Yoru who acted with him as the Queen's husband in 'Alice in the Wonderland.'

Only when Zero called his name did Yoru look in his direction. His eyes were serious and stern. "Sorry, we don't have time to explain now. The hunters are coming."

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Aido managed to ask though they still looked shocked at the development of events. "Aren't you that guy Miura from Day Class?"

"It means…" Ichiru immediately stood up and dusted himself off. "…that if we don't hurry up now, we'll end up getting surrounded by hunters." He was glad that the pain from Zero's bronze bullet had ebbed a little.

Zero could only grip his hair. Everything was so damn confusing and shocking. He felt like he needed a whole century to process everything and yet only a few seconds was given for him to think. Everything was happening too quickly and he couldn't follow in anything at all. "You have to explain things more clearly, Ichiru."

Ichiru sighed and scowled at his twin. "Really, nii-san. You weren't this slow when we were younger." When Zero glared at him, the younger Kiryuu continued. "It means this is, just like your past missions, a huge trap." He motioned for all of them to follow him just as he started to explain. "Really, nii-san didn't even have time to get angry at me for what happened. Those hunters are really annoying."

Ruka and Kain wanted to argue about following Ichiru but seeing that even Aido looked determined to follow the other pureblood, they had no choice but to come quietly. And besides, Zero was there too so there was no way they could just leave on their own. Kaname would kill them if they ever returned to the Moon Dorm without the hunter.

"This whole mission was centered on the plan to make the Kiryuu siblings wipe each other out." Yoru answered everyone's unanswered question. "The Association knows that they can't defeat each of you separately so they devised a plan to exterminate you both without sacrificing too many hunters in the process."

The silence that followed after that sentence was too eerily quiet and tensed. They left the room with quick and graceful steps before they descended the stair to the first floor. Ichiru opened a small black door leading to what looked like a dark underground tunnel. By now, all of them could feel that they were already surrounded on all sides. Yoru was the last person to enter the room, closing the door behind them all.

"Why do you know so much?" Kain asked as they continued to descend the stairs. The huge brick walls on both their sides were dingy and moldy. The air felt cold to their skin and they could hear small water droplets from the dark ceiling to the equally brick flooring.

"…Because I'm a spy." Yoru answered just as they reached a narrow landing. They continued walking even though they felt trapped inside the terribly narrow and dark place. "I'm a hunter, supposedly. The Association planted me as Ichiru-sama's right-hand man in order to spy on him and his brother's actions. However, they didn't know that I'm actually a double spy."

"Double spy?" Ruka asked, looking at the hunter suspiciously. Kain gave Yoru a glare which implied he better not be a damned enemy right now.

"It means he's working for me too." Ichiru answered without looking at any of them. He was walking ahead together with Zero. "But… the Association does not know that Yoru is actually their enemy. He feeds them misleading and often confusing information most of the time."

"Forgive me for asking this but… how do you know he's not actually on their side?" Aido asked, clearly skeptical about Yoru's loyalty. "You said it yourself, Ichiru-sama. He's a double spy."

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Ichiru said in irritation. He really didn't want to talk to lower level vampires. "And don't get me wrong here. I don't actually care whether all of you were to fall prey to those hunters. My only concern is my and nii-san's safety. You're all nothing but a baggage to me."

Aido wanted nothing but to blurt out curses here and there because of the obnoxious and haughty pureblood who looked just like Zero. But in the end, he did nothing except tremble in so much annoyance and exhale a deep breath to control himself. He didn't want to be insolent to a pureblood of all things. If his Kaname-sama were to learn of his rudeness, he would surely feel bad about it…

Even Ruka and Kain who wanted to say something defiant and foul were forced to keep silent when even Aido did nothing to argue. They were even surprised to know that Aido could keep his calm even when insulted like that. Even if Ichiru was a half-pureblood whose lineage was so old they shouldn't even be walking in the same road as him, it was still very offensive to be told like they were merely a burden…

"Ichiru," Zero could feel everyone's upset aura and he wanted to do something about it. When he finally had Ichiru's attention, he voiced what was on his mind. "Aido, Ruka, and Kain are very… nice vampires." He spoke the last two words with such a quiet voice that the others had to incline their heads to hear him. He had a slight tinge of red on his cheeks when he finished talking. He wanted to ask Ichiru not to insult them too much because they're his friends. But he failed to explain things miserably…

Aido and the others looked really surprised because they never thought there would come a time when Zero would actually defend them from someone else. From Ichiru even… The silver-haired hunter could feel three nobles' stare on his back and he felt really uncomfortable at the moment. Not to mention too embarrassed to continue talking anymore. And to top it all of, Ichiru actually laughed out loud because of that. Zero couldn't help but scowl.

"I know, nii-san." Ichiru said with a gentle tone as he looked at his brother. He knew they were there to protect Zero at all cost. And not only because his twin was their master's lover, but because they cared about Zero just as much as they cared for their Kaname-sama.

Even Yoru couldn't help but comment. "You, who are actually a hunter through and through, think that they are your friends and even trust them with your life. Now that's something."

"Alright, I won't say anything anymore." Ichiru voiced before he looked at the nobles behind him. "But only because I don't want to upset nii-san."

Zero's scowl only deepened but he didn't comment anymore. Instead, he tried to take the conversation away from the topic. "Where is this tunnel headed anyway?"

"…At the forest." Ichiru's voice sounded odd so Zero furrowed his eyebrows. "…at the forest where we grew up, nii-san."

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.tbc.

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Ren-sama's Note:

That's it for now. Please review~!