A/N: I have a plan of how I want this to go so, even though I had a long weekend, I didn't get to work on this as much as I'd have liked (and I got distracted). Shout out to the people who made this possible and also to the fact that my sleep schedule is always ruined.
The early morning light filtered through the cracks of the pale blinds. Kiryuu nuzzled deeper into Kain's neck, the others hold tightening as he protected the silver head from the light. The initial want of the night subsided into a dreamless slumber for Kiryuu, leaving Kain alone with his sobering thoughts.
You were doing so well. He was working towards it. You've ruined everything for him. Kain swallowed and pressed the younger against him, his fingers digging into Kiryuu's back as he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to push the thought away. Only the small mewl loosened his grip. "Still painful?"
"No shit." Kiryuu muttered, inhaling Kain's scent.
"Did the massage help?"
"Bring it up again and I'll tear your guts out." Kain smiled to himself, pressing a kiss to Kiryuu's shoulder. Immediately, the other shoved him off. "I thought you said just tonight."
"For vampires, it is night still." He countered, reaching for his partner.
"Why make rules if you're just going to break them?" Kiryuu questioned, turning his back to Kain. The other cuddled him close, wrapping his arms around his abdomen.
"Because I'm weak." The answer was spoken softly, the thought lifting from his shoulders. He was sure Kiryuu didn't hear until the other craned his neck, the violet eyes meeting his.
"You're not weak."
"If I wasn't, I'd have shoved you aside and left you to your new life." He answered, his voice robotic. Kain was glad for the years of practice – had he even lilted his voice in the slightest, his anger and frustration would have risen to the surface.
"Maybe you should have." Kiryuu whispered, turning his head away.
"Yeah but, I'm a tiny bit selfish."
"Only a tiny bit?" Ow… "I mean, you all but said you only like my body."
"It is a good body… But, I also like other things about you."
"Like?"
"How annoyed you are. The inside jokes." He smoothed Kiryuu's hair back, smiling softly to himself. "The way there's always this one strand that looks glittery in the morning light."
"You're giving me whiplash." Kiryuu commented, sitting up. Not for the first time did Kain start tracing the bruises, any trace of a smile gone. The Hunter pulled his knees to his chest. "… Just another bad decision."
"What bad decision?"
"This. Last night…" Kain dropped his hand from Kiryuu's back, falling silent. His hand clenched into a fist.
"You know nothing happened last night, right?" Silence. The small shake of Kiryuu's head drew Kain's courage as he wrapped an arm around Kiryuu's frame. How hadn't he noticed how thin the Hunter had become? He tilted Kiryuu's head to his chest, burying his face in his hair. "Am I to be ranked with all other bad decisions?"
"I don't know how I'm supposed to feel about anything anymore." Kiryuu muttered, his arm snaking around Kain's waist. Kain felt his heat rise, fighting Kiryuu's shudder.
"What would help?" The aristocrat asked softly, cradling him. At the shrug, Kain lifted his face, tracing his jawline with his thumb. He knew the expression well: only able to consider the possible meanings.
"… I'm tired."
"Mm…" He lowered them both on the mattress. "Kiryuu-kun?"
"Yeah?"
"… Nothing."
"Ow…" Kain rubbed the back of his head, glaring at the blonde as she set down two shots and slipped into her seat. "The hell was what that for?"
"What was what?" She tried her best to look innocent, sipping her drink.
"What…" He shook his head. "Why do you people think you're so sweet and innocent when you're a violent little bi–"
"Language." She snickered as his glare hardened. "It's your own fault – inviting me out this early in the morning."
"It's one PM human time."
"Mmhmm. Early." Kain rolled his eyes as she helped herself to a cinnamon roll.
"The party's tonight."
"Yeah."
"You going?" She didn't respond right away, lowering her head. "Wakaba will be there."
"I know." She swallowed her shot.
"Touya?"
"I just… Don't want to say goodbye again."
"It won't be forever."
"You don't know that." Kain snuck into the same seat, wrapping his arms around her shoulders.
"But, I do."
"That's not fair." She whined, downing his untouched drink.
"What isn't?"
"… That you're good at making everything seem trivial." Her expression shifted. "What happens if you're not here?"
"You'll look after Kiryuu for me."
"That's more for me."
"That's all I expect." He ordered another.
"But, if I'm looking after Zero-kun, who's looking after me?"
"Sayori."
"… Then, who's looking after Sayori?"
"She's perfectly capable of looking after herself."
"… Then, who does Zero look after?"
Kain sighed, the slight smile playing with the corner of his mouth. "Kaito."
"And Kaito looks after Shindo." She nodded as if she agreed to his theory. "But, who does Shindo look after?"
"No one. She's baby – you all look after baby."
"… I miss you being baby."
Kain exhaled. "You're so annoying."
"But, I'm so pretty." She grinned and batted her lashes at him, trying her best to look cute.
"… Excuse me while I vomit."
"Hey!" He dodged from her obvious sneak attack but, not the follow up tackle.
"Back to America, then." Aidou assumed as Kain stepped into the office of his laboratory.
"Seriously? We're being formal now?"
"You haven't fed recently, have you?"
"Not for… Thirty-six hours."
"And, you don't feel like tearing out my throat?" He asked, stepping backwards.
"… Point taken." Kain slumped in the chair, picking at his teeth. Aidou nodded to himself and started rummaging in the cabinet.
"Is Lee going with you?"
"Yes."
"And Shiki?"
"… I'm thinking of throwing Shiki and Ichijou into Ruuka's hook up room and leaving them there to die."
"Well, they'd die happy. Ah!" He pulled out a plastic bottle of what looked like pills. Kain lifted an eyebrow. "When they were trying to ween me off human blood, they'd give me this. The components were correct but…"
"The medical condition." Kain nodded. Aidou shrugged. "How does it work?"
"Every time you have a craving, you put it on this bit…" He pulled out a rubber block from a drawer, "crush it, spread it and let your fangs sink in. It should help lower the cravings and with your self-control, you shouldn't crave in about… six weeks."
"Tested?"
"…" Aidou scratched the back of his head, the frustration clear on his face.
"I'm the guinea pig."
"… If I had just three weeks…" He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "The symptoms will be like you're trying to quit a hard drug."
"Shaking, vomiting, erratic mood swings…" Kain nodded to himself. "What would it have been like if you had three weeks?"
"Symptoms like trying to quit smoking. You want to but, you can't."
"… Fun."
"And, more temptation."
"Thanks." He slid both the vial and the block in his pocket. "Still curious as to why the block."
"Mainly because of the bite." Aidou smiled slightly, the exhaustion on his face finally showing. "Last night in Japan. You should have some fun."
"I don't leave until ten am."
"You're coming to Ruuka's party, right?"
"If I don't, she'll track me down, drag me by the ear and I'll be a bloody mess."
"Isn't she cute when she's annoyed?"
"…"
"… I heard it."
"Will you two be okay? I know I'm your favorite to ask for advice."
"We'll be fine. We got our son and daughter… And other son. And drunken uncle."
"… Who's drunken uncle?"
"Think that's Yagari. Course, Touya was pretty toasted when she came up with that…"
"… I thought he was grandpa."
"No, that's Cross. And he'll only answer to Grandpappy. Which is…" Aidou shook his head. "Point is, we'll be fine."
"Who'll be fine?" Kain straightened at the new voice.
Aidou peered over Kain's shoulder. "Kiryuu, just in time."
"Who'll be fine?" He asked again, leaning against one of the counters. Kain could see a portion of his boot.
"Just family drama." Aidou sat in his chair, looking more like a school teacher with two bad students rather than a nerd trying to accumulate data.
"Right… The results." Kain muttered to himself.
"I thought I was family." Kiryuu remarked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Other family, then." Aidou was quiet, his eyebrow raising expectedly.
"In basics, hostages aren't drawn to blood." Kain started.
"They're more familiar with the aura and power a vampire gives off." Kiryuu continued. "The greater the power, the more interest they have."
Aidou nodded. "Any evidence of them accumulating power through it?"
"You'd need at least one of each level in order to test that." Kiryuu started. "Though, Level E's don't seem to have any other power besides driving their hostages crazy."
"… If their conversion was done by a Level C…" Kain could feel the wheels in his brain turning.
"Conversion?" Aidou asked.
"Long story short: Kain thinks this is connected to an old group…"
"Hive mind." Kain corrected.
"Seriously?" Aidou shook his head. "Those rumors were put to bed years ago."
"Look around you, Hana. Converting Level E's is just one tactic they used." Aidou quieted as Kain bit his lip. "I'd say we'd need one from every convert level – which, yea. More testing."
"If it's real, I'll bite my tongue."
"So, what's the next step?" Kiryuu questioned. Both had forgotten he existed for a moment.
"Next step would be capture a Level E that's connected to hostages." Kain stated.
"Let the record show, I disagree with testing for Hive Mind." Aidou interjected.
"The record can show that all you want but, until it's entirely eliminated, it still has to be tested." Kiryuu concluded. He shot Kain a sideways glance.
"… Noted." Aidou sighed. "Anything else of intrigue?"
"No. Kiryuu?"
"Nope."
"… Right. Well, you two better get ready for the party…" He glanced at his clock. "Or… Have a nap, spa treatment…"
"It's like… Ten hours from now." Kiryuu whined.
"Why'd you call this meeting so early, Akatsuki?"
Kain shrugged. "It's my last day in Japan, as someone stated."
"Oh, are you going to visit Kanno?" Kiryuu asked.
"I'll see him at the party. But… I do owe someone something."
Kiryuu nodded, sliding closer to Aidou's desk. Kain tilted his head. "Unless, of course… You have other business first."
Kiryuu blinked numerous times. Aidou muttered 'smooth' under his breath. "… What?"
A/N: I don't know why but that made me laugh. And hey! Chapter 15. It exists, guys! Huge shout out to Blemm for listening to me whine and a few other shout outs to Lily Flower and Alexa for helping me decide between cute boy moment or sad boy moment. I went with a blend.
Until next time, my darlings!
