A/N: Sorry it's been so long. I haven't been in a great mood. I got a promotion but, now I have to talk to people… And that's upsetting.

Touya scrolled through her messages as Zero entered the penthouse, readjusting the shoulder for the tenth time. He poked the bruise, wincing slightly. "Rima, can you give me a hand?"

She clapped for a moment then returned to her phone, glaring at the results. Annoyed, he collapsed next to her. "Ugh, day old Level E blood."

"Hey." He caught her attention long enough to pat his shoulder. She threw her phone on his lap, pressing the palm of her hand into the shoulder. The loud crack echoed in the silence of the apartment. Again, he rotated his shoulder, sighing in relief as it remained in its place. He picked up the phone, brow furrowing as he studied the name. "Still no word?"

"No duh." She stood and stretched. 'He should be doing orgies or something to be ignoring me."

"He's probably just busy." Zero commented, ignoring the majority of her answer.

"Yeah, blowing boys… Sorry." She exhaled as she pinched the bridge of her nose. She inhaled slowly, the shaky breath slowing again. Zero rested a hand on her shoulder as she poured herself another drink. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" He asked, taking the new glass she poured for him.

"I should be happy that I have you, at least." She forced a smile, quickly faltering. "And, it's not like I have no updates. Senri texts frequently enough."

"You miss him." He simplified. "And, I'm not an adequate substitute."

"You are!" She whined. "A stinky one but, you're a good substitute!"

Zero rolled his eyes. "I do not stink that badly."

"If I can smell Level E on you, you stink." She gestured for him to shoo. Annoyed, Zero slipped into the shower. When he returned, she was back on her phone, sighing. "Rima…"

"Hmm?"

"He's not going to text tonight."

"Don't say things like that."

"Why not?"

"You'll jinx it."

"It's highly unlikely that he'll answer."

"How do you know?"

"Same reason I know he's busy." Touya fell quiet for a short period and finally locked her phone. She turned to him, the tears clearly in her eyes. "You're drunk."

"Yeah…" He sighed and lifted her out of the seat. She whined. "I have a question."

"Bed first."

"Uh…" She allowed herself to be dragged to bed, her head lolling to the side. Zero sat on the edge, knowing full well she wouldn't stay until she had dozed off. Abruptly, Touya sat up. "… Do you miss him?"

"… Yes."

'But not as much as me?"

"Debatable."

"Uh-uh! Say it!"

He sighed. "Yes, not as much as Rima."

She clapped excitedly, her mood dropping. "Do you think he thinks about us?"

"Probably about me." He avoided her hand.

"No, I want to be thought about, too! And, I miss him more."

"Ah but, you didn't sleep with him."

"Ugh… I hate logic." She rested back into the bed, turning on her front. She patted the bed next to her. Zero did as was ordered, listening to her constant, nonsensical, drunken prattle as a drone. He shut his eyes.

Zero's eyes flung open again. Do you miss him? followed Zero around, questioning, desperate. He tried not to hear it in Souen's judging voice or Aidou's accusatory, assessing glare. It was an innocent question by drunken Touya, he reasoned with himself. Still, the different tones reverberated in his ears. It didn't matter if I did miss him… I'm with Ichijo, he answered the spectators.

Sleep abandoning him, Zero snuck out of Touya's suffocating embrace, resting her head on the slobbered pillow instead of his arm. He tiptoed around the bed, almost stumbling into the dresser. Panicked, he turned back, pausing at Kain's sleeping form. The other wasn't as much of a drooler but, the position remained the same. He blinked once, relieved it was Touya again. He squeezed his eyes shut, the ghosts following close behind as he slipped out of the room.

He poured himself a shot. He winced as he recalled Kain doing the same, probably somewhere else now. It was rarer after they started dating, his paranoia dropping significantly… And the anxiety rising. Zero ran a hand through his hair, downing it. "Do you want to talk about it or left alone?"

Zero bit down the semi-smile, avoiding eye contact with the shadowy figure. It was the best his brain could do. Neither, he answered the ghost. The shadow nodded once, settling into the chair next to Zero, his fingers toying with the ends of Zero's hair. "Distraction?"

Zero shook his head, the figure gone. In another section of his brain, he knew Kain would have spun him, held him close, forced him into some sort of dance – usually a waltz or Charleston until the other's mood lifted. Had he answered yes to being left alone…

He tried to shush the memory, failing as he pictured Kain in the kitchen, pouring tea into a cup. Not a word at Zero's approach, not an outstretched hand. Just him leaning against the island, motionless though, his eyes would trail to Zero's face every so often. Sometimes Zero would open up. Most times, he'd push down the thoughts. Either way, Kain stayed in this position, a reminder that he wasn't alone.

Zero shook his head clear of the thoughts, scratching the back of his head as he stepped into the office. Compared to the one in the manor house, only a desk, computer and bookcase fit into the small room. In front of Kain's desktop, Zero had set up his three laptops, all hooking into the biggest screen. Despite Touya's complaints, he preferred working this way.

Signing in, he started the coffee pot before delving in. He opened the document, stretching out his neck. His notes made less sense the more he read them, the small blurbs becoming essay length each time he worked.

The first was the easier of the two: Who had ordered the deaths of Kitashi and Mayoko. Unlike the other extracurricular research, Zero had managed to narrow it down to four families from Kitashi's favored people. Mayoko, on the other hand… And, it still made the question as to why. Obviously, it had to have been someone of equal or greater standing yet…

He poured himself a coffee, staring at the full cup in silence. Finding Sakura's involvement with how the AVAH ran wasn't difficult. Considering the trail of web addresses she kept on her pages… Even Aidou said that was stupid. Still, it was like playing roulette. Click one, open all the web addresses in association, open their web addresses… He pinched the bridge of his nose, already headachy.

When he returned to the desk, Zero almost smiled at the text message. Fucking clicked it all. Only three sites are of import, others are buy now ads, seventeen are viruses. Wipe your computer.

Zero only wrote Aidou a brief thank you, asking him to search into the love life of Mayoko. Not even five seconds later, he received a phone call. "Hi."

"What the fuck are you doing studying that ancient piece of crap?" Zero bit down on his snickering.

"I think there's a misconstrue on the case."

He could almost see Aidou wipe the tiredness from his eyes, his interest piqued. "Misconstrue?"

"Well, everyone blamed a sociopath or a Hunter-gone-AWOL, yeah?"

"Yeah, that's general consensus."

"Yet, everyone knows Kitashi was messing around. Scorned lover is a good exploration."

"They interviewed everyone."

"And, how many of those are well protected?" He heard Aidou shift in his seat. "I can deal with those ones but, if they don't pan out –"

"You need Mayoko's love life as well. Might not have been Kitashi's." Aidou concluded, already typing on the computer.

"I tried –"

"You don't have connections like mine." Zero blinked a couple of times at Aidou's haughtiness. "She spent most of her time abroad and we had a bodyguard who'd tell us her whereabouts."

"Can I ask why?"

"She was fucking ambitious. Believed that her great grandchild would be the ultimate in the Aidou family. I mean, that's still a possibility but…" Aidou sighed. "It might be easier just to interview the body guard."

"Find what you can on the notes and his current address. I'll report it to Kain and inform him of next steps."

"Has he replied to you?"

"He hasn't written me anything."

"Probably should have sent a bodyguard with him." Aidou remarked.

"It would be easier to track his movements." Zero started the e-mail, opening a new tab and typing 'small town'. "Thank you for helping with this."

He heard Aidou cover the speaker. "Honestly, it's this or wedding planning and this is more fun."

Zero snorted. "I imagine Souen has everything thought out."

"Mm. And when I say everything, I mean everything." He sighed. "Am I making the biggest mistake of my life?"

"Souen's mom or your dad?"

"Both."

"That depends." He leaned back in the chair, opening the e-mail tab again.

"On?"

"Do you love her?"

"More than I love blood covered chocolate."

"… I have no reference for that."

"It's like strawberries but… blood."

"… I take it that's a lot."

"More than I love myself."

"There's an answer I have reference for."

"Akatsuki ever mention you're an asshole?"

"Once or twice."

Silence. "So, am I?"

"Are you what?"

"… Making the biggest mistake of my life. Are you even listening?"

"No, you're not and yes, I am."

"How can you be so sure?"

There was a twinge of a smile. He knew he had said this a year ago, Kain sitting across from him. "Because no one should live without those they love."

Kanno,

Notes on progress: went through the possibilities for Kitashi – scorned lover still a possibility. Going through Mayoko's now. Once that's done, interviews can start.

Any news from Kain? Or Enmei?

ZK.

Zero stretched, glad that Kanno had agreed to e-mailing rather than snail mail. He deleted it from his sent folder then his deleted files, doing a quick clear out of the search history before starting on Kain's.

For a while, his fingers only hovered over the keyboard. Sighing, he pasted the three websites that Aidou had insisted were fine. Though, Zero was still slightly unsure about one, considering the topless model that opened up every time.

These three are the only good websites though, not sure what half of it is. Considering you know a lot of businesses, you're probably more aware of what these pertain to better than I.

We mi… Zero deleted the sentence, hanging his head. He nodded and continued.

Touya misses you. Would it kill you to send her a text every now and then? Or a picture of what you're doing? Souen and Aidou are still fighting for you to come home for the wedding. Gonkuro is starting to slip – heard him having a full-blown conversation with Himari last I visited. Will see him again this weekend if I don't have a hunt.

ZK.

He sent the e-mail and closed out. Even now, there was that finale feeling, as if he closed a chapter of his life.

"Ze-ro!" Touya elongated his name, giggling as she poured herself a wine. Zero tilted his head, slinging the go-bag off his shoulder. "Where you been?"

"With Gonkuro." He answered, confused. "Didn't you read my messages?"

"Mm! But, usually, you're there for a day or two and then back."

"We were interviewing… a new handy man." Zero answered, unsure if he could tell Touya anything else.

"Ugh, boring." She waved a magazine in front of his face. It was one of Zero's favorite things about her: if it didn't interest her, she didn't want to hear it. "Our boy did a photoshoot and interview!"

"He knows he could have just texted, right?" Zero asked, collapsing on the couch. Why am I so damn tired? He wondered, adjusting himself as Touya sat next to him. He tilted his head over her shoulder, brow furrowing. Like the first time, Kain commanded attention with his hands shoved in his pockets, the defined V-line drawing Zero's eyes. Yet, he seemed… unhealthy. They trailed upward, pausing at his face. He blinked numerous times, pinching the bridge of his nose. He'd seen that a handful of times, the lackadaisical, unhurried expression. He swallowed, creating a barrier for that particular feeling.

"He probably doesn't have service." She answered. "But, he's such a natural. Wonder why he never took up modeling."

"People."

"People do suck." Touya agreed. "And then, the interview."

"Why is there always an interview portion in these?"

"Only reason why A-kitty does these." She answered. She cleared her throat, taking on a nasally tone. "Mr. Kain, what are you doing in America?"

"Seriously? That's a question?"

"Apparently." She handed Zero the article. "You're A-kitty."

Zero sighed. "I could ask you the same thing."

"Hostile." Touya took a sip of her wine, taking it back from Zero. "Eligible bachelor, blah, blah… He and Senri broke up."

"What?"

"Yeah. Interviewer: What's it like dating a soon to be famous movie star? Kain: oh, we broke up. Interviewer: oh, I'm sorry. Can I ask why? Kain: go ahead. Interviewer: why? Kain: no time together. Didn't seem worth it."

"Bull." Zero muttered, peering over Touya's shoulder again.

"… And more about the busin… Did they seriously write hehe?" She pointed to the word. "Kain: and to expand the business, hehe."

"Maybe they meant heh. I've seen that before."

"Especially for this line…" Touya's brows knit together. "Okay… Kain asking why the interviewer is sexualizing his friendship with me… 'Are you one of those stupid people who can't tell when a boy and a girl are just friends? Why do you have to add the sexual connotation? Interviewer: it's just a question and you did say you missed her. Kain: yeah, I miss her. I miss my family, my friends… I'm in a country where I know literally two people and they came over with me. Interviewer: so, what is your relationship standing? Kain: fuck this'."

Zero covered a snort. "I've never seen him act like that."

"No. His motto is always be civil – they're the conduits to your consumers…" She flipped to the picture again, scrutinizing it. "Is it just me or… Is there something off about his appearance?"

"It's just you." Zero answered. It was nice to know his critiques were valid. Still, he thought, Rima shouldn't have to worry about it.

A/N: this is more of a set up for what I have planned. I'll probably post two-three more chapters and then, it'll be the next book.