Chapter 13

Zero woke up so incredibly comfortable. The mattress was nice and firm yet cozy like the softness of a rabbit's fur, and the pillows were like plump clouds against his head. It was the first time in a while that Zero was able to get a perfect night sleep and most of it was thanks to this luxurious bed Kaname bought for his room. Yes it will take some getting use to the fact that Zero will be waking up in someone else's house for a while but it had eased his nerves a bit knowing that Zero had his own room that will be his. Kaname had promised last night that he will not enter Zero's room for any reason without the other's permission and that was enough to convince him for the moment.

Walking out his room, Zero headed toward the kitchen to prepare him something to eat. It was another room that Kaname gave him complete access to without restrictions outside his own room and private bathroom.

Zero smiled to himself a bit. Kaname was more lenient than he had first thought the other would be, in fact, Kaname trusted Zero to a great degree and Zero actually found himself shocked that he hadn't already searched the other's place for some clues as to where his stuff might be or that he hadn't up and went back home by now.

Kaname had mentioned he had stuff to do in the early morning and wouldn't be back till at least past noon. Well it was noon now and Zero was in no rush to leave so soon. Crashing at a rock singer's home wouldn't be so bad, right?

Zero opened the two double door stainless steal fridge that Kaname had in his massive kitchen and literally doubled over in shock when he saw that there was barely anything in it. For a man who was rich and famous and had a fridge the size of a good size closet, how the hell did he eat everyday? The only thing in there was a few energy drinks, three potatoes, a half empty carton of eggs and a ketchup bottle.

Zero sighed. At least he could whip up a meal of omelet and home fries for himself, but Zero had to make note that when Kaname returned from where ever he went this morning that he was going to make the brunette take him to the nearest supermarket to fetch some edible food for both of them.

With a clear decision in mind, Zero went about pealing the potatoes over the trash bin one by one until all three were pealed and ready to be rinsed. Placing a pan on the stove, Zero waited a bit for the pan to sizzle before cracking an egg onto the pan. Zero alternated between flipping the egg to chopping up the potatoes into bite size pieces before seasoning them and popping them in the pan when the omelet was done and placed on a plate.

Zero had been immersed in his cooking when the chime of a doorbell rang. Lowering the temp on the frying potatoes, Zero went to answer the door and just as he did, Zero's twin pushed right passed him almost knocking him over as the other looked about the room almost frantically.

"Where is he!"

"Where's who?" Zero answered, straightening himself up before closing the door behind him.

"That son-of-a-bitch Kuran?"

"He's not here, he went out this morning."

Ichiru stopped and finally looked at his brother who was shirtless with only his boxers on, seeing his beloved brother in that sent Ichiru boiling with rage again. Stomping over to his brother, Ichiru gripped the other by the shoulders.

"Did he touch you?"

"What?"

"I said did he touch you!"

"No he didn't." Zero voiced out, his brother's grip on him was starting to hurt.

Even with Zero's answer, Ichiru was still blinded by rage. He needed to get his brother out of here and fast. Releasing Zero from his hold, Ichiru walked over to the front door and called after his brother.

"Get your stuff and let's go before that bastard comes back." Ichiru ordered.

"No."

Ichiru's hand stopped mid-way from the doorknob before he looked over his shoulder at his brother. "What did you say?"

"I'm sorry Ichiru but I'm not going."

"Is he threatening you?" Came Ichiru's instant reply.

"No he's not." Zero answered, though it was partially a lie since Kaname did have his personal stuff held captive somewhere.

"Then why?"

"I just…I think that it's best if I stay here for a bit is all."

Ichiru turned around and made his way toward his brother. "Is it because of last night?"

Zero flinched a bit as he recalled the forbidden act between he and his brother. "No…well a little, but there are other stuff too."

"Like what?"

"Just stuff. Plus I need some time to clear my head."

"But I love you onii-san."

"I know but I still think it's better if we were apart for a bit."

Ichiru wrapped his arms around his brother and held tight. "But I don't want to let you go."

"Ichiru please stop it." Zero tried to pry his brother's arms from around him but they wouldn't budge.

"Don't leave me. I need you and you need me too."

"Your making this more complicated than it needs to be."

"You can't live without me Zero! Who's going to take care of your problem, huh?"

"I-I don't know."

"See! You do need me." Ichiru said looking up at his twin.

Zero looked away. He couldn't face his brother; he couldn't give an answer to that because there was none. Yet for some reason Zero could feel that staying with Kuran will make all the bad memories slip away like last night. For the first time Zero was able to sleep without any problems and yes most of it was due to the amazing bed but there was an underlining hint that it was also due to Kaname's presence around him that helped. Zero could just forget. Kaname made him feel a lot of emotions, anger was the biggest one, but at least he was able to train his mind on something that didn't revolve around his problem. So Zero had to stay for his and his own brother's sake as a means to compensate for having unintentionally dragged down his brother into the dark abyss of sin with him.

"You have to go Ichiru." Zero muttered, his voice soft and hollow.

"Not without you."

"Didn't Zero tell you to leave?" A voice from behind the two spoke.

Zero looked over to see Kaname and Seiren by the front door. The former was dressed in a suit, which looked great on him since it fitted every inch of his body perfectly, though it was more or less a surprise from his usual rock style.

Ichiru narrowed his eyes at the other before letting Zero go and turning to face Kaname fully. "You have some nerve breaking into our home and pulling the shit that you did."

"This is Zero and my issue, something you have no saying in." Kaname responded back, holding the other's glare with his own. "Not to mention you brutally made your way into my home."

"I came to bring back what's mine."

"What's yours? You make it sound like Zero's an object."

"Zero's my brother and I want him home with me."

"Zero's a big boy, he doesn't need his kid brother making decisions for him and as far as I'm concerned he already made up his mind, am I right?"

"He's just confused at the moment, he doesn't know what he's saying."

"He sounded sane to me."

"That's because you don't know him, you're just some stranger who meddled into our affair. I may have accepted your little game at first but this is where I draw the line."

"Says the person who's brother rather stay with a 'meddlesome stranger' than with his own flesh and blood." Kaname looked at the other with a smug look.

Ichiru growled at the brunette before facing his brother again. "Come Zero."

Zero only looked away again.

Seeing his brother reject him for the first time stirred something else inside the younger twin. Zero never before disobeyed him yet now the other was slipping from his grasp and Ichiru wasn't quick enough to grasp for it as it retreated to the hands of another person again. Ichiru will figure something out like he did before, so for now he will step aside for the time being for soon his brother will return to him again, and this time he will be sure to keep other meddlesome strangers from snatching him away. Since if Ichiru couldn't have Zero, no one else will.

Zero was relieved when his brother finally left, but even more so that it ended without any problems and it was thanks to Kaname's presence here that it did.

"Is it me or do I smell something burning." Kaname's voice sounded within the cloud in Zero's head making him realize that he had forgotten all about the frying potatoes on the stove.

"Shit." Zero muttered at he rushed to the kitchen and turned off the stove but the damage was already done as he looked down at the burnt dust that would have been pieces of potatoes.

'Well there goes my home fries.' Zero thought as he dumped the ashes into the trash bin. "But at least I have my- what the hell are you doing?" Zero blurted out as he looked at Kaname who was munching away at his omelet.

"What?"

"Don't what me, your eating my omelet."

Kaname looked down at the half eaten omelet then at Zero who had his arms crossed over his chest with a scowl on his face.

"Would it help if I say that this is the most delicious thing I have ever tasted?"

Zero pinched the bridge of his nose and took a calming breath in and out of his mouth. He didn't know whether to be mad that the other ate his omelet that he had prepared for himself or be happy that Kaname enjoyed his cooking. Zero found himself laughing despite his conflicting emotions and it only got harder when Kaname stared at him over another spoonful of omelet after stuffing his mouth full of it. The brunette's cheeks were puffy and round; it reminded Zero of chipmunks when they stuffed their cheeks full of nuts.

Wiping away a tear from the corner of his eye, Zero looked at the other again who was done with his plate. "Would you like another?"

"Yes please." Kaname answered without hesitation, face beaming.

Zero smiled. "Coming right up then."

Grabbing the carton of eggs, Zero went on preparing another helping of omelet for himself and Kaname before they went on their little shopping adventure Kaname had promised him last night.

TBC…

I wonder if anyone will notice the cool twin behavior I added in this chapter that is very similar to what happened in the last chapter? Can anyone guess?

So please enjoy to your hearts content.

-Dia