Chapter 2

"Ladies and Gentlemen this is your captain speaking…"

Aiyora continued to listen to the announcement coming from the cockpits made by the pilots. This is her first time fly and that too alone which is why she tried to note down every instructions carefully.

"Miss the flight will take-off shortly please fasten your seat belt." A flight attendant tells Aiyora, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Aiyora struggle to get the belt together and the same flight attendant offer help but before the two could settle another flight attendant climb the stairs of the top floor. She is charge of looking after the passengers flying first-class. She approaches Aiyora and the other flight attendant helping her with the seatbelt and informs.

"Ma'am you will have to come with me," Color drains out of Aiyora's face as she face the voice with a horrid look upon her face.

"But I haven't done anything wrong. Have I?"

"No you haven't," the new flight attendant chuckles. "Its just that you have been upgraded to first-class and I have come down to take you to your new designated seat."

The dark haired girl argues no more just silently follows the flight attendants lead. Her jaw almost drops to the ground when introduced to the new grand environment. This time her seat is massive, it bends down to form a bed, there is a large screen tv, sleeping clothes provided alongside slippers and luxury brand toiletries and the best part there is door that closes down to form a cabin where she can enjoy her own privacy.

"My name is Lisa, if at any time you need anything just press the buzzer over there and I will come to your service."

But before Aiyora could come back to her sense and ask the lady how and why this happened the flight attendant had to take her leave since announcement from the cockpit came for all cabin crew to take their seat since they are about to take off.

Hidden behind the large square framed dark shades a pair of dark wine eyes watches, with an intense gaze those dark eyes watch the particular jumbo-jet of Japan Airlines as it taxis it way down to the runway. Currently it stands on the runway.

"Kaname-sama confirmation came from the airline; Aiyora Cross has been upgraded to first-class."

Hanabusa and Zero enters the lounge to hear Seiran informing it to the dark suited figure who is standing by the large window of the VIP lounge with his both hands shoved inside his pocket.

The head of the Kuran family does not respond to his female assistant nor does he acknowledge the presence of the two males who just entered. His shaded eyes are looking out the window, still focused on the aircraft which just started to take off. Zero stands behind Kaname Kuran and watches his broad shoulder tense the moment plane carrying his obsession lifts off the ground.

"Do you see it…she is going away!" Though Kaname Kuran does not address anyone everyone present knew it was Zero he was talking to.

He turns once the plane disappears from his eyesight. He takes off those dark shades and focuses those dangerous dark eyes on Zero's lilac one. "Now it is your job to bring her back into my life."

"Yes Sir!" Zero salutes but the older male only roll his eyes before walking past him with his two body guards following behind.

"YUKI..?"

The bald headed man screams bursting inside the office of the short haired brunette who is pacing from one end of the room to another. Her face told everyone of the great tension she was in but it seemed to have no effect on the director of the ad campaign.

"WHERE IS YOUR FUCKING MODEL?" the director screams at her but here is the fun fact, actually Yuki has been inwardly asking herself the same question for the last four hours.

She cannot believe how unreliable Zero is turning out day by day. During the day of the audition he was close an hour late and today on the first day of the shoot it's been close to five hours still there is no sign of Zero. His cell phone is off and when called home his guardian Yagari told her that he left early in the morning to meet with the Chairman of the Kuran Group of industries Kaname Kuran. And that's a puzzle Yuki has been having hard time solving. After all what use would Zero be of the richest man in entire Japan? Yuki is pretty damn sure he isn't offering Zero a job and even if he does he won't toleratle Zero's unprofessionalism like she does.

"I have warned you before don't to cast that useless brat but no you won't listen to me at all. So now you will have to compensate for today's damage." The director leaves her with that threat.

Yuki collapses back on her chair and let out a tired, frustrated, angry sigh something similar to a snarl while cursing Zero in mind. Then again what is the point being angry at Zero? It's more of her fault than his. He was reckless from the beginning. It is actually her heart that wants to fix him with the deep devotion she bears for him.

The sudden ring of her phone brings Yuki back to reality. Yuki's eyes turn wide to see the name on her phone spring being displayed as Zero.

"ZERO." She screams his name. "WHERE ARE YOU? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH ALL BECAUSE OF YO-"

"We need to meet urgently. Come to downtown café at 5. I will be waiting for you. Bye."

The next thing that Yuki heard was the beeping sound of line dis-connection.

"Zero…" Yuki gasps almost anticipating the outcome when the silver headed male passes her the envelope. "What is it?" she till dares to ask without opening it.

"My resignation." He tells her looking into her eyes. "An assignment came up that was hard to refuse…so I took it. I'm going to Wales for some time. I don't think we can meet for a year at least."

"What!?" the word comes out of her mouth in a blank sound. Her mind is suddenly vacant as it tries to process everything he just said.

"I'm very sorry." He takes her hand in his from the other of the table but the brunette pulls them back right away. "But I have to do this."

"Is this assignment more important me…?" tears blur her vision. "Tell me Zero all that I have done for you for so long means nothing? Please tell me do I not mean anything to you that so easily now you're throwing everything away."

"Try and understand Yuki, I'm not throwing anything away…I'm just trying to make a future for myself. This is my only chance to climb the stairs of my destination. Besides you are my only friend who has been able to stick through me all this time…tell me are you not going to be by my side when I make my way this close making a good future for ourselves."

"Ourselves?" Yuki quotes his last word.

"Yes 'ourselves'. Remember our deal if we are thirty and single, we will settle down with one another." Zero is a talker and smart one to see that Yuki is quite easily gullible with sweet words. He has already convinced her after all her chocolate brown eyes are already shinning with hope.

"And I'm giving you my word once this assignment is over I will come back to you right away and not only that from then onwards I live my life the way you want me to. For sure I will value my time and act professionally and make both our names in the world of modelling."

"Zero…you will stay in touch with me won't you?"

"Of course!"

"In that case let me talk with the director and see if I can move our shooting location to somewhere I Wales that way you won't have to stay out of came for long."

"Yuki you don't have to…" he kisses the back of her hand like a true gentleman while his brain is working like a conman trying to get money both ways.

"Of course I will." Yuki's voice is determined. "If not for you who shall I do it for? Who else do I have but you?"

"Papa…papa…papa…"

Ai Kuran knocks her father's door several times but no response comes from inside. That indicates wither he is not in there or something might have happened to him. The thought of the second idea frightens her making the open the door on her own quickly.

"Pap-"

She finds her father sprawled on the couch, asleep. No, drunk and past out would probably the more accurate term judging by the number of empty bottles that stood empty on top of the coffee table before him. The room was filled with clouds of smoke, meaning he must have finished an entire packet of cigarette. Kaname kuran is not really a smoker but anytime his mind gives him trouble he empties a whole pack or two in one sitting. And tonight is no different, he finished a whole packet.

Ai walks into his bedroom which most nights remain empty. She comes out with the thick blanket and covers her father's form with that. She can clearly see that he had quite a stressful day, at least this would make his sleep comfortable.

Ai kneels down on the floor. Gathering the courage she runs her hand though his hair and brushes away the locks from his face. She then kisses his forehead and eyes turn wide whenhe mumbles a name that is neither her nor her mother's.

Letting out a disappointed sigh Ai stands up on her feet and that is when her eye catches the laptop and the projector both on. The laptop was on sleep mode. She touches the pad and the device light up and alongside that the whole room lights up. Ai quickly looks over her shoulder to see the restart of the slide show that contained series of Aiyora's photo taken at random times.

Ai feels her body freezing to the floor.

There are over hundreds of pictures.

-Picture of her studying,

-pictures of her playing tennis,

-pictures of her with her friends,

-pictures of her catching the train,

-pictures of her inside the train,

-picture of her from the swimming class,

-pictures from her farewell party,

-pictures of her at home,

-pictures of her in her bedroom…sleeping.

Ai snaps her head towards her sleeping father. Her mind starts to wonder how on earth he got hold of these images and worse part is that these are all form the recent times. Is he stalking? Ai tries her best to erase the question from her head but once it entered it keeps coming back again and again. The urge to wake him and demand for answers was too much. Honestly she wants to do more than that. She wants to scream, if possible beat him up like a mother does to her son. Seriously what is he thinking?

All this time her father was pride and now he is turning into a total package of embracement for her. Almost whole Cross Academy knows of his intentions towards Aiyora. Though people doesn't say anything to her face but behind her back even her close friends gave her the cruel nick name of pedophile's daughter. Aiyora too, who used to be her favourite sempai once, ran to opposite direction just at the sight of Ai during her last remaining days at the academy!

Oh yes …Aiyora flew out today!

Now Ai knows why her dear father has been acting all so depressed today. Good thing that she is gone. Hopefully soon the term 'out of side, out of mind' will take place.

Ai looks back at her father once more.

This man who is sleeping before her with a childlike innocent face doesn't only happen to be her father. All these time he played the role of father and mother at the side time. Ai remembers nothing about her mother and from what she hears even if her mother was alive she would not have been able to love her the way her father does. This man is the package that every girl craves. He has money, power and the looks that even movie star don't have.

Ai grew up watching women throwing themselves at him but he never opened his arms for any. With age she started to understand that this is not right he needs to move forward because when her grandmother won't be there and she will be married he will become immensely lonely. So Ai every night started does a little prayer to God to make his father fall in love. But never did Ai wanted things to take a turn like this. Ai wants her father to fall in love with someone whom she can call mother but how on earth can she call Aiyora mother? That girl is only about three years older than her, nineteen. If her brother was alive he would have been the exact same age Aiyora.

Ai's chocolate color eyes focuses on the small frame of the side table. Inside which is a picture of her mother Spanish mother Veronica holding her older Kanezawa at three months age. Bringing the frame closer she kisses both her mother and brother.

That night Ai stole the frame from her father's room. And next morning in the breakfast table she searches his face for any sort of reaction. To her surprise she finds none. He was actually too busy conversing with her grandmother. It disappoints her to figure out that he did not even notice that special picture of his wife and son has gone missing. She wants to point it out to him yet she fears that the outcome will upset her eve more. Nor can she watch him go like this. So not being able to take it any longer she stops her meal suddenly, abruptly stand up on her feet and leave not responding to her father and grandmother's call.

"What happened to her?" she hears her grandmother worrying.

"Leave her for a while. She will be fine." Her father tells his mother. Wow his mind is no so occupied with another to even think about the well being of his own daughter.

...

Seiran hands Zero the white envelope that he receives with a smile but in return receives nothing. Forget smile not even an expression comes out on her face.

The silverette was about to open the envelope but starts to Kaname Kuran explain reclining back on his chair with his legs one crossed over the other.

"This is your ticket. Keep it safe." Zero becomes alarmed as the males goes on now turning his head in other direction. "Your flight is tomorrow, departure time 9.50 in the morning. A white car will be at your place by on time. Make sure to be ready by 7 Kiryu."

"Yes Kuran-sama." Zero nods his head understanding the instructions.

Kaname observes Zero carefully tugging the white envelope with his ticket in it inside his jacket pocket.

"Hanabusa will be with all the time from now on." The silver headed young man looks up hearing those words.

"Zero Kiryu, I have gotten you an admission in the same university as Aiyora. I have also arranged for an apartment for the two of you. Two bedrooms so you and Aidou can enjoy your own privacy. It's going to be near the university though. Therefore catching up with Aiyora will become easy. And as for living and survival adequate amount will be provided every month. And any time in need of anything do not hesitate to contact me right away I hope that is clear Aidou."

"I shall keep you posted at all times Kaname-sama." Hanbusa Aidou adds.

"You are all dismissed…" All three of them was about to make exit. "…except for Zero."

The mentioned one stays back.

Kaname waits until the door closes and once it does he focuses on the reaming man in the room.

"Zero Kiryu…there are certain thing I want you to know,"

Zero stays quiet allowing the man to go on.

"I have put a great deal of trust in you."

Then he opens the drawer and brings out a piece of paper. Turns it over and displays it before Zero.

"Take a good look. I have your cheque here, it is already waiting for you but… you are only to receive this the moment I hold her in my arms."

"Understood."

"Another thing Zero," from the change of his tone Zero understands a warning is on the way.

"…Aiyora is beautiful girl be very careful with her. I am aware what you are about to do but make sure in all these time of petty you do not forget the one big truth…"

"Which is?" Zero suddenly feels bold enough to question back.

"This girl is my soon to be wife!" Zero gulps some empty air. "Yes…the moment she fall into my arms will cage her, marry her, mark her as my own. So do not mistake yourself to go over the line…Am I clear?"

"Yes sir!"

"Good now go and show her dream that soon will be turned into a nightmare." The Kuran male's perfect lips then curl up into a jubilant smile, a smile which for some reason disgusts Zero.

a.n. thank you all for reading. this was a filler chapter hope you guys enjoyed.