I pulled my scarf upwards to cover my face from the wind. My locket laid like ice, weighing against my skin. The sky was bleak and gray, and the white brightness from the sun hidden behind the clouds stung at my eyes. I shivered as the wind howled by once again.

Kaito was in the association headquarters reporting the events that had recently unfolded. I prefered not to go inside, instead I remained waiting in front of the main entryway staring at the grey stone I was standing on. I didn't want to see Toga's reaction to what we found happening at St. Delia's.

There was nothing we could do. It was all technically legal. That filthy pureblood, Sara Shirabuki had created a small swarm of vampires at the school. But there was nothing to warrant action, because she had given each and every one of them a choice, just a small technicality and we were made immobile because of the law. It was all a cruel joke really. Getting past the hunters and the head Kuran seemed to be a game for her.

A mix of frustration and anger consumed me, along with the unsettling feelings of seeing Zero in his predator like state. No hunter had a spotless history, but after seeing Zero look like he did, it made both Kaito and I revisit some memories we would've very much liked not to. The thought of seeing a loved one or comrade look like that was a shaky reminder of the past.

I heard his footsteps before he made himself officially present.

"All done?" I turned my head up to him.

He nodded wordlessly.

I walked over, already knowing the answer to my question, "How did Toga take the news?"

Kaito shook his head, "Not well."

I clenched my jaw, glad that I chose not to go in with him to report the situation. Toga's backlash would've only added fuel to my own simmering fire. We were alike in that way where we could easily rile each other up.

A silence filled in and we began to walk away from headquarters. I took a peek at Kaito and his pokerface was as usual, steady and solid. Somehow I've always managed to see through the cracks that he had forgotten to cover up and this time was no exception. He was very much unnerved like I was and his tense eyes revealed the depth his thoughts had reached. Knowing that I usually prefered to face these things alone, I didn't think my presence was doing him any favors.

"I think," I started to go past him, "it's best if I headed back to the school."

"Wait, can you-" he said, and he twisted around to grab my hand. Kaito's face momentarily paused and then contorted into a heated expression. He tugged at my arm, pulling me to his side.

His hands enveloped my cheeks, "Seina, you're freezing!"

Kaito's searing touch made me realize how cold I indeed was and I nodded dumbly, words not being able to form in my mouth.

"Tch," he tutted at me, his angry face turning into a more worried one. He kept one hand on my cheek and laced the other through my fingers, "Let's get you warmed up."

I sighed for the thousandth time. Kaito had dragged me to the most convenient place to get away from the cold, which was apparently his own apartment.

"Doing okay in there?"

I flinched at the sudden sound and the water around me splashed against the bathtub.

"Yeah," I replied, my voice echoed throughout the simple bathroom.

After a beat he continued, "There are towels in the corner and I'm leaving a change of clothes out here." To our luck, in the middle of our journey to his apartment, it started to downpour.

"Thanks."

I wasn't sure how he had coerced me into taking a bath in the first place, but I'm glad he did otherwise. The originally scalding hot water had calmed down the intense shivering I developed by the time we reached his front door.

I tucked my knees under my chin, savoring the warmth for as long I could. My hair floated around me in wild tendrils. This was really nice. Though it was obviously not the most desirable place to be right now, but I hadn't felt this relaxed since I started attending Cross Academy. Somehow from day one, a steady unsettling feeling had managed to make it's way in and I could finally feel a fraction of it lifting off my shoulders while sitting in this tub with no goal but to just get warmer.

I leaned back and looked out the small high up windows tucked into the corner of the room. It was already dark outside and I really shouldn't have impose on him much longer.

Reluctantly I climbed out the tub and dried myself. I cautiously opened the door to grab the set of clothes Kaito had given to me to wear and frowned as I held them out against myself.

Big, way too big. I guess it was expected, with him being a man living by himself, but I wasn't sure how I was going to get back to the school in these. I pushed down the shirt over my head, which could've doubled as a mini-dress and pulled up the sweatpants, tightening the drawstring around my waist. This would have to do.

I brushed my wet hair back with my fingers and tentatively left the bathroom, not sure what my next move was.

"All done?" Kaito appeared at the end of the hallway.

"Yeah, um," I looked around his room for the first time. There wasn't much to be said. It was a studio with a large bed in the middle. A desk sat in the corner and a armoire in the other. A loveseat rested parallel to the bed on the opposite wall.

"C'mon," he waved me over, "made some tea, if you want some."

I went over to him where the archway opened up to a small connected kitchen. Kaito sat in one of the two chairs that matched with a small beat up table. On top of it rested two mugs and a steaming teapot.

He poured the tea in them and I sat across from him, gingerly taking the cup as he handed it to me. I breathed as the scent wafted up to me, "My favorite," I smiled on instinct. I covered my mouth, thinking it was a bit too much to be so happy about a cup of tea.

"I know," Kaito smiled back at me, making his eyes crinkle up. My face grew warm and I took another sip, not confident on why I couldn't hold his gaze anymore.

We sat in silence for a few more moments, just enjoying the rare soothing sound of nothing. I finished what I had left and set the mug down, "I should get going."

"No, take the bed," Kaito said, standing up and clearing the table.

"It's fine, the rain's let up," I stood up and turned to walk away.

He jetted out in front of me and stopped me, "It's late, just stay the night. I'll sleep on the couch."

I shook my head and edged forward, "Really, it's fine."

Kaito stuck his arm out and blocked me, making a barrier on the wall. He looked at me before looking down at the floor, "Would it convince you if, uh, if… would it mean anything to you that after today," he turned back to me and his eyebrows were furrowed, eyes almost closed, "I just need someone, you, to be here for tonight, if that's alright."

"I… yeah," I reached a slow hand out, not knowing what I was trying to do, "It's alright."

He lifted himself off the wall before I could reach him, "Take the bed," before I could even open my mouth he added, "and don't argue with me, please."

I shook my head again and frowned. That small lapse of actually asking me for help had disappeared and he was back to normal again.

I climbed onto his bed and curled into the blankets, knowing no matter what I did the end result would be me on the bed and him not.

The smell was oddly comforting, a mix of after shave, shampoo and a small bit that was distinctly Kaito. My face started to warm again, realizing this, but I took a deep breathe and waved the thought away. I was more exhausted than I thought and I fell asleep in a matter of minutes, not even hearing Kaito plop onto the loveseat.

My eyes fluttered open, the room was dark and only the illumination of the moon provided a minimal amount of light. Hearing some movement, I shot right up and scanned the area around me.

Kaito was squirming around and breathing heavily, a small groan escaped from his lips. His long legs, which would've normally being hanging off the sides was tucked up underneath him.

Concerned, I immediately jumped up and went to his side. I kneeled in front of his face, which had a small sheen of sweat on his forehead. My heart clenched as I remembered my own father and brother who had suffered through their own night terrors. It was one of those normal, yet not-so-normal things about being a hunter. It happened, but that didn't mean it was okay.

I slowly reach out for his hand, "Hey," I muttered as quiet as I could. The best I could do was calm him while he was still asleep and hope for the best. His hand gripped mine as soon as I grabbed a hold of it. I rubbed his knuckles as I murmured a couple of more words in a low voice.

I took my other hand and brushed his hair back from his head, "You're okay, everything is okay."

He eventually stilled and his eyes slowly open themselves up, "Seina, wha-?"

"You were having some trouble sleeping so I uh," I summoned up a tiny smile for him, trying to show him that it was fine.

Kaito sat up and took his empty hand to cover his eyes, "Sorry, sometimes it gets kind of bad, 'specially after today, I just…"

I got up to sit beside him, still not letting go of his grip on me, "You don't have to be sorry."

He still wasn't looking at me, with his hand covering his face, "I…"

"And you don't have to say anything, if you don't want to," I continued to rub my thumb against his knuckles, his body was slightly shaking.

Kaito combed his hair back and rested his right arm on the armrest, after a big outtake of breathe he talked, "It was about Taito."

I tightened my hold on him, if that was possible, and nestled into him. It was hard for him to mention his brother's name, much less admit he was dreaming about him. I knew it was difficult, especially because he was the one that had to put a bullet through his head.

"I'm sorry," I muttered after a long pause.

He nodded and swallowed hard. Kaito kept looking off, not really focused on anything.

"Do you wanna go back to sleep?" I asked letting him decide his next move.

He shook his head and he started again, hesitantly, "Can we just stay like this?" Kaito looked down at me and his lips were turned up slightly, heartbreakingly so.

I pulled the blanket that he had dropped off the floor and wrapped it around the two of us, "Yeah, we can."

A/N: I had a bit of a block, so sorry for the long wait! Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter.

Thanks to Juliedoo, basakesener, Inedible, and guest for your reviews! I really love it and it keeps me motivated.

xo,

Vanesky