A/N: Thank you a lot for your reviews. This chapter is too long and I haven't checked to be sure if it goes smoothly. I'm feeling confused...
Please read and tell me!
Chapter 5
They planned to go in together, but Zero saw his brother's car in the front yard, knowing Ichiru was still home, so he asked Kaname to wait for him outside. The pureblood was in a very good mood, he decided not to argue with him about that, plus, he thought it would be better not to see Ichiru now. There was a few things that he didn't want Zero to know yet, and for it he would avoid stirring Ichiru's bile up.
The hunter hoped to sneak in his bedroom and gather his stuff before his brother found him out, unfortunately, Ichiru was sitting right in the lounge. Their expressions turned pretty unnatural at first sight, then both managed to behave normally.
"Welcome back! Chairman Cross said you were on vacation. Where did you go? Why didn't your phone work?"
"Ah, I turned my phone off." Zero answered honestly. These days he had been living with no connection with the outside world, just staying at the pureblood's house, eating, reading and sleeping.
"How was your vacation? Are you tired now? Where's your luggage?" Ichiru wasn't acting. He got awkward, but his feelings weren't complicated as his brother's. Not seeing him for a while, he was really worried for him.
"Ah, I just return to get some stuff, I'm leaving again." Zero stuttered.
"What? You want to move out?" Ichiru knew his brother was avoiding him, but wouldn't think it was too serious that they couldn't live together anymore. Hadn't the hunter insisted that they wouldn't be separated ever again, they must live together and he would take care of him forever?
Unexpectedly, Zero felt like he had just received a piercing stab. He was thinking about moving out, but why it hurt so badly when Ichiru was the one who said it?
"I… I…" He didn't know what to say, his mind had ceased working, even now he still couldn't control his own emotions in front of his brother.
"Look. Give me a chance to explain to you." Ichiru turned him and lifted his chin up until their looks crossed each other. Two similar pairs of amethyst eyes, they were like being born for the other. "You know I had a bad experience with a man in my past. I know you're not him, but I thought I would never have a relationship with any other man, then what happened between us recalled the time that I didn't want to remember. You want me to commit to you immediately, but I'm not able to sort out all the mess in my mind and accept you that fast. It's not about your gender or our being brothers. Even if with a woman, I don't think I will belong to one and marry her after sleeping with her."
It was true. It's not only Ichiru. Nowadays not many people still kept the idea of saving their first time for the person who they seriously wanted to share their life with. Zero couldn't blame Ichiru, because he himself had experienced his first time with an escort. Everyone needed to be careful in deciding their life partner. It's obvious that he had been too emotional and treated his brother unjustly. However, regardless of his sympathy, he couldn't act like he wasn't hurt about it and continue living with him.
"All I ask for is a little more time." Ichiru said.
Zero tentatively looked at his brother, only found honesty in those charming eyes. This was the person he was madly in love with, who had come to this world together with him, who made him feel painfully incomplete without. He could give his whole life to Ichiru, why could he not give him a little more time?
"Please don't leave." The human pleaded.
Stay. Even if they would get back to how they had been, even if Zero had to wait for Ichiru, hoping he would return home then go to bed with disappointment day after day, even if the little more time Ichiru asked for would never finish, so what?
"Could you tell me in details what happened between you and that man? Who was he?" Zero hoped Ichiru could at least do it for him. Commitment might be too much for now, but no-secret shouldn't be.
The human squeezed his brother's shoulders. "We have finished for years. But… I can't talk about him to… the others, you know. His power covers the whole industry, he can even take my life if I get him angry."
Being afraid of his influence? Yet Zero didn't give in. For thirty years he hadn't done a thing that deserved his brother's distrust. Ichiru should know he would never do anything that caused him trouble. If they went on living together, they needed to trust each other thoroughly.
Ichiru was frustrated to see the hunter's determination. He turned away and squeezed his forehead. "You don't understand, Zero!"
"Explain to me."
The air sank into silence. This conversation was unable to continue.
"Alright, if you have to go, then go! But please think about what I said. I hope you will return soon." Ichiru kept facing his back to his brother.
Zero felt like his heart had dropped down. Wasn't his brother trying to convince him to stay? Why did he give up so easily? Was that man very scary or Ichiru hadn't really made up his mind?
The hunter quietly left for his bedroom to pack up his clothes, and other personal stuff. The heaviest part was the books. An hour later, he got out with everything in boxes.
"Where are you living? I'll drive you there." Ichiru offered.
"No, thanks."
"Let me give you a ride. I'll help you carry them too." Ichiru insisted.
"I can manage on my own." Zero rejected firmly "You're not there in my new place. I should learn to rely on myself."
The truth was Ichiru should learn to live without him, his loyal 'butler'. Zero had already been used to doing everything around the house and making arrangements for their lives. Ichiru only said what he wanted, then Zero would do it as his brother wished.
"Are you still seeing Kaname?"
The question paused him. He didn't want to say he was moving into the pureblood's house, but was it a shame that he was going to live with an escort?
"Could you not tell him what we did that night?" Ichiru took his brother's silence as a yes and seriously requested him.
Zero remembered Ichiru getting anxious each time he saw the pureblood, maybe because Kaname was close to that man. But if they had finished for years, and it's a public knowledge that Ichiru had a lot of girlfriends, why was he worried that that man would be angry knowing he slept with his brother?
"Kaname told me that man has moved on, he won't do anything to you." Zero said, hopefully it would make Ichiru feel safer.
"You talked to him about me?" On the contrary, the human was more nervous.
"Months ago." It was when Zero paid for the full-month package to meet Kaname at the restaurant. Later on they didn't talk about his brother's past again.
"Has he said he wants you to marry him?" Ichiru asked.
What was he talking about? Zero got perplexed. Kaname was an escort, there was no love or marriage between an escort and his customers. Would Zero ever fall in love with him? Would he be willing to marry him? He hadn't thought about loving anyone else but his brother, his heart was very small that it could only hold one person. However, all the knowledge of relationship and sex which Zero had had was with the pureblood, to the extent that he unconsciously compared how he felt for him and how difference it was from feeling for Ichiru.
"No."
The human heaved with relief. While his brother and that pureblood hadn't reached that far, he wanted to try harder to separate them. "Zero, what I'm going to say is hard to hear, but the truth isn't supposed to be nice. You are a high-ranked hunter, an assistant professor with a bright future, everyone takes you as an example for their children. You must not stain your good image in their eyes. I understand you want love, and you can only love men, but I know more people than you do. Most of people out there don't use their true faces to meet you. Kaname is very beautiful and attractive, but have you ever imagined how many bodies his tapering fingers have touched, how many dicks his gorgeous lips have sucked, how many men have climaxed inside him? Can you be with such a person?"
The hunter's face got darker and darker as his brother's criticism went more and more cynical. He knew he had been very pathetic to buy an escort, to pay for false love and care. Who didn't know escorts were dirty, especially for one who had worked in this job over a decade.
"I have no choice until someone ransoms me."
Zero hadn't asked about Kaname's past. An escort was meant to listen to his customer, to entertain him, to satisfy him. No customer paid to be bothered by the sad stories in an escort's life. Zero didn't plan to be the pureblood's life partner, but would Kaname meet someone who loved him enough to ransom him one day?
"I will give you the time you need, but during this time, it's better for us to be separated. I don't know how to face you." Zero bent down to lift a box up. "Stay here, I'll bring them out by myself."
Ichiru got what his brother meant, and rushed to open the door for him. "Please think carefully, but don't tell anyone about what I said."
There were four boxes in total, Zero had to take them out in two rounds. As he looked around for Kaname, the familiar black BMW came near, the pureblood stepped down with a sweet smile.
He put all boxes into his car and shut the door. His movements were very quick and neat as though the boxes were totally empty. Those moments reminded Zero that Kaname was a pureblood who possessed supernatural strength.
He had forgotten it, or to be more accurate, denied it in his personal life. Ichiru wanted a normal world, and the only creatures with inhuman elements that Zero met in the last thirteen years were those crazy E's.
But a normal world wasn't what they had been born to see. They came from a hunter linage, who knew the secret hidden. Plus, Zero had been turned, regardless of his denial, blood lust had become a part of his instinct. He could suppress it to be with Ichiru, but when staying with Kaname, that part was incited to grow up vehemently.
The pureblood put a peck on his cheek after they settled on their seats. "Let's go home!"
Was it the excitement as Zero had felt when moving in with his brother? He still wasn't quite sure why he had accepted this offer. Because it's too painful to face Ichiru right now, or because he wanted to live with Kaname?
Both of them didn't go to work on that day. After carrying the four boxes inside, the pureblood showed him his walk-in wardrobe next to his bedroom, which was actually a big room itself, both sides had the same design.
"Half of this room is yours, which side would you like? I'll rearrange my stuff into the other side."
Zero stared at the room in daze. He had known Kaname cared about his appearance, but how could it be real that he had hundreds of suits and shirts? However, what bewildered him was its arrangements, the clothes of the same categories were set in an order of color, clothes in similar color were put together, from dark to light, no single piece was in disorder.
Ichiru also arranged his walk-in wardrobe in the same way. Below the mirror, the first drawer, if Zero remembered correctly, stored collar pins and cuff-links, the second had watches.
Out of curiosity, Zero pulled out the drawers in front of him, and was amazed that the things kept inside were exactly as he guessed. He and his brother had grown up in an average family, the time which Ichiru lived with Shizuka was always on the move. All his brother's knowledge and opinions of the high-class lifestyle was taught by that man, many of his habits were probably followed his. Now Zero understood why Ichiru was uneasy of his relationship with Kaname. The pureblood obviously had a close relation with that man.
"You need the whole room for your clothes. I can put my things in my bedroom." Zero said, remembering Ichiru told him the shelves on opposite sides were symmetric because it was a wardrobe for a couple.
"Are you not sleeping with me here? There are many things I don't use anymore, I will put them away. How about you taking the left side, and mine on the right?"
Why hadn't Zero thought they would be sleeping together once he moved in? Technically he had paid for the place and paid for the lover package, it was his right to have them all. Nevertheless, the pureblood's words made him remember a famous sentence in Night - 'Men to the left, women to the right!'
They walked around the house so that Kaname showed Zero what they had in their home, and the hunter chose a room to use as his temporary place to store his hunter things and work on preparing for his teaching now and then. Kaname suggested having the room converted into a study, but Zero turned his idea down since he didn't plan to live there permanently.
They finally stopped at a closed door where Kaname had ignored when they passed over previously.
"This is my study." The pureblood said, but having no intention of introducing it. "It has a few work-related things that I want to keep private."
Zero nodded. Although he couldn't help wondering what the work-related things could be, he understood that everyone has some personal issues that they didn't feel comfortable to share with the others.
Later, they went shopping for cooking utensil, Zero said he would cook for them because he wasn't used to eating out or delivery food in a regular basis. Their shopping extended to choosing some decorative stuff together as if they were a newly-wedded couple. The pureblood's mood was highly up. After a full day of walking and arranging things, he still seduced Zero to have sex with him until dawn.
As they woke up on the next day, it's already over twelve. Zero had to rush to the Academy without breakfast or lunch.
ZxK
Nobody knew Zero wasn't living in the house where he had lived with his brother for thirteen years. His temporary place was an ideal home with elegant design, modern facilities and a great view outside its large windows. A pleasant and harmonious relation with his 'lover' helped him quickly get used to living there.
In the morning, Zero kept his habit of getting up early, while Kaname was still sleeping, he used the gym and went out to buy cooking ingredients. As most of his classes were scheduled in the afternoons, he worked from home and cooked for their lunch, so that they could eat together before leaving for work. Although vampires disliked the sun and were more efficient at night, only kids and students could sleep until sunset and started their day at nightfall. Most of adult vampires had to leave their beds sooner if they worked with humans.
Zero continued going to work by train, but sometimes Kaname insisted to give him a ride when his appointment was near the Academy. It seemed some vampires wanted to start their day by sex and made a booking with the pureblood after lunch time. In those moments, as sitting next to him in the car, thinking he would soon meet some other man, would take his clothes off and have sex with him, Zero felt very distressful. Who could imagine what a vampire wanted to do to satisfy his lust? As long as they didn't attempt to bite, Kaname wasn't allowed to reject their orders. The pureblood's healing power could recover his body very fast, that's why Zero never saw any traces on his skin when they slept together at night.
In the evening, Zero returned home first and cooked dinner. Kaname came back late, but usually did. Now and then he sent a text saying he had a dinner appointment, and Zero didn't need to wait for him, but the hunter still made nutritious soup and asked him to finish it before going to bed. Each day Kaname came back at nine pm at earliest, sometimes even twelve.
Especially on those days, Zero seemed to be out of his mind. The pureblood got home over midnight, was very tired, yet Zero undressed him and forced himself into him without proper preparation. But Kaname never refused his initiations, just tried to relax his body and adjust their position to give both of them comfortableness and give Zero advantage to sate his desire.
As the covetousness was fulfilled, the hunter started getting regretful.
"Why did you become an escort while your ability could help you do other jobs very well?" At last, Zero asked about the issue which had been afflicted him for a while.
Kaname was lying on his stomach, technically not moving a finger since the hunter pulled out. "What kind of job do you think I could do?"
"A model, your appearance is gorgeous. Maybe Shiki can introduce you to some agency. Or you can be a stylist, you know a lot about fashion, and you're always interested in these things. Or a manager at a bar... Or... if salary isn't the most important thing to you, I can help you to get a job at the school. Everything is good there, people are nice."
Kaname looked at Zero. To give many options at once, the hunter must have seriously contemplated on this issue. Each time Zero jumped on him like that, he could feel his fervent emotion. The hunter was obviously jealous and uncomfortable with the reason that made him come home late. Did it mean Zero started falling for him?
"Thank you for your encouragement. If one day I don't do what I am doing, I will consider it."
Zero was silent, carefully thinking about the pureblood's indistinct answer. When he turned around, wanting to ask Kaname about how to help him stop doing his current job, the pureblood had already drowsed in a fitful sleep.
Zero switched the light off and laid there, listening to the pureblood's quiet breaths. After an hour, Kaname's phone rang and a light glowed in their dim bedroom. Zero wanted to turn it off, but the pureblood had reached for it.
"Please give me a few minutes." He stuttered to the caller and sluggishly got up, but before leaving their bed, he turned to the hunter, who had closed his eyes, pretending to be sleeping. He pulled the blanket up for him, and gently kissed on his cheek.
Did it not include in the professional service? Because Zero was supposed to be sleeping, he wouldn't know whether Kaname did it or not. Perhaps he did it because he wanted to do it? Zero opened his eyes after the pureblood disappeared behind the bathroom door.
Very quickly Kaname stepped out in a long sleeved shirt and long pants, with a pleasant and fresh scent. He was very careful not to start Zero until leaving the bedroom, but the hunter quietly walked out when he calculated that the pureblood had been downstairs.
It wasn't his business who else and what else Kaname met and did beside his time with him. He wasn't his real lover, even not his exclusive customer, but Zero found it uneasy when the main door was opened, and a strange man stepped in.
"Sorry I can't hold it back. I need you tonight, I need you to stay up with me the whole night or I don't think I can leave tomorrow afternoon as scheduled." The guest was a middle-aged human, pretty good-looking, and in a hurry.
"Fine. Let's go to my study." Kaname answered.
The study, where he didn't let Zero in, where he kept his work-related stuff.
The hunter leaned on the wall upstairs. How could that uninvited man have the heart to do it with Kaname while his exhaustion was written too clearly on his face? Maybe he didn't care at all. Zero hadn't cared either, didn't an hour ago he force him when the pureblood wanted to rest?
But he hadn't known Kaname would have another customer later. It was the first time someone came to the house and requested for his service. Hopefully they were just doing it in a normal way, Zero was afraid there were some weird devices in that study which the customer wanted to play on Kaname.
He couldn't sleep until morning, hating himself for not having any right to throw that man out. Didn't in a restaurant the waiter who served him also serve other customers? Didn't in a barber shop the barber who did his hair also do the same things to other customers? He was using an escort service, and he wanted to monopolize him?
Did he not see Kaname go to work everyday? Zero wondered if he was trying to give reasons to convice himself that it was going the way it was. Yet he completely failed, it couldn't be right when the person who slept with him every night was sleeping with someone else right in the house they were living together.
The next morning, he went to the supermarket as usual, returned and cooked for their lunch as usual. Finally they were finished, he was in the kitchen and not seeing them, just hearing sounds of door opening and closing, then everything turned quiet again.
When the dishes were finished, Kaname appeared with a suitcase.
"Zero, I have to be away for three days. I will try to return as soon as I can."
The hunter stared at him, sadly saw his haggard expression. "With that man?"
"Yes." It was a fact. Kaname couldn't say differently.
And Zero didn't know what to say next. 'OK' was too heartless, 'Take care' was too meaningless.
Kaname turned around, but then turned back. "Actually the cars are a part of the lease contract, so you in principle paid for using them. Just try if you like any of them. If not, we can request the landlord to buy the one you like."
ZxK
Why did Zero keep getting amazed at the luxury which Kaname was having? If he had got used to such a lifestyle, would he be willing to quit his job? Did he think serving those men was fine to exchange for these things? And what would he get if quitting the job? Would people be really nice to him knowing his previous career? Would anyone fall for him and be ready to accept his past to stay with him?
Zero thought he would, had he not been in love too deeply with his brother.
He went to the parking basement where a large part was reserved for 'Kaname Kuran'. A security guard greeted him warmly and asked what car key he needed. It looked like a collection of high-class cars of a millionaire. The hunter's eyes finally paused at the familiar black BMW, which Kaname often used.
The security guard understandingly handed him its key. Zero opened the door to sit down on the driver's seat. A familiar sweet perfume subtly mixed in the air, he glanced at the passenger seat and saw a card book. It's something belonged to the pureblood's job. If Kaname didn't want him to look at his study, he probably didn't want him to see it either.
Zero gazed at the brown leather cover of the book. Kaname usually stepped out to answer his phone when he was around, so he had never heard him talking to the others. As his customer, he shouldn't be curious of his other customers. But he would possibly feel better if knowing those other men weren't the rude type.
Zero glanced around to make sure nobody was seeing his sneaky act, and flipped over the pages of the book. Most of name cards were from the highest management level of the companies related to the movie industry, there was also name cards of the famous directors and superstars, proving the pureblood's deep relation in this industry. As reaching the last page, Zero realised he had been unconsciously looking for the owner of the company where Ichiru had an exclusive contract with, supposed he was the man in his brother's past. However, he couldn't find any people in that company, nor Ichiru's, Shiki's and the pureblood's close friends' name cards. Obviously it was his customer book. Wasn't it scary to know all those people were gay? Now Zero knew the pureblood's other customers were rich men, they might pay him the same low price which Kainart set for the packages, but they bought him gifts, otherwise, there's no explanation for the expensive things from famous brands which Kaname used. His humble income obviously couldn't afford them.
Compared to those men, the pureblood didn't need Zero to share the rent, nor to be his customer. He must be the stingiest one, who had never bought him any gift. Yet two of them were living together, and never once had Kaname displeased him. As a matter of fact, Zero didn't know what a lover would do which the pureblood hadn't done for him.
Thinking and missing him for a few days, Kaname finally returned home on the third morning, thinner, paler with a wearing look. He went straight to his bedroom upstairs and took a shower. After finished, Zero was already there waiting for him with a glass of artificial blood.
"Thank you!" He smiled, but the first sip astonished him. "You mixed it with your blood?"
"Hope it will help." Zero murmured.
"You are very kind to me." The pureblood's smile was sweeter. "Are you thirsty? Bite me!"
Before they met, the hunter's only chances to have blood was when he hunted the E's. But Kaname spoiled him recently by encouraging him to feed on him during sex. Three days without blood wasn't a long time, yet he's definitely craving for it now.
"No. You should take a rest." However, he didn't want to be selfish.
"Are you sure?" Kaname held him and tilted his head to show him his pale neck.
"I need to go to school early today." Zero said firmly, hoping the pureblood didn't realise his body's reaction was opposite to his words.
"OK. I'll make up for my absence tonight." Kaname tightened his embrace as though he also missed Zero badly these days.
That day was a good day, everything seemed easier and nicer when Zero thought the pureblood was now home. After work he went to buy a lot of food.
When he returned, Kaname was still sleeping. He delightedly brought the ingredients to the kitchen and started cooking. Salmon, squid, beef, he wanted to cook all the pureblood's favorite dishes tonight.
Busy himself for hours, the result turned out pretty good, Zero was about to go back to their bedroom to check on Kaname, but the pureblood had appeared at the door.
"Smell delicious!" He said.
"Awake?" Zero didn't know he was having a big smile as seeing Kaname look better than before. "Are you hungry?"
Their dinner was very enjoyable, though Zero didn't eat much, most of the time he kept filling the pureblood's bowl and satisfactorily looked him eating.
"Do you often have trips like that?"
"Sometimes." Kaname said "My next trip is in two days. Would you like to go with me?"
Zero paused, hesitantly gazed at him. "Is it for… work or pleasure?"
"Work and pleasure." Kaname answered leisurely "I'm going to Hollywood. Yuuki also lives there. We can visit her together."
Hollywood, the place in Ichiru's dreams, the place where Yuuki lived. Zero wanted to go there once, to see the land with his own eyes.
ZxK
The first class cabin made their long flight not too bad. Kaname said their tickets were paid by Yuuki's husband, who was a successful business man and also a pureblood. They fell in love at first sight and got married last year.
So financial issue wasn't a reason to their family anymore, Zero thought quietly.
Yuuki and her husband brought a limo to pick them up at the airport.
"Oniisama!" The girl cheered happily and ran to give Kaname a big hug.
"Long time no see, Oniisama! Did you have a good flight?" The brother-in-law bowed respectfully in front of him.
"Good. Thanks for coming." Kaname said.
"Zero! I'm glad to see you again! Thank you for taking care of my brother. How are you?" Yuuki was outgoing and cheerful as in their school time that somehow made the hunter feel nostalgic.
They went home together and were treated as special guests. A big room was arranged for them, where they slept a lot after the flight, and when waking up together, Kaname groped down to stimulate the hunter's manhood.
"Is it alright to do it here?" Zero stuttered.
"Of course, why do you think they prepared a king sized bed for us?" Kaname nibbled his earlobe.
Zero didn't argue. He used to be very close to Yuuki and everyone thought they were a couple. He met her again after thirteen years, she's married, and he wanted to figure out if he could really have sex with her brother right in her house.
Did it mean anything?
He wasn't sure.
They indulged themselves in pleasure, Kaname didn't try to restrain his moans. They went on and on until the hunter shot his satisfaction inside him.
It was as good and fulfilled as always. Zero observed the pureblood's claret eyes which seemed blurred with contentment. He didn't know if Kaname also got climaxed with his other customers, but in this moment he was definitely not pretending. Both of them had really got orgasm together.
"Does Yuuki know about your job?" Zero asked while he was still on top of him.
"Are you embarrassed to be with me?" Kaname squeezed his forehead.
"No." Zero uttered. "I just wonder why she didn't help you pay the ransom. Was it very difficult when you decided to do this job? I don't think you told her a word about it."
"After the commotion caused by Rido subsided, I told her we were born to be husband and wife, but unfortunately, I couldn't feel anything with women. I couldn't be her husband. She left since." The pureblood recalled. "It took a few years for us to talk again and make peace with each other. I watched over her from afar until she forgave me and accepted me as her brother."
Then he couldn't disappoint her again by disclosing what he did to earn a living. Zero understood it thoroughly. When he was a kid, or even now, he never told Ichiru about his problems, being afraid the human thought he was unreliable. He wanted to appear strong in front of his brother all the time, yet there was times, as everyone else, he also needed support and comfort.
"Tell her we are lovers. We're in a lover package, so it isn't totally a lie."
Zero truly didn't mind. During their time with Yuuki, he didn't have any difficulty playing her brother's boyfriend. She and her husband were great hosts, they assigned a driver to take them around for sight seeing and visiting the famous places in L.A. When Zero was on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, he missed Ichiru passionately.
On the same day, Yuuki suggested Zero cooking a dinner for all of them before he left with Kaname. The girl's cooking skill had been improved a lot, and she was quite a capable assistant to help him complete his dishes.
Before they called their better halves in, Yuuki confessed "You know what, Zero, I thought I would never forgive you and Kaname. You, for not fighting for me, but letting me go. And him, for terminating our engagement. I used to think I was a perfect girl, and I had both of the coolest guys of Cross Academy, so I couldn't accept it when both of you declined me." She laughed. "Then I told myself that I shouldn't be too childish, it's not that all guys would be attracted to me. But now you two become a couple, and I realised I wasn't wrong. It's not that I wasn't good enough, it's because you were gays!"
Zero felt kind of awkward, but she giggled "Don't be offended! There's nothing wrong. I'm glad I met my beloved husband and you are now with my brother. Don't you think, Zero, you were close to me because you were unconsciously drawn to Kaname?"
The hunter couldn't answer. He was actually attracted to his brother, he had never stopped yearning for him, wanting to be with him, even though staying with Kaname gave him a kind of serenity and security which a serious relationship brought. He and the pureblood were the same type who usually cared about their partner's feeling and tried to make them happy, however, Ichiru was his unattainable desire, which because of unattainability became more desirous.
"Zero, how do you think about my brother? Are you serious with him? Will you marry him?"
"Please don't be kidding. Kaname and I haven't reached that far. I haven't thought about getting married to him."
Yuuki halted and looked at Zero, wanted to say something but decided not to. Her cheerful smile vanished.
Outside the kitchen, her husband was compassionately holding her brother's upper arm to calm him down. They had wanted to come early to help preparing dinner together, unexpectedly hearing a part of a conversation they shouldn't.
Dinner turned inept, any topic became unsuitable. Yuuki glanced at her husband but he just shook his head lightly.
As soon as getting back to their room, Kaname tightened Zero in his arms and kissed him. Zero was surprised at the pureblood's sudden hurry. "Hold on. I need to answer my phone."
"Ignore it." Kaname whispered, trying to resume their kiss.
"No. It's Ichiru." Zero hastily got off his embrace.
The hunter's move was gentle, yet Kaname felt completely cold when his arms turned empty. He stood still as Zero ran to the balcony with a delighted attitude. It was only him left in the room, all of a sudden, he remembered they had just lived with each other for a month. He had a feeling that they had been together for ages, but it was his own feeling, that he couldn't force Zero to feel the same.
Kaname didn't intend to hear what they talked about, but now and then still heard a few words and realised that Ichiru had already known Zero was in LA. It turned out they talked more often than he thought. Although they weren't living together, the hunter kept his brother updated on what he was doing. Right now Zero was telling him what he had seen and done these days. The stories never ended until Ichiru arrived his company and had to hang up.
Zero got back inside, but the room was quiet, Kaname had disappeared.
Nevertheless, his belongings were still there. Assuming he just stepped out for a while, Zero packed up for both of them, then went to bed.
The next morning, Kaname returned. They said good bye to Yuuki and her husband, and moved to Four Seasons Hotel, where a premier suite had been reserved for them.
Zero sensed that something had changed, Kaname seemed reticent. A few times he wanted to ask, but not knowing how to make it appropriate. They went to a luxury restaurant for dinner, then returned to the hotel. Last night Zero abandoned Kaname for Ichiru's call, now he wanted to compensate for him.
On the large, soft bed, he made love to Kaname. It was real love making, because he was trying his hardest and using his best skills to try to satisfy him. He kissed on the pureblood's soft, succulent lips, touched his sensitive nipples, rest his long legs on his shoulders, each of thrusts was deep and determined, giving him his whole length, up to the deepest. Sweat dripped on their bodies. He moved again and again, feeling the pureblood squeezing him intensely.
Was he doing good?
Was Kaname enjoying?
Why was he not holding him?
Did he want to continue?
His hand wrapped around the semi-hard part.
Only semi-hard.
It indicated his failure.
Obviously there was something in the pureblood's heart.
How could it be possible?
What was bothering him?
Since when did things become complicated? Or Zero was complicating things on his own? He wanted to see the pureblood's smile, to see his affectionate look, just as yesterday, before last night.
"If you're not going to continue, let go of me."
Zero started, realising his movements had been ceased. Now not only Kaname, but he himself had gone limp, and having no choice but pulling out of the pureblood's body.
Kaname sat up, going straight to the bathroom for a shower. However, he didn't return to their bed after that, but took out a black suit, put it on, combed his hair, sprayed a little perfume.
"Where are you going?" Zero asked, not remembering they had to go out tonight.
"I have an appointment." The pureblood said calmly. "I will not come back until tomorrow morning."
Zero was dumbfounded. He had forgotten that this trip wasn't completely for pleasure. Kaname came here because some customers booked him.
He bitterly lied down, not saying anything until the pureblood finished his preparation and left.
Now Zero wanted to take back what he thought about serenity and security. He felt it when Kaname was by his side, but they weren't true, when the pureblood was away, he belonged to the others. Perhaps it had already been wrong from the start, as Ichiru said, he shouldn't get involved in an escort and a vampire, because what he got at the end was only an illusion.
It was cold and quiet in this luxury suite. He didn't leave the bed, but couldn't sleep at all.
Several hours later, Kaname called to say he couldn't return yet, but Zero should go down to the reception and ask for their suggestion of some interesting things to do, either requesting for a private tour guide or a car with a driver. Everything was already included in their accommodation package.
Zero wasn't in the mood to go out, and he would have lied there until Kaname returned if Chairman Cross hadn't called to remind him of paying a visit to the family of his parents' closest friend who had relocated to the US for many years. He had been in L.A for almost a week, any delay would be unacceptable. Zero had no choice but got up and traveled for hours to their home.
His parents' best friend was a well-seasoned hunter, who was currently the head of the hunter branch in this state. He and his wife were very happy to meet Zero and couldn't stop asking about their friends in the headquarters, their families, the younger generations, the situations.
In between their continuous questions, Zero got a text.
"I'm back. Where are you now?"
"San Diego. I'll return after dinner." He quickly replied.
"What is the address? I'll come pick you up."
Zero could go back in the same way he had come on his own, but not having seen Kaname for a day, it wasn't bad to see him a bit sooner.
After sending the address, his mood was much better, sometimes he discreetly glanced at his watch to check the time. At last, the message "I'm here." arrived when he was having tea with them after dinner.
He politely stood up and said good bye. The old couple walked him out.
From a distance, Zero saw Kaname standing near a black limo, still in the same clothes as last night, he probably came to him right after returning to the hotel and having no time to get changed.
He looked so beautiful...
Was it feeling like a couple who had just made peace with each other after an argument? The hunter's spirit flew up seeing him, and he couldn't wait to be in private with him again.
Especially when Kaname was smiling...
All of a sudden, a young guy showed up at a corner and ran toward the pureblood with an anti-vampire gun, obviously wanting to shoot him.
"Hey, stop, stop!" Zero ran at the top of his speed, but he was too far in comparison with the young guy's place.
A dry sound echoed.
Zero factually jumped to skip the rest of the distance and almost pushed Kaname down together with him.
He hurriedly checked him to make sure the shot didn't hurt him, then turned around to punch the young guy's face.
The young guy wobbled and collapsed, blood dripped down his mouth. The old couple rushed to support him in panic.
"Nao, are you ok? Can you stand up?" The lady asked.
The old man held Zero's leg as he was about to hit him more. "Please don't! He is our son."
"Who is he?" Nao managed to wipe the blood off his lips.
"He is Uncle Kiryuu's son." His mother answered.
"What's wrong with you? Why did you attack him?" His father asked.
Of course all of them could sense Kaname was a pureblood, the couple even knew who he was in particular. Both sides were now under the peace treaty and it's against their law to attack the other for no reason.
"He smells like Bob." Nao screamed.
"Shut up!" His father snorted.
Zero's face darkened. Yes, Kaname was having some different male scent on him. In fact, it wasn't strong, and needed a very sharp nose to recognise.
"They have just slept with each other." The young guy screamed again.
The old man slapped his son angrily. "What the hell are you saying? Can you take responsibility for your words? Apologise Kuran now!"
Nao stubbornly clenched his teeth. The old man slapped him again. His mother started crying. And Zero wished he could leave immediately.
Kaname glanced at him, then smiled "I am sorry. I just passed by and made such a fuss. Thank you for helping me. I'll take my leave."
The hunter family said nothing, silently implying his presence was unwelcomed. As his limo door was about to shut, Zero grabbed the handle to keep it open.
"He came to pick me up. I apologise for my hot temper. Please take care!" He bowed to the old couple before getting inside to sit by the pureblood.
His parents' old friend must be shocked to know he was with Kaname, and this information would travel to his mentor's and Chairman Cross's ears before he came back. The pureblood had given him a chance to withdraw by saying he just happened to be there and planned to leave alone, but Zero chose to go with him.
He was ashamed when some strange guy accused his partner of sleeping with another man. Yet in the bottom of his heart, the real poignancy was his partner wasn't his real partner, and he did believe Kaname had slept with that young guy's boyfriend, because it was his job.
Zero didn't know how to explain to his seniors about this relationship, nor how to deal with his brother's fury when he figured it out. He had followed the pureblood without serious thinking. However, even if he had had more time to think, the result would be similar, he couldn't let Kaname go alone. It wasn't the pureblood's fault. He was the one who approached him, paid him for his service, followed him to this country, and agreed to have him come. Kaname could go back without him, could have no right to complain, because Zero was his customer. Nevertheless, would he not hurt?
It was a long distance back to their hotel, they didn't speak to each other. After a while, Zero felt the pureblood's head fall on his shoulder. He turned around but paused as finding Kaname had dozed off. Carefully leaned on the seat's back, he found a comfortable position to make sure he wouldn't stir up too much and startle the pureblood. In this moment, he was convinced that his decision had been right. His seniors would reprimand him because they thought Kaname wasn't good for him, Ichiru would get angry because Kaname wasn't good in his opinion. Zero had no doubt of their concern, he knew they wanted him to be happy, but his listening to them or not didn't affect their personal happiness, while it would change the pureblood's life if he stayed with him. Somehow Kaname gave him a feeling that he was important, and that feeling, in return, gave him a significant meaning.
After getting back to their hotel room, the first thing Kaname did was empty a whole vial of blood tablets into a glass of water. He looked tired, and for a pureblood to show it, the work must have been strenuous. Zero felt sad, thinking the pureblood should have taken a nap instead of coming to see him. They were going home tomorrow, hopefully Kaname would be recovered after a good sleep tonight and be ready for the long flight.
Zero decided to use the other bathroom to resign the one in their bedroom for him. After taking his shirt off and putting toothpaste on his toothbrush, he looked up and saw the pureblood's image reflecting in the mirror.
"I'm sorry for last night." Kaname was right behind him.
Zero wondered if the apology was for leaving him alone last night or not cooperating in bed before that. Either way, that wasn't what he concerned now.
"I'm too busy these days." Kaname continued.
Zero nodded as keeping on brushing his teeth.
A door bell rang. Kaname came to hug him from behind. "We'll have more time after returning home." He kissed his cheek and left.
Zero thought the pureblood went out to answer the door, but when he got back to the living room, there were only two guests, Takuma and Kain.
"Good evening, Zero! How are you?" Takuma greeted.
"Have you enjoyed the trip?" Kain asked more directly.
Zero felt unfamiliar for a minute, he hadn't talked to them for years, and it was the first time he met them not as a prefect of Cross Academy. Takuma might be Ichiru's ex lover, and Kain was Kainart's owner, where Kaname worked as an escort. Both of them happened to be the two men who he wasn't keen to meet.
"Kaname is showering." Takuma flashed a friendly smile, but his words seemed to imply something abnormal. Who would shower before receiving their friends' visit? And how did they know Kaname was here?
As if understanding what Zero was thinking, Kain explained "We are having an appointment. I am afraid he won't return until the time you go to the airport."
Seeing the hunter's confusion, Takuma gave more details. "We also don't like this arrangement, but our business partners won't close the deal until they meet Kaname. Unfortunately, his schedule is so full, he said he could only give us two days, no more. That's why we had to arrange things like that. You see, everyone is worn out."
To think about the reason that wore them out, Zero wished he could just expel them immediately.
"Watch your mouth, Ichijou!"
"Ah?" The blond noble's expression was like 'I didn't say anything wrong.', then he chuckled "Oh, Zero, you are his customer, maybe you don't want to hear about that. But we are different, I am his pimp, and you must know Kain is his owner, right?"
If it was thirteen years ago, Zero would have pulled his gun out. He hadn't thought about these aspects. But it was supposed to be normal, all escorts had pimps and owners, who took a great part of their income which they earned by selling their own bodies. Ironically, they needed them, so they could have more chances to sell their bodies to more people.
"How is his service? You can tell me if you have any complaint or want to try someone else." Takuma was eager to do his customer care. "I have a long list of younger escorts for you to choose."
Kain suddenly made a sound of clearing his throat. Takuma turned around. "Hey, Kaname! You ready to go?"
"Maybe I don't need to go anymore. You can show your long list to the people tonight." The pureblood was in a new suit, elegant and gorgeous as how he usually was.
"Ah, how could it be possible? I was just kidding. We will surely fail without you." Takuma laughed.
"Please ignore their words." Kaname held the hunter's hand and lifted it up to kiss on each of his fingers. It was the hand that punched Nao a few hours ago. "Good night. I will try to return as soon as I can."
Takuma waited until Kaname and Kain left the room, then turned to squeeze the hunter's shoulder. "Don't worry. There are four men, but all at once, so it might finish faster than one after one." He smiled. "It still depends on their mood though."
Zero had never loathed his helplessness as in this moment. He loathed himself for letting the pureblood go with them, but he had no right to stop him, or stop them from taking him away. Living with Kaname meant seeing him going to sleep with the others everyday. He used to pretend that it was just a kind of work, but he couldn't pretend any longer. His feeling told him he didn't consider himself one of the pureblood customers anymore. But what did he think he was?
ZxK
Zero couldn't answer that question, even after they went home and resumed their daily routine. In fact, Kaname was still busy, still left home early and returned late, as Takuma had said, his schedule was very full. Zero made lots of nutritious dishes for him, urged him to sleep and reduced their frequency of having sex. The pureblood wasn't happy with his restraint and tried to seduce him more, being worried that he had gotten tired of him.
"Kaname is very beautiful and attractive, but have you ever imagined how many bodies his tapering fingers have touched, how many dicks his gorgeous lips have sucked, how many men have climaxed inside him? Can you be with such a person?"
Zero thought about it more often these days. If he could have another choice, he wouldn't have gotten involved in the escort service, he wouldn't have wanted to hold the person who anyone who paid could hold, he wouldn't have slept with the person who anyone who paid could sleep.
As he was sitting at the edge of their bed, Kaname approached him while loosening the belt on his own white nightrobe. One of his pink nipples was indifferently exposed, he put a knee on the bed and leaned to hook his arms around the hunter's neck.
"We still haven't opened the lubricant I bought last week." Kaname whispered.
"You've had a long day."
"Doesn't mean you don't need it."
In principle, an escort couldn't neglect any of his customers or they would get angry and terminate the package. Zero comprehended that the pureblood was only trying to fulfill his job.
"How do you feel doing it with the others?" Finally Zero asked.
"Huh?"
"You and your other customers."
"Don't talk about the others." Kaname avoided it again.
Zero wasn't surprised that the pureblood didn't want to talk about his job. It was unprofessional, and probably in the bottom of his heart, it was his shame.
"How much is it?"
"What?"
"For an exclusive package. I want to be your only customer."
"I have never provided this package." Kaname frowned. "There are many conditions with it."
"What are they?"
"You have to commit in a long term, say one year for starter."
"OK."
"You can't request to change to another one."
"OK."
"You can't call another escort during the term."
"OK."
Kaname contentedly pushed Zero down and straddled him. "Why do you want to be my only customer?"
"I don't want you to sleep with the others." The hunter answered honestly.
"How about blowjobs only?"
"Don't want."
"Kissing?"
"Don't want."
"Holding?"
"No."
Kaname giggled. "I need to see your sincerity before I become yours exclusively."
Zero wanted to ask what he should do to show his sincerity but the pureblood had sealed his lips by a hot kiss.
Tonight he figured out that Kaname wouldn't agree to sleep without doing it first.
And he was actually happy with it.
-to be continued-