Chapter-3

It proved to be true. Sayori's words indeed came true. Just like last time, this time too he disappeared and over two weeks have passed with no sign of the brunette showing up anytime soon. Though when Aiyora was asked every time she would answer with a barely manageable smile of her and say,

"He is in Cape Town, on a business trip. He will be back soon."

Though Aiyora tried her best to conceal it but Zero could clearly see the fear reflected upon her face. It was the fear of uncertainty, fear insecurity, and fear of not knowing where her husband is. Zero can only imagine how far her mind is leading onto. After all he too could not help but wonder when questions such as 'Where the fuck is Kaname Kuran?' or 'What sort of emergency lead him out that late at night?' And Zero was sure he was not the only one thinking this way. There were many others who did not even open their mouth to let out their thought on this very matter.

Yuki was probably the one who took several attempts to ask Aiyora in regards to that matter but only to be silenced by Zero, who had the common sense to understand it was quite a sensitive topic.

That afternoon Yuki decided to make a trip to the Kuran house tagging Zero along with her. Here is the thing though a person should really consider themselves fortunate if Yuki decides to call them her friend. Mostly because thought Yuki maybe sometimes naive, some times foolish and embarrassing with her statement majority of times. However she is also the type of person who will never leave you side in time of need.

And it was no different for Aiyora either. Ever since the night of her husband's sudden disappearance Yuki made frequent visits to the Kuran house to keep Aiyora accompanied. Sometimes she even stayed over and not just that the ever so lazy Yuki Cross even took the hassle of cooking. Yes cooked especial tasty delicious meals and took them over to Aiyora. Zero too would show up every now and then just to check up on the young female to see if she was doing alright.

…

Yuki impatiently rang the bell of the door and not getting any initial response started banging on it. After a stretch of long time the door was finally answered by not by Aiyora like they expected but by a grey bob haired female.

"Yes…?" The grey head asked in a tone that was so emotion-less and vacant that it made both Zero and Yuki glance back at each other. She genuinely sounded like a robot.

"We are here to see Aiyora. I'm Yuki and this is my husband Zero." Yuki answered flashing her warm smile but in return got nothing from the female other than just an uncomfortable weird look. And Zero did not like the look that women flashed Yuki.

"And your business?" the robotic female opened her mouth for the second time. She kept on scrutinizing the Kiryu couple like they were some sort of thieves.

"She told you we are here to see Aiyora. Now where is she?" Zero was losing whatever patience was left within him. He hated it, absolutely hated when people tried to look down upon him or his wife and this lady here was trying to do the exact same.

"Madam did not mention she was not expecting anyone. Besides Kaname-sama's strict order not to let any outsiders in-"

"It's okay Sieran. They are my friend." A third voice cut in and all heads focused to see a disheveled looking Aiyora standing at the top of the stairs cladded in long white silk robe.

…

"Please seat."

Aiyora led them to her private living room and offered the m the seats. Soon tea and snacks were brought in by the maid named Seiran but was Served by Aiyora herself.

All the while as Yuki and Aiyora engaged into their conversation Zero could not help but feel pity for the female. Her normally milky complexion appeared ghostly pale and her eyes…it was as if they dig their own holes around the socket area. She must not have for nights Zero concluded. Then again how can anyone even expect her to sleep under such stress? The humiliation, hurt and pain her mind is passing through is very inhuman. And it only saddened Zero to realize that all he can do is just watch and do nothing.

All throughout the evening Zero and Aiyora shared several eye contacts that very well went unnoticed by Yuki. She was so very much engrossed into their girlie conversation that did not even realized that how often her so called friend made sneaking glances towards her husband or even the envious glares Aiyora was flashing towards her.

Zero wanted to leave by the time the clock hit 8 pm in the evening. It's weekend tomorrow so he wanted to take Yuki out for the night. But his plan seemed to lead towards failure as Aiyora constantly pleaded them to have dinner with her at her place. And in her current situations she had Yuki's full sympathy therefore getting them to stay for dinner was easy.

"I think now we should finally leave." Zero stated after dinner.

"Now I agree with Zero." Yuki joined her husband. "The food was delicious and we ate more than needed. Believe me I can barely stand. Surely that's the same for Zero."

"I see." Aiyora spoke timidly. "But before you go…" leaving them by the door Aiyora rushed towards the kitchen and came out with a plastic box. "Here you go." She handed to box to Zero specifically.

"What is it?" Zero asked eying the box.

"Do you like cheesecake Zero?"

"I love cheesecake." Yuki answered before Zero could. But Aiyora did not break her eyes contact with Zero nor did she respond to Yuki.

"I made this cheesecake for Kaname. He has fondness for them. But now I have decided to give them you Zero." She only answered to Zero or rather was talking to him while trying her best to ignore the man wife who was right next.

"Oh Aiyora thank you so much!" Yuki pulled the female for a tight hug. "You are so sweet. Anyways its getting late we should be going now."

"Good night Yuki." The other female too greeted returning the embrace.

…

Sleep refused to take over Zero's body that night. He stayed wide awake while Yuki lay asleep cuddling against him. He could not help as his mind again and again drifted back the earlier events of the day. Aiyora's attitude did not sit right with him. He could sense some sort of change within her personality that he did not like especially her needy glances towards him and envious glares towards Yuki. Like always Yuki failed to notice how over caring Aiyora was towards him at the dining table. She poured him food onto his plate more than it was necessary, asked him several times if the food was good. As for Yuki she had to ask Aiyora to pass the item towards her. And as for the cheesecake incident towards the end, Zero is more than sure Aiyora gave this cake to him. Only him! The silver haired male even felt offended noticing how she was trying her best to ignore Yuki towards the end.

If Zero recalled correctly this is not how he remembers Aiyora's personality when they met. She always seemed shy, and kind and affectionate type and most definitely not showy like her husband. But what he witnessed today did not at all seem normal. He saw aggressiveness in her eyes. Zero knows it is a lot easier to judge from where he was standing however standing in her shoes would be much more difficult. And maybe not a lot woman would be able to do it. So for that she had his 100% respects. For now all he could hope and pray that everything would be back to normal. After all this Aiyora girl was a very nice person she did not deserve a life like this.

About another week passed and still no sign of Kaname Kuran. During this time Yuki's sympathy for her friend grew stronger which led to increase Of her visit to the Kuran house. Zero on the other hand tried his best to stay as far as away from there as possible. He did not even accompany Yuki. Even when she suggested that he too should go he was quick enough to make an excuse of his own and tried his best to persuade her to go as less as possible. But his attempts always resulted in fail.

Though for an entire week Zero managed to not to go to the Kuran house but that evening his luck indeed proved to be a bitch. Yuki accidentally fell down the ladder and fractured her ankle. As per the doctors words she needs to be in complete bed-rest for at least the next two to three weeks. And Aiyora called that very evening asking Yuki if she could return the book that she has borrowed since at the back of it there is an important phone number written.

If someone asks Yuki for a favour she never says no. That is not in her nature. And nothing different happened this time either.

"Oh Aiyora I'm not able to get out of the bed. I'm sending Zero right now."

...

Zero frowned at his wife's request. A great sense of discomfort filled him in from the inside. No no no! By all means he did not wish to enter that threshold without Yuki and that too when Aiyora is all alone by herself.

"Yuki I will drop it off tomorrow on my way to work. It's too late at night to just go there."

But who said Yuki was going to listen to his argument.

"Zero it must be important or else why would she call this late at night."

"Yuki she didn't say that she needed the book now." Zero was there when Aiyora called and yes she did not even for once say that she needed the book this instant.

"But still... Zero!?" it's really hard to win against Yuki in an argument. She is that stubborn. "besides you can go and check up on her on my behalf." This niceness of Yuki is something that Zero hated at times like this.

Therefore having no choice but to give into his wife's demand he grudgingly took the damn book and made his way out of the house towards the Kuran household. He knocked several times but no one answered. He knocked for several more times and getting no response he decided to turn back on his heels only in his to suddenly click that that is actually unlocked.

"Aiyora!?" he opened the door and peeked in. "Aiyora are you in there? Aiyora…!? Aiyora…?!" There was no sign of female in the dark living room.

But as he fully entered he found a figure curled up on the couch of the opposite side. Nearing he saw that it was actually Aiyora. Though there was barely any light in the room despite that the moonlight that peeked through the window gave a clear view of the female. And it did not unnoticed by Zero's keen eyes how much weight she has lost in just about a week. She appeared a lot thinner than already what she was.

He inched closer and closer till he was just before the couch. Her face was hidden under the thick mane of her golden highlighted locks. He carefully placed the book on the coffee table making sure not to make any sound to wake up the young female. After that he was about to walk out but something in his mind held him back! It made him want to check up on her just to make sure she was alright. After-all this girl has been sleeping in the living room with her door unlocked.

He went to her side and moved the hair that was covering her face only to see lines of dried tear stains from the corner of her eyes. The puzzle fit into its pieces she cried herself to sleep. Probably was doing this every night. Zero's eyes suddenly noticed the object in her grasp that she was so tightly holding onto. He figured it to be a photo-frame. He carefully took it out of her grasp only to see it was a picture of Kaname affectionately kissing her forehead. His lilac eyes danced between Aiyora and the picture locked in the frame. A sense of pity filled up inside his heart when he realized that this is how she waits for her husband every night but that asshole, well there is still no sign of him showing up.

He carefully placed the frame on the same coffee table just beside the book ad did the unexpected he ran his fingers through her locks and that exact moment magically the lights turned switched on. Zero was about to have a heart attack at the incident but Aiyora however did not wake up. Thank God for that or else it would have done serious damage to his reputation. But only the next moment he figured out that damage was indeed done to his reputation when he turned his head towards the direction of the switch bored only to find Kaname Kuran standing there with his arms crossed across his chest and an arrogant smirk pasted upon his face looking every bit handsome and regal. The high collars over his overcoat and long bangs covered quite a portion of his giving him the all so sinister look.

The brunette watched how Zero barely managed to stand up on his two feet. After all he gave the silverette quite a fright with the sudden surprise.

"It's not what it looks like." Zero jumped to explaining. After all he definitely owed this man and explanations. He was near his wife in the dark for heaven's sake!

Kaname Kuran did not speak but nodded his head in response but it was good enough for Zero to see that brunette did not believe him.

"I was here to return the book." Zero pointed towards the book on the table to show evidence to his claims. "…but found her sleeping in the living room. So I was just checking if everything was alright."

Kaname still said no word nor the smug expression of his face changed.

"I should get going. It's late and Yuki is waiting. I don't know whether you heard but fell down this afternoon and fractured her ankle."

"Sorry to hear about that." Finally voice left Kaname's mouth but there was no sympathy in his tone.

An uncomfortable silence fell between the two men. Since Kaname was Zero no opportunity to continue Zero decides it probably best to make his exit. But just as Zero was about to walk past him the brunette voice made him.

"You're' quite strong and I admire that about you." Zero froze that sentence made no sense to him. How is it even related to the entire situation?

"What do you mean by that?" he demanded turning his head towards the brunette who was still leaning against the wall in his previous position.

" 'By that' I mean I admire your ability to remember your wife in Aiyora's presence." Zero frowned to where this conversation was going. He realized Kaname definitely misunderstood the whole situation. He opened his mouth to explain but certainly the brunette beat him to that.

"…because I certainly for got them. Her mere presence made me forget everything. And tillto this day I do not hesitate leaving them."

"Them? Them who?" Zero by now was rally confused.

Instead of answering Kaname smirked. Zero sort of hypnotized as he looked at the male's dark gaze. He even did not have the strength to move even when he noticed how closer Kaname was leaning towards him. But lucky for him the man did not attack his lips but leaned closer to his ear and whispered words that Zero never even crossed Zero mind.

"My wife…my children… I left them all just to be with Aiyora!"

Kaname Kuran pulled away and for a few second took in the wide eyes shocked look of Zero's face before bursting into laughter. He then slapped his hand on Zero shoulder and said.

"Oh Zero you are so easy to convince!" Zero shocked doubled. Laughter was gone and Kaname face was back to its origin of no emotions. "It was a joke. But a bad joke…huh?"

Zero did not know what to make of the later statement. He decided to just leave with a polite smile but another voice stopped.

"Zero!" the soft female voice stopped him.

Both the male turned to see Aiyora has awakened.

"You've come home…!" This time she spoke turning towards her husband. Her voice clearly portrayed her disbelief of evening seeing him. "Kaname…?"

In a few long strides the brunette was standing before her and swooshed her form of the ground while kissing her deeply all over the face.

After watching them so engrossed in love for some time Zero decided to make his exit.

"Wait Zero…!" Aiyora called out noticing the male was about to make his exit. "How is Yuki doing?"

"She has to take rest. She will get better soon!"

"Worry not love…." Kaname interrupted. "We will surely visit her tomorrow." With that said he stepped forwards and slowly closed the door right on Zero's face but before the door could completely Zero saw a flash of his devilish smirk once more. That smirk made him more confused than ever but one thing he was sure about Kaname Kuran is not someone to be taken lightly.

a.n. thakn you all for reading hope you guys are enjoying this thriller! Thank you all for the support means a lot.