"Rima!" Zero pounded on the door of the penthouse, ignoring the obvious moaning that was going on a few seconds ago. No answer. Seriously? Pretending not to be home? He knocked again, using his boot. Hopefully, she'd take it as a warning.

"What?" She asked, her eyes narrowed as she threw open the door. Zero tried hard not to raise an eyebrow to the man fiddling with his pants as he flung the magazine at her. She sighed and picked it up, glaring at him as the guy brushed past him.

"Now I have two questions." He started as he followed her into the suite.

"Yes, I screw guys at times."

"But, you don't date them?"

"Dudes don't appreciate the Rima art." She answered, lifting the magazine to her eyes. "Oh, Kain's… engaged?"

"Don't bull me."

"It's a tabloid." She threw it on the table, prepping the coffee maker.

"Same day, you took me out drinking."

"Yeah, and?"

"Is there a correlation I'm seeing?" He tried to use his serious tone to match his accusatory glare.

"… A small one."

"Seriously, Rima?"

"Seriously, Zero." She flipped around, her tired eyes meeting his. "I don't know if you know this but… You've been moody since Kain left."

"I have?"

"Yes."

"What about what happened with you and –"

"This isn't about that." She forced him to lean against the counter, lifting herself onto the opposite one. "And cranky. So, yeah. I've hidden what's been reported."

"Is it true?"

Touya scoffed. "You kidding, right? The man can barely speak three sentences to someone he likes without having to walk away for a while."

"…"

"What? If you hadn't approached him, he'd still be making moon eyes at you." Zero bent his head down, snorting at the accuracy. "So, do I believe he's engaged?"

"Yeah, no way."

"Trust me – you're winning the break up race."

"There is no break up."

"No, he's expected to remain in America until you're dead." Touya covered her mouth. Zero's head whipped to her.

"Until I'm dead?"

"Yeah… Kaname's… rule."

Silence. "He'll miss the wedding."

"Probably."

"Is that also why Souen's pissed with me? Why isn't Aidou?"

"They are." She sighed. "Aidou's just… I think he's conflicted for his own reasons. Souen, though…"

The idea formed. He cringed inwardly. "So… I should… Theoretically… Become the new Kain?"

"Ugh." She scrunched her face. "No."

"But –"

"You want in to the circle for Ichijo?" He nodded. She followed in suit. "Then, you got to be… Kain representative."

"What does that entail?"

"Aidou… Easy. Be yourself. Me… Be yourself. Your drunken self. Hate your sober self." She avoided the swat. "The Kurans won't be a bother for a while. Ichijo… I have my own thoughts on that."

"So, Souen's next?"

"Mm."

"So, what do I do?" Touya shrugged. He scowled at her. "You're no help."

"What? It's Souen."

For, what Touya called, the premiere lead, Kain and Shiki were posted in almost every magazine. Zero was glad that Kain was less than the brunette. Still, the lies posted… It was hard to fathom some of them. Zero used it as an excuse to let Touya take him out drinking. The new boy she found him smelled good and was more than willing to be led to the suite.

Zero lifted him onto the counter, the feverish kisses delving onto borderline desperate. Stripped to his underwear, between the boys' legs, eager for release… "What the actual…"

Souen's loud voice hurt his ears. The boy shoved him off. "On the counter?"

Zero winced at the sound, his want mixing with annoyance. The boy started dressing, his cheeks red. Zero nonchalantly lifted himself off the floor. "Do you know anything about him?"

"How is your voice going higher?" Zero muttered, wrapping his arms around the boys waist, trapping him only steps away from the door.

"There is so much wrong and you're worried about my voice?" Souen pointed to the counter. "That is so unsanitary! And, this… Ugh!"

"E-excu…" The boy managed to escape Zero's grasp, slamming the door behind him.

"Do you even know him?"

"Voice. Lower." Zero muttered, the effects of alcohol waning.

"And another thing! Use a bed!"

"Ugh, so vanilla. Poor Aidou."

"Excuse you!" She stood in the doorway, her narrowed eyes scrutinizing the place. The elevator dinged.

"Dude, you don't want in there. The husband and wife are weirdos!" The boy informed someone. Aidou stepped through the door, stepping into Souen.

"When'd you two get married?" He joked, steadying his girlfriend. Zero shook his head, turning towards the kitchen.

"Is there anywhere you haven't humped?" Souen judged, heading for Kain's room.

"Don't go in there." Zero protested loudly.

Souen paused. "Why not?"

"No one goes into Kain's bedroom." He answered.

Aidou lifted an eyebrow as Souen turned from the door, immediately shaking her head. "I wouldn't lean on that, honey."

"Why?" Aidou questioned.

"You stopped it from being…" He gestured vaguely, pulling down three mugs.

"Still." She placed two napkins under Aidou's arms.

"Oh!" Aidou remarked, finally catching on and choosing to stand with his hands shoved in his pockets. "I mean… Good on you?"

"Not good on him! Bad him!" Souen argued, eyeing the freshly poured coffee suspiciously.

"I wouldn't." Zero assured, trying to stop the snarky comment.

"No, I suppose you wouldn't." She finally admitted, lifting it to her lips. "Where's Touya?"

"Modeling gig in France, I think." He shrugged, handing Aidou a glass.

"She left you here alone?"

"Akatsuki did it all the time." Aidou tried reasoning. He turned to Zero, a slight smile on his face. "So, how far did you get?"

"Almost started. Then…" He clicked his tongue at Souen. "Started screaming at me about it being unsanitary."

"You don't even know each other!"

"I thought the issue was on the counter."

Aidou snorted. Zero tried to keep his poker face intact while she elbowed her boyfriend's stomach. "I still consider it Kain's house."

Zero bit down on those thoughts. Aidou shook his head. "You two need to stop fighting."

"As if."

"What else is there?"

"Friendship?" Aidou questioned.

"Like I'd want to." Souen answered.

"Ditto." Zero lifted his cup to her. Despite Touya's advice, Souen would never be his friend.

"Ugh." Aidou pinched the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes shut. In a moment of inspiration, he lifted his hand. "What if he attended the spa with you?"

"What?"

"Why would I want to do that?"

"Think about it." He grinned at Zero. "You could use a massage at the very least."

"… Strangers touching me."

"You're afraid of that?" Souen mocked, her lips curling into a smile.

"And, you did say that you need a spa partner."

"Yeah but, not Kiryuu. I'd ask Yuuki before Kiryuu."

"And Kaname's already said no on her behalf."

Souen sighed and pouted. "You suck, Hanabusa."

"Plus, it could be fun. You could mock Kiryuu about everything. And Kiryuu, spas are relaxing. All that pent up rage or whatever you feel…"

"How would you know what I feel?"

"Sadness, rage… They're both connected to the 'something bad happened' side of the brain. Let it go."

Zero glared at him as Souen smirked. "Okay, Hana. But, if I die, you're burying me in my white dress, yes?"

"The one I'm not supposed to see?"

"Mmhmm."

"It's embarrassing." Zero whined for the millionth time, adjusting the robe. He hadn't felt this exposed in a while.

"Wearing white is embarrassing?" Souen questioned.

"For a man to be here, it is." He eyed one of the women staring at him.

"Ugh, you're such a whiner." Souen flipped her hair over her shoulder, exposing her neck. "Lots of men come here."

"Uh-huh."

"Self-care is important. Not that you'd know." She eyed his fingernails and shook her head.

"Sorry, protecting the world is more important than… Whatever this is." He lifted a cuticle stick.

"Oh, this is going to hurt. Especially since you've never had one." She sat on the chair, her pleased look at his discontent annoying to him. "You don't know if you don't try it."

In a huff, he dropped into the chair. One of the ladies approached them. "What can we do for you today, Miss Souen?"

"The works. Excluding the running." She grinned.

"Excellent." She walked away.

"Another question."

"Fine."

"Why did we have to be here at eight thirty?" Already, he could feel a yawn surging forward.

Souen shook her head. "A spa day means a spa day. Eight thirty am 'til five. During that time, we'll be doing mani-pedi's, facial scrub and massage followed by the five different types of body massage, quick chiropractic – which, even you can agree you need – mud bath, soothing facial cream with cucumber and hair."

"I'm still not sold."

"Ugh, shut up. You're ruining my mood." She smiled as four ladies approached.

"Nice to see you again, Miss Souen."

"You, too!" Somehow, she fell into easy conversation with the two ladies working on her hands and feet. Zero inhaled deeply, gripping the chair with his free hand. He was glad that it wasn't four ladies for each. He had literal nightmares about that – each of his limbs occupied and some jerk staking him. "And, who's your handsome guest?"

Zero glared at them, trying hard to contain his urge to kick the woman working on his foot. "Him? Oh, he's some dude my cousin adopted. Tragic story."

"All the hot ones have them." The girls giggled while Souen rolled her eyes. Zero wished for a pair of earplugs.

"See, he was with my older cousin but… Mr. Kain went to live in America and now, he's all Hana and I have of him. It's a sad reminder." The ladies stared at him with sad faces. Zero squeezed his eyes shut, hoping for the nightmare to be over.

"Why'd you tell them that?" Zero snapped at her as they made their way to the next area.

"Hmm?" She blinked innocently. "Oh, you mean back there with the sad story."

"Yeah. What else would I mean?"

Souen shrugged. "I know I'm going to get drilled on why I'm being more pleasant today. Fact is, Kain left your care to us. And Touya but… She's not doing well on it."

"What do you mean she's not doing well –"

"Taking you drinking every night?" Souen shook her head, stepping behind the screen as she slipped out of the robe and into a towel. Zero did the same. "It's not healthy."

"So, Kain tasked you with –"

"General well being. Keeping you alive. Though, had I known it would involve one-night stands –"

"What do you call Touya, then?" Zero snapped back as they each lay on their respective bench.

"She told you about our academy escapades?"

"Yeah."

Souen shook her head. "That was a long time ago."

"Was she your girlfriend or…"

Souen snorted. "No, friends with benefits. We all knew I was supposed to be with Akatsuki. But, as I got older… Respectfully speaking, I would have preferred Touya over him."

"Why?"

"You ask a lot of questions."

"Just tell me why."

"Akatsuki's… Intense. Serious. Takes everything into consideration, never really expects anything in return. Like… What are you supposed to do with that?" Her expression softened. "With Hana… I know what he wants just by a click of the tongue. It's… simplistic."

Zero mulled through that question, finding others through the facial massage and the five other types. He wouldn't admit that he felt better. That would mean she and Aidou one. They walked behind their respective screens again, each changing into a courtesy bathing suit. "There's still things I need explained."

"Like…" It was obvious by her tone she was tiring of fifty questions.

"Why did you agree to this? And, why are you being nice now?"

Souen sighed. "Well, you're like a little kid kicking their feet. It amuses me."

"Not nice."

"I didn't say I did it to be nice." She stretched as they made their way to the bathing area. "Then, Hana said something."

Zero bit his tongue, the need to comment about her double standards strong. "What'd he say?"

"Well, not so much say… But, it did keep me up." She lowered herself into the brown gunk, instantly sighing. "Out of anyone… You're the one who keeps Akatsuki's privacy. And, despite my… Misgivings… It so happens that you do have a heart."

"Gee, thanks." Zero scrunched his face. "Is there any benefit to this?"

"Many." She turned to face him. "Can I ask a question now?"

He shrugged. She bit her lip. "If he had stayed… Would you have given up everything to be with him?"

"Yes." He was surprised with how quickly the answer sprang to him. She only nodded.

"Now, tell me honestly: do you hate this trip?" He glared. She nodded to herself, a small smile on her face. "Would you do it again?"

Silence. She grinned, resisting the urge to clap. "I have a spa friend!"

"I hate you."

"Hate you, too."

A/N: Cute Ruuka and Zero moments. Though, it does explain a few things in my head.