A/N: This one is more of a set up for what's to come.
"Oh, come on!" Touya threw popcorn at the television. Zero slipped off his shoes and shoved the weapons bag into the closet. She turned her head to the Hunter, forcing a smile. "Not a bad day?"
"Missed. Dispatch gave bad directions." He leaned against the couch, extending his hand for the bowl. He retreated once she had slapped it.
"Make your own."
"Nah." He swung himself so the bowl was between them, restraining her hands as he helped himself. "What are we watching?"
"Well, if you must know…" Her eyes were big as the Entertainment logo came on screen. "I'm watching for Shiki at the movie premiere."
"Why?" He helped himself to another handful.
"Because, Zero, that's what you do when you have friends."
"Whatever, Rima." She stuck her tongue out at him. "Don't like it when it's done to you?"
She shrugged. Reaching into the bowl, she glared at him as her hand reached the kernels at the bottom. "Really?"
"Yeah."
"… Go make more."
"Make me make more."
"… Fine. I'll watch Shiki's premiere without popcorn." She tossed the empty bowl at his head just as the Entertainment logo returned.
"We've seen a few of the stars already." Touya leaned forward as Zero muted it. His cheeky smile faded as Kain appeared next to Shiki, his arm wrapped around the others waist. Where the brunette smiled broadly, the spiky head remained immovable. Zero noted the eyes were dulled, sleepless. The distraction was enough for Touya to increase the volume. "… And, we're expected to have an interview from both Senri and Akatsuki. Is that right, Gerald?"
It took a few moments for Gerald to respond. "Yes, that's right, Eva."
He swiveled in his chair. Kain remained stoic as Shiki rested his head against Kain's shoulder. Zero was glad to see a space between them, freezing at the sight of a golden band on Shiki's hand. Was… That had to have been the same that Ichijo… Did he leave that behind? He bit his tongue, now interested in Kain's left hand.
"Is it just me or do they sound… like nerds?"
"Huh?" Touya gestured back to the show.
"So, how did you two meet? Obviously, movies and business don't exactly correlate."
"Same friend circle." Shiki answered.
"And, it's true that you're dating?" They both shrugged, neither denying or affirming. "But, last year, you were with business tycoon Takuma Ichijo, no?"
"Yeah."
"So, what changed?"
Shiki shrugged. Zero sighed. "What is with this entire world and who's dating who?"
"Hollywood."
"What's so great about it?"
"If Shiki can bring in at least five million, he'll be the model choice. Pun not intended."
"And Akatsuki." Zero almost smiled at the slight flinch as the interviewer butchered his name. "You've been in non-stop meetings since day one – looking after Kain enterprises, working new deals… There's hardly a day where I don't see your name in the papers."
"What's the question?" A few laughs. Touya and Zero stifled their amusement at the snark.
"Is it only a family thing for you? If not, why do you keep going like you're running out of time here?"
"Aren't we all running out of time?"
"But, why not stop and enjoy what you have?"
"What's there to enjoy when all you want is at home?"
Touya turned the program off at Kain's response. Zero lowered his head. "I won't think any differently if you cry."
"I'm not going to cry."
"You sure?"
"I might if you don't stop annoying me."
"Ah, tears of frustration." She stood, offering her hand. Zero stared at it distrustfully. "You can either bask and hate yourself –"
"I'll take that option."
"… Or, you can come with me."
"There's no option here, is there?" Touya shook her head adamantly. Zero sighed and stood. "Fine."
Zero lowered his head over the toilet bowl. He was still unsure of how Touya could drink so much. After all, she was small. Again, his body convulsed. "Pathetic."
"Borderline alcoholic." He answered.
"I enjoy the title." She clipped his hair back. "Water on the night stand?"
"Hrr…" He wiped his mouth, hoping his stomach had finally settled. "Do you remember what I did?"
"Mmhmm."
He looked at her sheepishly. "How bad was it?"
"Well, first few drinks, you cried. Snot everywhere."
"You're lying."
"Yeah, I am." She kneeled in front of him. "First few drinks, you were normal Zero. Then, dancing Zero – who, by the way, should be at more parties."
"Moody Zero?" She shook her head. He groaned. "Okay, what else?"
"After that… You're a flirt."
"Please tell me –"
"And then handsy with the nearest person you thought was hot."
He squeezed his eyes shut. "Guy or girl?"
"Girl." She smiled like a cat. "There's somethings you shouldn't say."
"Like?"
"Onee-chan." She laughed as he hid a blush. "Turns out, 'Onee-chan' was more interested in me."
"You can have her."
"Oh, I did." She winked as Zero hide his face.
"You're embarrassing."
"Mm. And then, crying Zero cause you wanted ice cream. And then…" She clicked her tongue. "Think you wound up messing with some dude."
"Then I blacked out?"
"Mm. After we got home." She pushed the remaining hair from his face.
"Anything else?"
"See for yourself." He sighed and stood, following her out of the bathroom. Not much had changed about the room except for a pillow in the middle of the bed.
"What'd I do?"
"You cuddled it and fell asleep. And then, the grossness." She turned on the bathroom fan, flushing the toilet. "Least clean up after yourself, Zero."
"No."
"Why?"
"Why would I when I have a nagging maid named Rima?" She hit his shoulder, the smile deteriorating.
"I'm –"
"Don't be." Zero sighed and sat on the bed. "What would you do?"
"About….?"
"You know."
She sighed and leaned against the wall. "What do you want to do?"
He phrased his next words carefully. "Kain's gone. He's not coming back. So, I continue with the plot."
"And, I assume it's Ichijo you're after?"
He didn't respond.
"Ugh, you invited the fun police?"
"Hey, Kaito's great fun." Zero protested, already sliding into the booth across from her.
"Yeah, like a needle in the eye."
"Never assume until you know." Kaito interrupted. "What we drinking?"
"The bar."
"You buying?"
"Don't have to."
Kaito stared at her. Zero sighed. "She uses her model label as a way to coerce good men into buying her booze."
"Oh. Status slut."
"I prefer the term status entrepreneur." She stuck her tongue out at Kaito's response, her annoyed manner souring as she examined Zero. "Who you sleeping with?"
"Wha…"
"The only times you're that dead tired is if the sex is bad or you're avoiding someone." She analyzed.
"You've noticed that, too?" Kaito asked.
"Oh yeah. Is it limited to someone's or is it –"
"It's anything. Deflect, ignore, lash out… But, talk?" Kaito snorted.
"Like, I get the bro code and all but… Dude. I'm a therapist."
"Uh-huh." Zero stood. "If it's easier for you to plan my night, you won't mind if I start drinking, right?"
"By all means." Kaito let him past. "The guy in the corner?"
She shook her head. "Boys… We have to wait for him to be surpassed all that annoying pride before we can realize which way he swings."
"You know I can hear you." Zero muttered.
"I know." Touya called back. Zero ordered himself water rather than go with the plans Kaito and Touya made on his behalf. Touya's choices were usually intuitive and well thought out. Kaito… He shuddered to think of letting him be in control of his love life.
"Ah." Kaito sighed, resting the ninth shot glass down.
"Mm." Touya replied, nodding. "Drink, Zero!"
Zero rolled his eyes and followed suit. Kaito glared at him. "Get tipsy already!"
"He's not tipsy?" Touya hiccoughed, hiding her amused grin behind her hand.
"Not that –"
"I have an idea." Zero interjected. Both of them stared at him, blinking stupidly. "Let's play… Horrible secrets."
"Horrible secrets?" Kaito asked, raising an eyebrow.
Touya clapped and pointed her finger at Zero. "You'll share?"
He nodded. Kaito waited for the explanation. Touya moved on. "What's the subject?"
"First times." At least he'd have something to amuse him.
"Souen." Touya answered. Kaito spat out his drink.
"Souen? As in Kain's cousin?" Zero asked, his eyebrow raising.
"Yup."
"I would have thought Sayori…" Touya's face fell. She tried to cover it with her hair. Zero amended the mistake. "Why that bitch?"
"Hey!"
"Uncool!" Kaito joined. Zero lifted his hands.
"She's not a total bitch and you don't even know her."
"From what I've seen…"
"You've seen her treating a stranger like trash… Or Aidou but, that's usually reasonable."
"Who was on who?" Kaito started. "Who started what?"
"She started."
"Damn." Kaito whistled appreciatively. Touya kicked his shin.
"What about you, Kaito?"
"First time?" He scratched the five o'clock shadow. "Some broad. She was hot."
"No first name?" Touya inquired. Kaito shrugged. "You deserve someone special."
He lowered his gaze. "The problem with that is I scare the girls that I like."
"Why?"
"I hang out with this tool." He jerked his thumb at Zero.
"And you glare at everyone and you're snide and you're not good at talking." Zero answered, easily evading Kaito's half-assed hit.
"Hey! You didn't answer!" Touya remarked.
"Yeah, aren't you supposed to answer first if it's your idea?"
Zero lifted his hands. "Which one?"
"Girl!" Touya screamed.
"Boy!" Kaito mimicked.
"Wait… I thought his first time with a boy was with –"
"Girl first, then." Zero interrupted, daring Kaito to answer. He lifted the glass to his lips.
"Was she pretty like Onee-chan?"
Kaito snorted, the alcohol seeping through his nose. Zero held in a grin. "Average. About forty."
"Baby boy syndrome."
"Not like that." His face turned serious as he studied Touya. "It was just a fling."
"As long as you didn't do back up." Kaito snorted at his own joke.
"How old –"
"Newly legal." He downed his drink. "Next."
"First boy."
Zero lowered his head. "Fifth time with a girl, first time with a man."
Both members were quiet. Touya's understanding sunk in slowly, Kaito half on a pity spree about how he'll never find love. Zero patted his back, used to the whining by now. "Wait… So, both your first times –"
"Just the guy."
"Ouch." Silence. It was a while before Touya spoke again. "Did Ka –"
"Treated me better than that." He answered, suddenly aware of how dangerous this game was. "Changing topic: silk underwear."
"Oh…" Touya flipped her hair back.
"In and out." Kaito muttered to himself.
"Piece of cake." Zero returned, craning his neck to see around the wall. "Who's brainy idea was it to supply little hostage kids with guns?"
"Screw me if I know. I thought Level E's were dumb."
"Not a clue."
"By the way: how's the research going?"
"You'd have to ask Aidou." He shoved Kaito to the open, jumping over the recycling bin hurled towards them. Again, that sinking feeling as Bloody Rose's battle scream echoed across the way. Vampires, he could deal with. Still… He forced himself to focus on the self-defence mechanism taught by their Master. It didn't mean it didn't hurt less.
"They're the distraction." Kaito stated, banging his head against the brick wall.
"We'll catch them next time." Zero tried.
"Or, we could follow them." Zero shook his head, examining the children's bodies. He closed each of their eyes, intertwining their hands. Kaito lit a cigarette. "Still don't know why you do that."
"Mm." He lifted his gaze, brow furrowing as he stepped around them. "When did we go drinking with Touya?"
Kaito smirked at the name. "She's fun for a vampire."
"Seriously." He lifted one of the papers. "This is a newer location, yeah?"
"Newest to our knowledge."
"Do you remember what day we went drinking with Touya?" Zero asked again.
"Uh… Three weeks ago?"
Zero closed his eyes and shoved a magazine in his bag. "She's got explaining to do."
A/N: This is a partial idea but, it's more of who Zero's relying on through the time, how they correlate and yes, it does become pertinent later.