Chapter 12
Kaname grinned as he leaned his back against his front door where on the other side of it was a screaming silver haired beauty.
"Open the god damn door Kaname! I know you're in there." Zero shouted as he banged his fist against the door.
"You could use the word please." Kaname retorted.
"Fuck you, now open up."
Kaname cooled his features despite the fact that he wanted to laugh his ass off, but he will save that for later. Taking a small breath, he opened the door with a smile. "Well hello there."
Zero narrowed his eyes before pulling past Kaname and stomping into his apartment. Zero looked around the nicely furnished apartment before turning to the brunette.
"Where is it?" Zero demanded.
"Where's what?"
"My stuff you asshoe! My stuff!"
"Oh, that stuff…" Kaname looked at Zero with a smile. "It's not here."
"Then where the hell is it?"
"Do you want some coffee or tea?" Kaname started as he turned toward the kitchen to prepare himself some oolong tea. Zero followed after him.
"Kaname I'm not playing around here, where's my stuff?"
"You did read my message correct?"
"Yes!"
"Then you would know that you won't be needing your stuff for a while, correct?"
"If your suggesting I live with you, then your shit out of luck cause I won't!"
"Aren't we supposed to be lovers Zero?"
"Living with you doesn't apply to the bet Kaname."
"It does when we both have to act like a couple."
"We don't have to go this far."
"You don't but I have to." Kaname reached out his hand and grabbed Zero's chin. "I want to see the face you make when I win."
Zero slapped Kaname's hand away. "Where's my stuff?"
"How bout we come to a solution to this dilemma." Kaname bargained. "One week, if you still can't stand living with me after one week then I will tell you where your stuff is, okay?"
Zero eyed Kaname suspiciously before speaking. "Do I get my own room?"
Kaname found himself smiling, a sense of relief flowing through him. "Of course. I have one already prepared for you."
"Let me see it?" Zero ordered.
"Right this way."
Kaname guided Zero down the hallway toward Zero's new bedroom, which use to be Kaname's study but after some renovation done, Kaname was proud to make this Zero's. The room was vast and luxurious. It was the only room in the house that wasn't modern styled. As much information as Kaname could get about Zero was that he grew up in a traditional Japanese family. Kaname wanted to represent that as much as possible in the traditional trend he put into making this room.
"So, you like it?" Kaname asked the other who didn't say anything yet.
"Well, I prefer more of a western style room-"
"I can have it redone if this displeases you?" Kaname started; ready to call his personal interior designer.
"It's alright Kaname, I love it." Zero reassured, a genuine smile appearing on his lips.
Kaname fell silent to that smile and smiled himself.
Zero stepped into his room, his anger at the other quickly disappearing due to the tranquil colors and motifs the room was decorated in. It reminded Zero of the more peaceful times with his family before everything went to hell. It was just shocking to know how Kaname was able to put this all together in such a short time.
"This is amazing Kaname."
"There's still more to see." Kaname beamed as he led Zero to where the walk-in closet was.
Zero's mouth fell open when his eyes came upon the massive closest. "Holy hell Kaname! You can fit a monster truck in here."
"Two exactly." Kaname corrected.
"Don't tell me this is how big yours is?" Zero asked.
"Oh heavens no." Kaname laughed. "Mine's bigger and has two floors.
Zero's eyes went as round as marbles at Kaname's nonchalant response.
"But ain't this better than your small closet?"
"Hey, my closet may only be able to fit a golf cart but I still liked it. I mean look." Zero said pointing to the right wall where his clothes, which Kaname took from his house, only took up a few inches of space in the closet. "My clothes barely take up the whole closet."
"Don't worry, I plan on taking you shopping tomorrow." Kaname answered.
"What makes you think I have free time tomorrow?" Zero inquired.
"I had my manager Cross get your work schedule from your boss Yagari, so I now know when you work and when you don't."
Zero's eyebrow was raised a considerable amount. "Don't you think this stalker like behavior has gotten pretty weird?"
Kaname tilted his head. "How so?"
"Well, you appear out of nowhere at my job today. You found out where I lived and had someone break into my house and steal my stuff while I was at work, and then you obtain my work schedule from my boss. Which part of all that does not sound like a stalker to you?"
"Obtaining research material is not considered stalking."
"So stealing my stuff is research material?"
"Exactly." Kaname smiled.
Zero shook his head, yet couldn't stop a small smile from appearing on his lips. "Kaname I must say that you sir are quite peculiar."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"It wasn't meant to be."
"I know…"
Zero didn't know why he just couldn't stop smiling, even with all that had happened just a few hours ago with dealing with the H.A president, then seeing an illusion of his former lover Touma, and then just an hour ago he did something unprecedented with his younger brother. You would think that something like that would still replay itself inside his mind but being with Kaname made him forget all about that.
Yet Zero didn't want to get himself too wrapped up in how being with Kaname was calming and reassuring to his nerves, cause there was still a shroud of mystery around as to who Kaname really was, that Zero knew that if he would find out about it he was sure to really regret the day he met Kaname Kuran.
-0-
Ichiru closed the front door to the home he shared with his brother. In his hand was some take out he bought for himself and his brother at a near by ramen shop that he knew was opened 24 hours. Ichiru was certain that his brother didn't eat anything and was probably in his room watching TV.
Spending time alone with his brother would defiantly be a good stress reliever after his encounter with Touma. Just thinking about the man agitated Ichiru to no end. Not knowing the promise Zero and Touma had together was even more irritating than having Touma dare to question his love for Zero. What sort of promise did the two make? And how did it involve Ichiru?
Ichiru wanted to know. He was certain that Touma wasn't going to tell him, so having Zero reveal it was his best shot, because knowing that the two shared a secret with each other drove Ichiru crazy with jealousy.
"Zero." Ichiru called as he made his way up the stairs toward Zero's room.
There was no answer.
"Hey Zero if your mad at me for asking you to leave without me, then I apologiz-" Ichiru stopped mid-sentence when he opened the door to Zero's room, where not only was Zero missing but so was his furniture.
Dropping the take out on the floor, Ichiru ran into the center toward the only thing in Zero's room, which was a vase full of roses. Bending down, Ichiru grabbed the fallen note and read it.
Good evening Zero,
By now you'd have probably come across my surprise for you and I'm sure you're so ecstatic that your eyebrows are knitting together so cutely. I'm also sure that you are probably wondering where your stuff is? Well, I figured that since we are now in an imitate relationship, we might as well move on to the next step, don't you agree? So, starting from today onward you will be living with me in my suite. Attached to this note is a key and the address to my place, so come when you're ready.
I'll be waiting for you.
Sincerely yours, Kaname Kuran
Ichiru crumbled the note in the palm of his hand. His eyes were blazing red with fury, the vase on the floor rattled before shattering. The roses withered into black dust at Ichiru's feet. A menacing growl rumbled in the back of Ichiru's throat.
"You really don't have any self control, do you?" A voice spoke from the open window.
"I thought I've told you to always follow Zero! Didn't I Shizuka?" Ichiru growled.
"I did, but I felt that you were more in danger compared to him?"
"I can handle Touma perfectly fine."
"Did you? To me it seemed like he got the best of you in the end."
Ichiru growled again.
"Relax, it's perfectly clear that he is with Kuran-san."
"That isn't the point. You were supposed to inform me whenever anything abnormal happens around Zero."
"Are you not grateful to the person who so gratefully gave you the power you have now? I turned you, gave you my power so you could bend your brother's will to your heart's desire and all I get in return is lip talk from you."
"You didn't do as we agreed upon."
"And I'll pay for the consequences later, but now we have a predicament in our hands."
"Your right." Ichiru agreed. "However, I can't jump to conclusions without first speaking with Zero. Knowing Zero like I do, there is no way he will just accept Kuran's request."
"But what if he does?"
"He won't!" Ichiru hissed.
"Then what do you suggest we do about this situation."
"In the afternoon later today, I will get my brother back personally."
"And what do you want me to do?"
"I want you to get as much information about this Kuran person as you can. I want to know who is this dead man who dares take away Zero."
Shizuka grinned. "To think that before this, Kuran wasn't much of a threat to you but now he has you seething with rage. Oh how I fell in love with such a deranged madman."
Ichiru leaned toward Shizuka's lips. "Don't disappoint me this time."
"Of course my love." Shizuka obeyed as she gave into Ichiru's skillful lips.
Unlike Shizuka, Ichiru didn't enjoy himself in kissing the pureblood. Yet if it weren't for her help, Ichiru wouldn't be able to do all that he could. It was easy to manipulate the broken hearted pureblood to be his puppet and he will continue to use her love for him as a means to get what he truly wanted above all else, even if he had to destroy every living thing in order to do so.
TBC…