A/N: Sorry guys if this one isn't up to par – I had a bit of a bad day yesterday. You know, one of those days where you feel useless because this entire freakin' world believes you to be so if you're not making money? And then, the anxiety attack that followed after… Still a bit hungover.

"Adorable?" Kaito snickered as Zero wrapped his arm over his stomach. "He's adorable?"

"Start avoiding the damn potholes." Zero covered his mouth, begging his stomach not to lurch forward. He regretted eating the untrustworthy concoction Kain had made once it hit his stomach.

"Is he a fluffy bunny?" Kaito continued teasing, ignoring Zero's request. Zero reached across Kaito and turned the wheel towards the side of the road. "You're acting like a pregnant woman."

He opened the door and lowered his head between his knees, ignoring the condescending comments. The contents of his stomach emptied itself, the traitor purring. He hadn't noticed Kaito walk around the vehicle, let alone wind up next to him. "You really aren't okay."

"I told you." Zero muttered, rinsing his mouth out with water. The excess bile that rested in his throat burned.

"I've never seen a vampire get sick. Can I document it?"

A wry smile spread across Zero's face. "Sure."

He rotated back into the vehicle as Kaito buckled himself in. At least he felt better. "Was it that bad?"

Glaring at his partner, Zero scoffed. "Course it was that bad. He tried."

"And failed, it would appear." Kaito grinned. "So, did you… get him in the horizontal?"

"I told you, I have hoops to jump before I can screw him." He lit two cigarettes, handing the second to Kaito. He returned his attention to the road.

"But, you also said you got physical." Kaito whined.

"You really want to hear the romantic shit?"

"Yes." Zero sighed as Kaito smirked. "Tell me everything."

"He's an alright kisser. Hesitant, definitely a bottom. But, that'll change if he gets the practice." Done talking about it, he watched the trees pass him.

"Eager?"

With a sigh, Zero squeezed his eyes shut. "Eager to please, yes. As to who he wants, I can't tell if it's the Kurans, myself or if I misjudged him and it's himself."

"Hey, if he's planning on pleasing himself… You've got the easy job." Kaito snorted as Zero hit his shoulder. "And, it'd mean he actually has a selfish side, the Kurans don't control who he likes and all your paranoia goes down the drain."

"If only." Zero squirmed in his seat, barely catching the name of another town. "Course, he could also be so brainwashed that he thinks that I'm what he wants."

"Course that's another option. But, how far does that loyalty go? How far does it extend? These are the questions inquiring minds want to know." Kaito flicked the ashes out the window as Zero watched the cherry dig deeper into the center like the doubts creeping to the surface. Perhaps Zero was a toy to the vampire until Shiki or Souen had room for him. That was the better outcome. Still, he hated being treated as something to throw away. No, he scolded his mind, it's the best outcome. "Kiryuu."

"What?"

"I said, how long until you move on from him?"

Zero shrugged. "Until I can kill Kuran."

"A fight to the death?"

"Preferably his."

"Still, I can't believe one thing." Kaito stated as he turned on his signal light.

Zero stared at him blankly. "And, what's that?"

"That you actually like this blood sucker."

Zero glared at his partner, cringing at the feel of his fangs piercing through his gumline. Above all else, Kaito's continuous and nosey questions had set him on edge. "I don't."

"Keep telling yourself that." Kaito swore, turning off his engine as the never-ending line of traffic continued. "Have you found Gonkuro yet?"

"Not yet."

With that satisfied smirk Zero always hated, Kaito turned the car on again and drove the corner. "I might be able to help with that."

Past the mind games of his partner, Zero crushed his cigarette. "How?"

"Well… I did find out where our oh-so-mysteriously-hidden man is."

"And…?"

"Kain mansion." He glanced at Zero, shock crossing his face. "He's a butler there."

"Still not seeing the connection."

"What if I told you that I pulled up his phone records and found that he houses your Mr. Kain once a month while he's in town?"

"Probably coinciding with the family business Kain does." Zero shrugged. "What. Of. It?"

Rising from the horizon, a stone manor house and attached estate that nature had taken over. Creeping ivy draped itself over the banisters of the house, the garden becoming unruly. Zero gripped the sides of his seat. "No."

"I'm just getting turned around." Kaito answered, gawking at the estate.

"Then, turn around." Zero scolded, trying his best not to snap Kaito's neck. He hid his face and turned away as they stopped at the gate.

"Everything alright, sirs?" The man asked as the car window met with him. In the reflection, Zero could see the honest, if not earnest, face.

Kaito nodded. "Just need a way to get turned around. If you could point us in the direction of Shima."

"Shima…" The man tapped his chin and shrugged. "Not a clue. But, if it's highway located… You want to go back that way."

Kaito nodded again, bowing his head. "Thank you for your time."

With that, he reversed the car and managed a flawless U-turn. Zero, who had been holding his breath, finally exhaled. In the rear-view mirror as Kaito drove, Zero caught a glimpse of an elderly man with a cane hurriedly making his way towards the gate keeper. "Feast your eyes."

"That's Gonkuro?" Zero questioned, his eyebrow raised.

"Yup. The gate keeper is his son."

"And… You know this how?"

"I have my ways." He wiggled his brow as he drove through. "Now… There's only one way Gonkuro would ever talk to you."

"If Kain introduces –"

"No." Kaito pinched the bridge of his nose. "Even then, it'd be a polite conversation."

"True." Zero bit his lower lip. "How?"

"You save Kain's life."

Zero snorted. "Yeah. Okay, then. I haven't seen that opportunity."

"That's when you create an opportunity."

"I have no reason to." Zero shook his head. "Well… Not yet."

"And that, my friend, is why you have me. Why create the situation yourself if you've got me looking for it?"

"What are you proposing?"

"If you're not against me kidnapping and starving Kain, you can kill two birds with one stone." Zero examined his companion carefully. Kaito shrugged. "Forget I said anything. Especially if you have a plan on your own."

The vampire returned his attention to the outside world, nervously twiddling his fingers. Kaito was right – Gonkuro would never give him the full story if he were a guest. He picked at his lip, forming his next thought carefully. "I'm not saying I'm against it…"

"What I'm planning wouldn't even cause him to bat an eye. For you, it'd be a strategic move and, it'd create that power over Kain you've been planning since you set eyes on him."

Zero met Kaito's eyes, trying his best to hide his intrigue. "I'm listening."

Despite all the prep work, the excitement, the vehicle, the booking… Kaito pulled up to one of the older motels. The only question Zero could muster was why. "I'm tired."

"I could drive."

"And, I'm hungry."

"Drive thru always has something."

"And, I can't sleep unless there's a woman on top of me."

Zero scowled, unbuckling his seat belt. "Yeah, I don't want to be next to that."

For the first time in three hours, he stood and twisted his upper body one way then the other. He felt the creaking of his back falling into place, the numbness in his legs finally relaxing. He turned to slam the door, pausing as Kaito held out a magazine to him. Cautiously, Zero accepted it. "If this is one of your attempts to get me to read –"

"Not that. I also knew you'd be burning with questions. Put that in your luggage and let's go." Kaito stated as he slung his bag over his arm. Zero sighed and followed the instructions, ignoring the magazine and zipping it into the front portion of his pack. He slammed the door, muttering under his breath. "What was that?"

Zero jumped slightly, surprised he had walked through the door to Kaito's annoying expression. "I reckon we should keep driving."

Kaito mimicked him in a voice he didn't have, tossing a key at Zero's head. "Please. There's nothing wrong with taking in the scenery."

As he stated the last, one waitress traipsed by him. Zero pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm staying in the room, then."

"Come. One drink! And something to eat that won't make you sick to your stomach."

Zero reluctantly agreed.

The booth, the table, the chairs… All were filthy in the small area with that vaguely 'welcome' smile plastered on everyone's faces. Zero sat across from Kaito, his back to the wall. Kaito ordered. Less than five steps and Zero leaned forward, his eyes set on Kaito's. "How did you find Gonkuro?"

"The surrounding towns, of course. There's a lot of orphanages there. All a part of the AVAH that some God send," Zero flinched at the mention, "and his partner assist in. Say the name Kain, half of them stare in confusion. The other, so tragic that it happened."

"What happened?"

"Apparently, an angry mob or dealer – the villagers don't recall – went down there. Next thing they know, a boy was seen running through the streets, covered in blood, panicked. His caretaker, Gonkuro, had to chase him down the streets and grab him. They never did figure out what happened to him."

"Anyone involved?" Zero asked, his eyebrow raising.

"Just one other person. We talked to his kid already."

"We have?"

"We have." Kaito grinned.

"You mean… The techy?"

"Yessir. Her father was the one who helped them escape."

"And yet, you hate research." Zero teased, helping himself to his steamed rice.

"Yeah, yeah. Though, Touya with Kain is hot."

Zero spluttered, trying his best not to cough up his dinner. "What?"

"You didn't look at it?"

"What did you find?"

"Take it out and read it."

Annoyed with Kaito's hounding, Zero pulled the magazine out of his bag. There, staring back at him, was a copy of the same magazine as the excerpt in the file showed. Touya stood next to him, her usual docile face twisted into a secretive smile. Kain's own was forced, much like he'd rather dart for the door. "There's more of this?"

"Touya takes up four pages but, Kain takes two. It's also when he got voted as hottest entrepreneur. And, of course, the interview."

"You gave me homework." Zero stated, setting the magazine back in his bag with more care.

"Call it what you want – but, check out the second picture." Kaito winked as the waitress appeared with his desert. She flushed, caught in Kaito's trap.

"I'll see you later." Zero announced as she ran off, checking with her manager.

"If you hear banging on the walls…"

"Wear ear plugs and hope to hell she's alive in the morning." He muttered, escaping to the solitude of his room, the echo of a giggle following close behind.

Zero always hated staying the night before a hunting procedure. The calm before the storm, as many soldiers had said. Unlike him, his partner relished in the feeling – the last night before he could die. It had become a sort of line he fed his women. True but, it still had that sleezy feel.

He stood and ran a hand through his hair, anticipation flowing through his body like an electric shock. At least he had reading material in his bag.

The first picture was rather mundane. Touya covered a portion of Kain's eye with her parasol, her brilliant smile enticing the reader in her period style dress. Kain, on the other hand, tried to keep his eyes from the camera, a forced smile on his face. Zero was confused as to who the target audience was, especially considering Kain was shirtless for no reason – that he could see, anyway.

The title insinuated business illustrated with an exclusive meeting with the last of the Kain Clan. Zero thumbed through, ignoring Touya's uptight costuming. He swallowed audibly as he came across Kain's interview.

Aside from the page holding Kain as a sex symbol, the interview was standard. Zero focused his attention on the words.

Where do you see yourself in five years? K: Honestly? I haven't really considered it. Probably where I am now with new ideas in place.

What are the plans for Kain Enterprises? K: First things first. I have to learn the business as it is. Then, I can evolve it. Fix it. Make it make sense for the average consumer.

Was that your first-time modelling? K: Yes. Touya made me.

How did Touya manage to convince you to model with her? K: Funny story. One not appropriate for our readers.

Ooh. Are you particularly close? K: We're best friends. Course we're close.

Is there someone special in your life? K: Not at the moment.

Why not? K: I have enough to contend with. Adding someone to the footnotes of history doesn't instill confidence of a secure future.

Despite his attempts, Zero's eyes roamed over to the picture. Aside from cutting off where his V-line began, the picture had nothing on its subject. He wasn't smiling in this photo, his eyes focused on something behind the cameraman. His face was more relaxed, more like he was watching a movie. His thumbs hooked into his belt loops with the button-up shirt fully open. The messy hair styled more into a punk-rocker rather than its usual unruliness.

The longer Zero stared at the photo, the harder his imagination pushed for the images to flash. Zero closed the magazine, draping his arm over his eyes. He dozed, finding the figment straddling his lap, the uncertainty written on his face, even if Zero lifted himself to press his lips to Kain's neck. Sadly, the image wouldn't stay.

The next would contort and he'd be in between a man and a woman, both taking from him as he tried his best to keep to their rising demands. A lash to his shoulder, knives anywhere they could cut. The man never used lube, expecting Zero to take it as was. The woman was somehow worse as she worked on him to the point of pain, twisting and digging her nails in.

Zero pushed the memory far from his brain, sitting up in his bed and panting with sweat forming on his forehead. He tried to wipe it off his brow, surprised to find his hand under the band, gripping himself. When did he start?

As if sensing the route of questioning, the figment appeared, overlapping Zero's hand with his own, his fangs pressed against Zero's neck. Zero swallowed audibly, waiting for the pierce. But, the imagination only continued down, peppering chaste kisses up and down his lovers neck. Zero thought about wrapping his arm around the figments' waist, pulling him closer.

The scene changed again. This time, he was bare against silken sheets. Dehydrated. In need of blood. He could barely piece together a single word, much less an action. He didn't recall how he had wound up in that state – only how he left. One of the 'clients' had insisted on a wild buck. The caretaker and owner slit his own wrist, letting Zero feed. A blood raged vampire was never one to remain detained. It was enough for Zero to break free from his bonds and hold the vampire against his will. He still felt woozy, even after he had fed until the caretaker wound up a pile of dust. Still, it was enough to leave.

Zero woke again and paced the floor. He rubbed his arms, unsure where the chill came from. Each time it flickered through his mind, Zero hissed. It wasn't so much killing the stupid caretaker who claimed he owned him. I did what I had to do.

He gritted his teeth, rubbing the back of his neck. The husband and wife? Again, he said the words quietly.

Sleep abandoned him. He walked the corridors, no longer caring who he woke. In the morning light, Kaito escaped his solitude, the smell coating him. Though surprised, he smiled. "Good sleep, Kiryuu?"

Not a word. Zero jerked his head to the side, jutting his chin toward the car. Not a word.

A/N: I felt Zero's… particular… animalistic needs needed something more than 'he hates vampires'. So, I'm utilizing a little bit during his adventures.

Hopefully, detailed enough to imply but, not to the point where I can't post anymore T. T Enjoy the chapter, my darlings ^.^