A/N: This one is actually an important chapter but, it's 10:35pm and I have work in the morning but I intend to post it tonight… So, I'll probably be tired with a shit chapter that I hate… Ugh, waiting for laundry sucks.
"You look like hell." Kaito commented. They had parked about half a mile from the Munachen. Kain only shrugged, chugging down the coffee. "Kiryuu keep you up?"
"You hear anything?" Kiryuu questioned, smacking the back of Kaito's head. The other smirked.
"Figured one of you would be gagged."
"Yeah – you." It was instantaneous. The smile disappeared, replaced with a confident yet serious demeanor. Kain tilted his head, the severity of the day dawning. "I did a bit of recon."
"I thought we agreed it makes it too easy." Kaito whined, leaning against the door.
"For us, it's too easy. But, we got the bystander."
Least he's acknowledging my existence. "How many are we looking at?"
"Couple dozen. Most are Mindless –"
"For those who haven't been dealing with hostages?" Kain asked.
Kiryuu sighed. "Mindless are long term hostages. A drawback to drinking from a Level E is they start losing reality. Most lean against a wall and are left for dead. Still, don't get within reach. They may not have the energy to chase or throw anything at you but, they'll do as they can."
"I'm going to feel stupid… What do you do with the Mindless?" At Kiryuu and Kaito's expressions, Kain nodded. "At least let me help."
"You're not going to test theories?"
"I can't do both?"
"Leave killing the Mindless to Kiryuu and me." Kaito interjected. "You do whatever –"
"You're staying with him." Kiryuu finalized, brushing past him to the weapons trunk that filled the backseat.
"The hell I am! I'm not your boyfriend's baby sitter!" The look Kiryuu shot towards Kaito sunk Kain's heart. He inhaled and approached the trunk as Kiryuu tucked Rose into his holster, the second remaining in his jeans.
"Here." He handed Kain a knife.
"I'm good."
"This isn't a classroom nor a request." He wrapped Kain's fingers around the handle.
"Can I ask another question?"
"You'd fail in Hunters society…" Kaito muttered.
"What's the question?" Kiryuu amended.
"I'm assuming Kaito and I are taking the front entrance… Where are you going?"
"The rooftops. Back alleys."
"Rooftops?"
"Basically," Kaito cut in, "while we're playing scientist, Kiryuu will be doing the actual job of a clear out."
"From… The rooftops?" Kain questioned.
"Easier to spot them."
"… And Rose is coming with us because…"
"I'd feel naked without her." Kiryuu answered. "Now, you two girls done gabbing?"
"If the prince is." Kaito answered.
Kain smirked, heading towards the town. "I'm not waiting for you to have a conversation with your dick."
Kaito whistled.
"So, what are you testing?" Kaito asked as they entered via the road.
"There's three areas Hana wants tested." Kain shook his head. "I can do one but, testing bonds would be more your expertise and power testing…"
"Power testing?" Kaito asked after several minutes of Kain's drifted sentence.
"It's a theory. But, it would require several hostages and years of understanding." He stopped, his attentions on the slight movements. Kaito turned down a street. "Tell me… If Mindless are old hostages, what are new ones?"
"Newbies." The silenced bang flooded the area, the blood almost overwhelming. Kain took off in the direction of the sound, Kaito following close behind. The body slumped to the side.
"They don't even scream." Kain commented, kneeling down.
"They don't register."
Kain sighed. "How do you do this?"
"When there's a better way, I'll feel bad." The stench turned Kain's stomach, his eyes flashing red at the fresh blood on the wall. He dipped two of his fingers into the small puddle.
"He seems to have been bashing his head against the wall." He covered his mouth.
"They do that after the Level E gives up on them. It's the only way for them to distract themselves."
"It's disgusting." Kain muttered, hoping Kaito didn't see him lick the blood off.
"Didn't take you for a prude." Kaito lifted him by the arm. Kain was all too aware of his heartbeat. "We need a Newbie, not a Mindless."
"How do you attract a Newbie?" Kain questioned.
"Isn't that what we're testing?" Kaito asked, turning down another street.
"I need a visual."
"I can radio Kiryuu if you need." Kain nodded. "Oi, Bird Eye. Over."
"What up, Street Walker? Over." Kain hid a smirk.
"Position on Newbie. Over."
"Sorry. Only got Mindless over here. Over."
"Keep me posted. Over and out." Kaito shrugged. "Guess we're on our own until Kiryuu lets us know."
"Then, we keep walking." They did so in silence. Already on edge, Kain's eyes flashed red.
"Christ's sake…" Kaito muttered as Kain flinched at the word. "I can't pick up a Newbie's energy –"
Kain pulled him from the street, the knife cutting his wrist slightly. He threw it back in the same direction as Kiryuu landed next to him.
"We all right?" The small whine drew their attentions momentarily. They started approaching the person.
"Kain's vampire aura is making it damn near impossible to sense a live aura."
"You see auras?" Kain questioned, licking the blood off his wrist.
"Sense. It's an old Hunter trick." Kiryuu answered.
"It's giving me a headache." Kaito whined.
"Me, too."
"Well, I can't turn it off." Kain answered.
"Don't vampires have the ability to hide their aura?"
"Not possible when you're dealing with blood overstimulation." Kain answered, the hunger surging forth again. He squeezed his eyes shut again, afraid of Kiryuu's watchful eye.
The small amount of fresh blood brought him back to reality. Kiryuu sighed. "Newbie. Knife thrower. Was probably going to charge."
"From here?" Kaito asked.
Kiryuu's expression turned thoughtful. "… Power and aura… They're attracted to it. And, it almost masks yours, Kaito."
"Pfft." Kaito muttered profanities under his breath.
"You need me to stand here and look pretty until they come to me?" Kain summarized.
"For this one? Yes."
Kain bit his lip. The four newbies gnashed their teeth towards them, only one wounded. He turned away as she licked her wound, the disappointment something he resonated with. Kiryuu slammed the back, the oldest Newbie starting to mimic the Mindless' routine. "Are… those all we can save?"
"Three out of four ain't bad." Kaito answered, tucking his weapons into the trunk. Kiryuu followed in suit. Kain's own knife remained in its sheath, unused. He watched the four as they watched him. Lost… And hungry. He hung his head as he seated himself in the passenger seat.
"If nothing else, we now know they're attracted to vampire aura." Kiryuu whispered after driving for half an hour.
"How do you sleep at night?" Kain whispered back.
"You know how."
"Are you desensitized to it?"
"What do you expect me to do? Leave them to continue to harm themselves? Isn't that cruel?" When Kain didn't answer, Kiryuu sighed. "If we can save the Newbies, we can start looking into ways of how to bring Mindless back."
"Still… should killing them be the only option?"
"Right now, the Association can only work with Newbies." Kiryuu's finality bothered Kain. Silence filled the car. Kiryuu spoke again. "Thanks for saving Kaito's neck back there. Literally."
Kain shrugged, his attentions drawn back to the group. "Is it okay to leave them in here?"
"Normally, no."
"Then, why is this a yes?"
"Because they're not kicking up a stink. By now, they'd have tried to kill Kaito but… They're just… Staring at us." Silence. Kain didn't like it. Especially since, of recency, silence allowed Kiryuu to challenge his waning ability to say no. His fangs grew again, the strict feeding time Lee adhered to bothering him. He chanced a glance again, four sets of eyes on him. One tilted their head to the side. Kain felt sick to his stomach.
Kain lay on the floor, his thoughts falling on the Newbies. He hated the pain that filled his upper jaw, the knowledge that they were so close. For a moment, he hated that Kiryuu stopped rather than kept driving. He tried to distract himself with the ceiling, finding nothing of interest. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying his best to shut out his senses. The towel landing on his head brought him back. "You good?"
"Just… Taking it all in." He lifted himself to his elbows, Kiryuu resting on the edge of the bed. Kain tilted his head. "Something's bothering you."
Kiryuu shrugged. "It's not like you to freak out about blood… Or work."
Kain sighed, running a hand through his hair. He could come up with some excuse if he had time. Kiryuu shook his head. "Don't disrespect me with some more horse shit. There's crap you're not telling me."
Kain remained quiet, mulling the answer in his head. Kiryuu scoffed. "Forget it. Obviously, you don't want to tell me and, I'm done caring."
"Right. Walk off, why don't you?" Kain answered back, the words harsher than he intended.
"Excuse me?"
"Every time," Kain made to sit up, "I try to figure out how to explain what's going on, you start acting like Mr. Tough Guy. And, I get feelings are difficult for you but, for fucks sakes, maybe it's something I'm not ready to share."
"Then, tell me that! Don't make it into a big deal."
"You're the one who makes it a big deal." Kain muttered, a pillow being thrown at his head.
"I can't keep caring when you obviously don't." Kiryuu argued.
"Not caring isn't my issue." Kain answered, his voice quiet.
"What's that supposed to mean? Out of the two of us, I'm the one making an effort. I'm the one -"
"I wish you wouldn't!" Kain interrupted. Kiryuu stepped back. "How many times do I have to spell it out for you? If this becomes a thing between us, I'll ruin everything for you."
"Isn't that my decision?"
"I can't live with myself knowing that I ruined what you want most." Kiryuu swallowed, nodding to himself.
"Right. Good night, then." Kain didn't answer, sitting cross legged on the floor. He ran a hand through his hair, waiting for Kiryuu's slow breathing and the shaking to stop. It was late into the vampire's day when he finally calmed himself and seated himself next to Kiryuu's sleeping frame. The other shivered, the nightmare taking control. Instinctively, Kain lay next to him and brushed the hair out of his face. He was quiet for a long time, entranced by Kiryuu's face.
"There're things we don't share with each other. Your scars are more obvious than mine." He took Kiryuu's hand in his. "What you don't understand is how selfish I'd be. Even if I held you like I want to…"
He bit his lower lip, stopping the emotional thought. "… I care too much about you, Kiryuu-kun. And, if he hurt you because of me… A part of me wants to lock you away so no one can hurt you. But, it'd suffocate you. So, I'll stay in the shadows… And love you in secret."
A/N: Ugh, emotional roller coaster Kain. I put too much pressure on him and he's cracking. Also sorry – I haven't been feeling quite like myself for a while, now. It's… strange to be writing again.