Okay, someone has to shoot me with a tranquilizer because I am in an unstoppable writing spree in favor of other important activities, mainly sleep.
Thank you for the awesome reviews, YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!
LOVE YOU ALL!
ENJOY
warning: sorry for the bit of violence at the end of the chapter.
∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞
*Hurried Footsteps."
"Sir… You can't just barge in…"
"Shut up! My brother is in there!" Zero barked as he dragged his feet as fast as he could. Had he been in a better shape, he would have sprinted to the room in a fraction of a second.
"It is okay nurse, he is family…" Cross calmed down the fuming nurse, although he had to wonder how she could miss the resemblance.
*Door slide open*
Zero's heart stopped for a moment in shock of what he was seeing. He had no idea how he managed to come here, but all he could think about was Ichiru until he came face to face with the form of his brother lying in the hospital bed. His twin was almost unrecognizable with all the bandage and plaster wrapped around his body. Zero approached the bed to look at his face, covered by the oxygen mask. He felt slightly relieved when he saw the mist of his breath against the translucent plastic. Cross's voice echoed behind him.
"We are lucky he is breathing on his own right now. The surgeon said that it was a miracle he survived. Ichirun is truly a warrior, isn't he?"
Zero gave his sleeping brother a wistful smile, "Tell me about it. It is a lie that I am the stronger of the twin. Ichiru has always been superior in term of mental strength, strong-willed, level-headed and full of life against all odds." He brushed a stray strand that was sticking out of the bandaged head.
"He is going to throw a fit about that bit of shaved hair in his head though." Cross pondered.
Zero smiled, "Its fine… As long as he lives… everything is fine…*sniff*"
Cross did not bother to comment on Zero's tears as he hugged the trembling shoulder of his adoptive son. He only muttered the words 'I am sorry', feeling his own tear flowing.
Kaname leaned against the wall, outside the ICU room, replaying the details Cross told him, "After everything settled and Aido-kun woke up for a brief moment. We assumed that it was over with nothing to worry about. I should have noticed how fast Ichiru slept on that cold floor in his battered form… It was only when we reached the hospital that the doctor noticed his vitals dwindling, on the verge of passing away. Many surgeon were immobilized to perform multiple procedures at the same time… Concussion, punctured lungs, fractured bones and internal bleeding in several places. Add to it a failing kidney due to a bad blow… It really is a miracle that he regained the strength to breath shortly after the operation."
Back in the room, a darker shade of violet orbs fluttered open to meet the glassy one of Zero. Ichiru's finger twitched in effort to reached his brother, Zero noticed and held his hand quickly while wiping his tears. Cross immediately left the room. The hunter frowned at the ring fingers wrapped in plaster as he made sure not to put pressure on it. Meanwhile, Ichiru reached the other shaky hand to remove the oxygen mask.
"Nii-san…" his voice croaky.
"I am sorry Ichiru… I am sorry did not-" Zero started to apologize but Ichiru interrupted him by clearing his throat. He quickly filled a glass of water and helped him drink it.
"I must look like shit." Ichiru complained with a tired chuckle
"You look fine… Black and blue with swelling, but fine…" Zero teased.
"Hana?"
"Cross said that he is recovering well, and will be up and about in no time."
"Thank goodness."
"Ichiru… I am sorry for being inconsiderate before…" Zero wanted his forgiveness. The idea of losing Ichiru while they were fighting haunted him. He never wanted to feel that way ever again.
"Ehem… okay… I am used to your sulking… no biggie."
"Oi…"
They both laughed, before Ichiru groaned in pain. Zero called the nurse who gave him another dose of painkiller. Seeing that he was getting drowsy, Zero decided to let him rest, but before that he wanted to know one last thing… "Ne… Ichiru," he pause until he got his twin's attention, "Do you think that you will heal faster if you drank Hanabusa's blood."
Ichiru was silent for a moment, before meeting his brother's eyes, "Are you saying that you will not have any more problems with it?"
Zero nodded.
A faint smile traced the human twin, "It does not hurt to try… Thank you, nii-san." on that note, Ichiru put the oxygen mask back and waived at his brother.
Outside the hospital room, Zero found Cross and Kaname conversing about the happenings of last night. He marched in their direction, "Chairman… About the scums who did this-"
"Before you finish" Cross raised a hand "It has been taken care of, they will get the proper punishment. I will see to it and you are not to go near any of them."
Zero gritted his teeth but remained calm as he continued, "Pray telling me why in the world are those concoctions still at work. Since I am not senile, I believe that I personally destroyed the laboratory that was producing them under the order of that sick bastard who used to be the president. Why did we have to be done in by substances that I personally banned after taking over. Not only me but also Aido and look what happened to Ichiru consequently. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON, CROSS?" The commanding voice made the hunter with wheat colored hair flinch.
He sighed, rubbing his temple "It seems that the scientists who used to work in that lab are a little too ambitious. We caught one of them working as a mole. He is the one who forged the DNA test for Aido and gave the substance to Jinmu. They are being interrogated as we speak. We believe that they have a connection with the target, supplying him with several drugs that affect vampires. Of course, that is just an assumption, but it is the most probable."
A growl came through Zero's throat at the mention of the pervert, "I will be the one handling the interrogation of that scumbag."
Cross gave him a confused look, and then tilted his head in direction of the pureblood who was watching the interaction.
"Kiryuu-kun" he decided to take over the explanation, "The target was shot dead last night by the hunters who drove him out after we captured him..." Kaname filled Zero in with the detail of what happened while they were engaging in the heats of passion. The pureblood kept a passive deadpan expression as he spoke while Zero's face contorted in a myriad of expressions, ranging from anger, sadness, shock, fury…
Zero insisted in accompanying them back to the association but Cross prevented him from doing so. He sternly ordered him to go rest after checking in on Hanabusa, informing him that they kept Ichiru's condition from him as not to worsen his health.
Zero's anguish raised when he entered the room where Aido was currently sitting on the bed. He was still pale but not as bad as Zero imagined. He observed the interaction between the cousins, Aido was trying to doge a spoon that Ruka is trying to force feed him saying that it was some tasty fresh worms. Kaien was backing his wife up by sounding disgusted. The sight would have been funny if it did not confirm the fact that Aido was indeed unable to see anything.
The blond head stopped for a moment and turned in the direction of the door where Zero was standing.
He smiled brightly and called out to him.
Zero took a deep breath and joined the trio, "You can tell by the smell that it is a soup, what are you acting squeamish for?"
"But… I do smell it, but I can't see what is in there… I swear… You're so gonna pay for this Ruka, just you wait…" Aido warned, not staring at anyone in particular with his blank gaze.
"How long is this going to last?"
"Hmm… Depends, it seems that eyesight is the last one to recover…. At this pace, I would say couple of days." Aido explained.
"Great… now you are into self-diagnosis…" Zero teased
"Anything wrong with that? Never mind… Did you see Ichiru…?" The blond vampire asked earnestly like he asked anyone who came through the door, "They told me that he broke in fever due to the stress of the situation and sleeping because of the treatment to get it down."
Zero glanced at the worried expression of Kaien and noticed the way Ruka was looking down with pursed lips.
He sighed, "I was with him just now… He is sleeping still… like a baby." All three cousin relaxed for different reasons.
Zero excused himself after making sure that Aido did not need him for anything. He joined Kaname and Cross in the car where he found Sayori sitting in the back seat. He greeted her before his eyes landed on the Band-Aid on her arm. He later learned that Yuki called her out because her blood was of the same type as Ichiru and there was a shortage at the hospital. Zero could not thank her enough for making the trip in such a short notice as they drove her back to her company. Zero reluctantly exited the car with Kaname, watching Cross drive off before the pureblood pulled him toward the house.
Inside the chairman's home. Kaito was lying on the sofa with his head on Takuma's lap. The noble's face turned bright red when he could not manage to escape the position in time for Zero and Kaname not to witness the intimacy, as innocent as it may seem. After a few exchanges, Kaname and his right-hand man left to take care of other matters, leaving Zero with Kaito. Gin joined shortly after, fussing over Zero after hearing a vague explanation about what happened.
"Here…" Kaito dropped a ring in Zero's hand. "I found it in the cell where Ichiru was held, when I went back to check on them… They were taken to the hospital by then"
"Did you go see them?" Gin asked Zero, who nodded. "How are they doing?"
"Ichiru is past the danger zone, and Hanabusa is recovering steadily… They will be fine" Zero gave a short and concise explanation.
"Like hell they will be fine…" Kaito's incensed tone cut through their conversation. "Those fucker dared cross every fucking boundary and fuck up everything, when I was trying to settle it as fucking smoothly as possible."
Zero looked at him, frowning. Gin tried to understand what he meant, "Takamiya-kun? How about letting go of the 'F' word for a minute and elaborate."
He ran a hand through his light-brown hair, "There is no Fu- There is nothing to explain."
Zero had a hunch about what was eating him up, "Kaito, whatever happened was not your fault-"
"Like hell it wasn't! It would have been so much better to fucking let them run while we cleared things up. Ichiru was fucking right all the way… I fucking gave them to that sick fuck of Jinmu on a gold platter to kill them had we not intervened at the last moment…" Kaito grumbled, his fist clenched as his elbow rested on his knees. He finally wiped his face and stood up, "I need to get out of here, See ya…"
Gin was about to go after his distressed friend when Zero pulled his arm, shaking his head. "Don't! He is probably gone to find his own sanctuary… He will be fine by the end of the day." Zero explained, without bothering to reveal that his fellow hunter is looking for the ash-blond noble vampire that left few minutes ago… Kaito never liked to be alone when feeling bothered after all.
Noticing that Zero was equally exhausted, Gin took the liberty to bring a pillow and a cover for him to sleep on the couch after Zero declined any suggestion of moving an inch further than his spot.
Gin remained by his side until Zero's breath steadied, indicating that he was finally asleep. Hesitant fingers ran through silver hair, twitching slightly when Zero shuffled to turn on his back. Grey eyes drank in the sight of the sleeping beauty. He felt silly for feeling excited at the thought of seeing him after a while, especially in these circumstances, but he could not help the longing he felt towards him… His body moved on its accord, lowered his lips to touch the slightly parted one of the hunter. In the brief touch, memories of the fleeting passion they shared flashed through Gin's head, followed by all those funny, emotional moments they shared under the roof of the Chairman's house. How I wish your duty as stand in never ended! I miss seeing you at the start of every day… With one last caress on smooth cheek, the teacher took off before he did anything more reckless.
∞8∞∞8∞ Meanwhile in the moon dorms ∞8∞∞8∞∞
Takuma was silent all the way to Kaname's office, which unsettled the pureblood a bit. He knew that his chatterbox of a childhood friend quieted down only when he was about to lash out about something. He had a vague idea that he will be lectured about not answering again. He had to wonder sometime if Takuma took on the role of the wife without his knowledge.
He opened the window and stared at the scenery, not bothering by the harsh ray of suns burning his eyes.
"Are you that worried?" Takuma finally spoke
"hmm?" Kaname hummed as he focused in the direction of the headmaster's quarter where he left the dejected hunter.
"Are you that worried about Zero Kiryuu?" Takuma rephrased his question.
"A little," Kaname confessed, "It was because of my blunder that he ended up in such a bad shape, after all. I should not have lost sight of him in the first place." He explained as he paced to his wine cabinet.
"Is that the reason for which you spent the whole night nursing him back to health" Takuma bit with sarcasm
"Is there something I am missing?" Kaname finally had enough beating around the bush, He sat on his lounging sofa, unbuttoning his shirt and resting his arm on the velvety fabric. He sipped on his wine while watching the noble vampire pick up a file from the top of the desk.
Takuma took out the papers and threw them on the coffee table in front of the pureblood. "Care to explain?"
There in front of him, Kaname saw a few pictures amongst the scattered papers. He put down the glass and examined them. He found one where Kaname was caging Zero against the locker room, another showing him carrying the hunter with Zero hiding his face in the crook of his neck. Another one showed Kaname kissing Zero just before the elevator closed. He examined the reports and found logs of the hotel bookings along with footage of the time they sneaked to meet outside the Academy… Hardened wine orbs met forest green accusing one.
"I did not know that you changed your hobby to paparazzi." Kaname was the first to break the silence as he threw the paper he was holding on the pile of others. He stood to pace around before stopping and facing his companion. The room temperature dropped as the two powerful vampires stood facing each other, unreadable expressions, communicating their irritation through the seething aura and storming glares.
Seeing the petulant attitude of his lifelong friend, standing there without a hint of remorse or frustration over getting caught, Takuma let out an exasperated sigh, "I thought we talked about this and you assure me that nothing would happen… I prayed that my digging would turn up empty after I saw how you were acting around him in the kitchen that day, but… What is the meaning of this Kaname?"
The noble's words confirmed the suspicion of Kaname that Takuma indeed saw a glimpse when Kaname stole a peck from Zero in Cross's kitchen to irritate the hunter that day.
"What I do is none of your concern." The firm voice and dominant stance did nothing to impress the noble who simply took out his hands from the pocket of the pants to make a gesture of 'are you an idiot' for Kaname.
"It is so my concern Kaname… It seems that you do not realize what you are getting yourself into…" He added as he approached the brunet.
It was now Kaname's turn to sigh, "Takuma… How is it any of your concern whomever I sleep with or what I do with my private time? It is my freedom to-"
Still keeping a calm tone, Takuma interrupted "I would not have minded and never have interfered has it been anyone other than him."
Kaname glared at the interruption, a voice dripping with sarcasm carried his answer, "Well, so sorry to ruffle your feather the wrong way… Save your breath for I have no intention to consider whatever advice you are planning on giving."
"Kaname… Do you not care at all? Do you not realize that you are getting dangerously close to a forbidden path? Do you realize that you left one of your trusted men to the dead to run back and fool around with him… What in the world is wrong with you?" Takuma hissed
"Aido is fine-"
"I was talking about Kain damnit!" Takuma finally snapped, startling the pureblood, "Oh right! You must not be aware yet since you were unreachable when I was busting my head trying to reach your goddamn phone." He took a deep breath after making sure he got his attention, "You left Akatsuki with the captives to drive them back right? Well, they were attacked… Nothing is clear yet, but it was the same culprit, who killed the hunters probably."
Kaname raised a thin eyebrow, "Did he manage to catch him or identify him?"
Takuma scoffed, "Now you care enough to ask? He didn't, as a matter of fact he was not able to make it to the car after you left because he was instantly knocked out, only to wake up to a burning car and beheaded corpses with the hearts caged in an ice boxes, neatly placed near the bodies. Wait!... That is not all! Akatsuki was left impaled to a tree, with wooden sharpened sticks… If Ruka did not alarm us about the fact that he was not responding to her call and taking too long to report, he would have been an easy prey for anyone wanting his head, weak as he was from blood loss. His tablets were taken from him while unconscious. Now tell me! Whose fault do you think this is… We have always moved in a two men cells when on a mission for a reason Kaname." Takuma grabbed the collar of the speechless pureblood and slammed him against the wall, "To watch out for each other when an enemy sneaks up on us. What did you do? You just waltzed out, leaving him to clean the mess like some kind of lackey… Wake up! You lost that privilege long… long time ago… And even if you don't give much thought about it, I do… I do not accept the fact that you were fucking someone while I almost lost two of my best friends and could not find you to stand by me and Yuki-chan…"
Kaname could do nothing but stare at the hurt expression on Takuma's face; he did not know what to say or how to react. Therefore, kept a blank mask, refusing to give in because he knew that he does not regret going back to Zero, but still felt guilty about what happened with Kain.
Seeing that he will get no reaction from the stubborn pureblood, Takuma decided to drop it since he was too strung up to handle the stone headed Kaname, "Fine…" He muttered while letting go of the clutched fabric, "Since this won't lead us anywhere, I will just need to have a talk with Kiryuu-kun, and he might be more mature about it than you…"
Red-brown eyes widened at the words and a hand gripped the arm of the noble in a bruising fashion, "Don't you dare do that!" Kaname gritted.
A shocked Takuma recovered with a crease on his forehead, "Or what?"
"Just don't, this is between Zero and me…" Kaname answered, trying to hide his agitation at the memory of the deal that he made with Zero, The moment I suspect that there is a third party aware of what is going on between us, consider the deal off.
"Zero?" Kaname jolted as Takuma caught him off guard. Takuma tried yanking his hand while letting out his accumulated frustration, "Enough is enough Kaname! This has gone way too far already… What are you getting obsessed with him for… This has to end."
The green-eyed vampire groaned in pain as he was slammed against the wall with a forearm pressing against his windpipe, Kaname's eyes met him and he recognized a hint of red in them, "If you dare go near him, I won't guarantee what I might end up doing Takuma. It is better to have me obsessed than insane… Think of the safety of your little man, for example" Kaname brought his lips close to Takuma's ear, "I am pretty sure he would be the first to get targeted."
Kaname let go of the noble when he stilled at his words, thinking that his threat affected him. Little did he expect him to direct his hand to a vase and blast it to dust with his eyes glowing red, "Don't get over your head Kaname, going as far as threatening to hurt what is precious to me is going too far. You should never cross me that way…" Takuma's tame aura blasted for a second before he regained control. He had to keep a level-head as not to direct the hit to Kaname instead of the vase.
"Then keep away from my business." Kaname deadpanned.
Once he calmed down, Takuma's eyes bulged out. He could not believe how blind he was for not realizing it sooner. "Kaname…" He whispered, looking at his friend hesitantly, "Are you… perhaps… serious about him?" he finally asked, praying that he was wrong.
The question led to a different reaction he expected. Kaname froze for some time, a blank expression on his face. Takuma watched intently as the brown-haired man moved to lean on a wall, as if a realization too heavy hit him. Sliding down, he covered his mouth with one hand as the other rested on folded knee.
Takuma figured that he got the answer to his question from the brunet's expression, and judging from Kaname's face, the pureblood was just realizing it as well.
"Kaname?" Takuma nudged his shoulder as he joined him on the floor. "You can talk to me, you know… I can't help you if I am just assuming things on my own… It is not like us to talk that way… Ne?" the blond haired vampire shoulder bumped the stiff pureblood, referring to the threatening.
Takuma waited for a while before Kaname snapped out of his trance and muttered, "It should not have come to this…"
"Hmm?"
"I…" Kaname started but stopped, covering his face with his palms and groaned in frustration.
"Feel like talking?" Takuma probed more, trying to get his friend to open up. It always took a lot of effort to get him to share the burden. After all, Kaname was well known for shouldering everything that comes his way by himself. However, Takuma knew that his oddball of a childhood friend has not yet matured in the emotional department, despite being older than most of them, by few millennia.
After more pushing and pulling, Takuma managed to get the whole story out of the pureblood down to the minute details. It simply left him speechless, similar to Kaname who felt as if he opened the gate to something he was not confident could win against, love. The pureblood knew that the realization would only bring him distress. After all, he is falling for a man who was vehemently shutting such emotion, as well as those who dared displaying it.
"Kaname…" Takuma groaned his name, "Why do always get caught in stuff out of a soap opera… I don't have to say it out loud but,"
"I know," Kaname interrupted with a heavy sigh.
"No you don't… He is to take the position of hunter's king as soon as the monarchy gets established to mirror that of the vampires, it will happen in about five years give or take… He is given free pass until then if you were not aware of it… Getting involved with a hunter is not a walk in the park, Kaname, let alone the future king of hunters… I don't wish to see you suffer anymore than you already have."
"Um…" Kaname could not deny that he was already aware of what Takuma was telling him, and he was trying to keep himself in check.
"And there is Yuki, and Ai…" Takuma whispered, stopping when Kaname ran fingers through his hair. As smooth as the gesture might look, it was a sign Takuma knew indicating that the pureblood was at the maximum level of frustration. It was never good for Kaname to lose his control over the flow of his life, and Zero was doing just that, messing it up.
Takuma banged his head against the wall slightly before standing and reaching out a hand to Kaname, "Now that I have an idea about what is going on, I really don't feel like pushing you to cut it off by going cold turkey… Just don't get in too deep emotionally and respect his wish to end it as soon as Ai is born… He might have set that rule for his own protection, but that is what will save you this time." Kaname took the hand offered and stood up, half listening to the noble until he punched his shoulder, "I am saying some serious things here Kaname! I hate to do it, but I will help you keeping this secret under wrap for now, on one condition…" Kaname just looked at him without uttering a word, "Play it safe! If you really care about him, you won't risk anything foolish like impregnating him…"
Kaname let out a long breath, "I get it… I get it, you don't need to rub it…"
With hands on his hips as if he were scolding a child, "No I need to… Confused as you are, I dread the worst… Don't screw it up when you don't even know where things stand with either of them… Besides, I am not worrying about you as much as I worry about Kiryuu-kun if you ever get him pregnant… Heck! I am not even sure he is aware that you can make it possible even though he is a male… Not only will it be scandalous, but you will be putting his life in danger…"
"TAKUMA!" Kaname finally snapped, stopping the rambling of the noble, "I said I get It." he hissed
Ichijou decided to drop the topic, albeit grudgingly. He felt anxious and conflicted, unsure of how to proceed with this new development, but one thing was clear for him is that Kaname needs his support more than his reprimanding.
"Fine… Okay then, let's go! We have plenty of demons to slay as it is. No time to dawdle around, I will get the car ready, don't make me wait." He announced, waving at the pureblood who remained standing in the middle of the room while staring far off through the open window.
∞8∞∞8∞ Late evening at Cross's house ∞8∞∞8∞∞
Zero stirred at the feeling of being carried. A familiar scent hit him. He blindly reached his arms to wrap them around his carrier's neck, nuzzling his face in the crook of his neck.
"Awake?" The rich voice of the pureblood tickled his ear.
"Mmm… wanna sleep some more…" Zero moaned lazily.
"Your body is aching all over to begin with, you will not get proper rest sleeping on that sofa…" Kaname scolded softly as he went up the stairs and pushed the door to Zero's room open.
He placed the hunter on the bed, pulling at his arm so that Zero does not crawl and hide under the covers. "Before going to sleep you need to take this…"
Kaname put the bag that was hanging from his arm on the bed and took out a water bottle. Kaname made Zero drink the not so tasty antidote and had hard time convincing him to drink the blood bag he went to great trouble procuring. In fact, the pureblood was glad to get his hands on the antidote and suspected the resistance when he learned that it has to be taken alongside human blood. He tested it out on himself before forcing the hunter to do something he despised.
Zero was wide awake by the time he finished the blood bag.
"Feeling better?" Kaname inquired,
"Uh… The crawling is not there anymore." Zero answered as he stood to go wash his face. He came back and found Kaname checking the flask that contained the cure with a pensive look. "Something wrong?"
Kaname shook his head, and patted the bed for Zero to sit beside him which he did.
"Cross requested me to give you the report of the mission since you seemed upset about it earlier today." Kaname explained while pulling an envelope to hand it over to Zero.
Zero scoffed as he opened the seal harshly, "I have all rights to be 'upset' seeing as someone was treating me like a damsel in distress."
"What?" the puzzled pureblood could not get the hint.
Zero slammed the papers on his lap and scowled at Kaname, "Exactly what you heard. The target died because you had to run back to me and ask that chick to take me somewhere safer. If you jumped to the scene sooner, you could have prevented it. Oh! That is not all! You had to leave Akatsuki alone with the two remaining ones only for him to fail because of a sneak attack… Why are you acting surprised, Kaito filled me in earlier… Instead of carrying on the mission properly, you came back and spent the night fucking me senseless… Do you expect me to be happy about it?" He huffed and resumed the reading.
Kaname stared at him, stupefied. He had hard time finding a comeback because there was none. He had indeed let his emotions cloud his better judgement. He stood to leave the hunter alone, but a gasp from the silverette brought him back. He saw Zero's lips tremble as tears formed in his eyes. The hunter threw the papers to the floor and paced the room to calm himself, hugging his form tightly. When he noticed that Kaname did not leave, he stood in front of him and rested his head on the broad chest. The confused pureblood wrapped an arm around his shoulder, trying to sooth his sudden distress. "They really died…" Zero mumbled, a memory of the old hunter bragging about him flashed, "I thought that fucker was lying when he said that…" have no fear, you will be soon joining them in the dumpster. "It was as he said, Damnit."
Kaname kept holding him while Zero poured it all out. He understood that the hunter was feeling guilty of their death although it was not his fault, typical of him. As soon as he calmed down, Kaname ruffled his hair and kissed his forehead before proceeding to leave. That is when Zero realized that the pureblood kept his right hand in his pocket and kept using his left one all the time. He quickly jumped in front of him and pulled the hand forcefully, surprising the unsuspecting vampire.
Kaname winced at the pained look he caused the hunter to have when he saw his injured hand, without fingers. Zero let out a chocked noise but Kaname beat him in speaking, "Don't worry, it is regenerating, quite fast after drinking a similar blood bag?" he explained pointing to the red strings twirling around his knuckles.
"But, how?"
"Oh! A little incident at the site where we confiscated the evidence." Kaname cupped Zero's face with his good hand, rubbing his cheek softly. He was surprised to see Zero take his injured hand and kissing it. His chest tightened as those soft lips touched his skin, he immediately pulled Zero in his embrace again. The hunter complied without resistance. He kissed the top of the silver head, internally swearing to protect him even if it costs him the hunter's wrath. A surge of anger filled him when he remembered the pieces of memory he uncovered when interrogating Jinmu and the lab analyst behind Aido's incident. They failed to grab the tail of the lizard, but one piece of information shared by both culprits bothered him a lot. End the lineage of the original hunter's family, and your ambition shall be fulfilled. The soft lips that met his all of a sudden chased away any distracting thoughts and he melted into the touch.
Seeing that Kaname was the one facing the open door, his brown eyes were the one who met grey ones of the man standing at the top of the stairs a little distance away from the room. Without breaking eye contact, he hugged Zero tighter who already had his arms around his midsection. He kissed the top of Zero's head while carefully moving the open door until it was ajar. He figured that the ethic teacher saw the earlier kiss judging from his surprised expression. Their eye contact broke when the door finally hid them from view.
The oblivious hunter sighed and pushed against the pureblood to loosen his hold on him. Feeling drained, he went back to his bed in hope of getting some decent sleep. Kaname assured him that everything will be all right and received a slurred dismissal. He closed the door and looked to his side to see Gin leaning against the wall as if waiting for him to leave. Kaname stared at him with an air of indifference as if to communicate that he does not care about what the man think about what happened, with a hint of intimidation that Gin picked on just fine. The reaction was opposite to the flustered one that Kaname expected. In fact, Gin approached him, standing close and eyed him for a moment with a stance equally intimidating, before snorting and knocking on Zero's door. When the hunter called for whoever knocked to come in, Gin brazenly pushed Kaname's shoulder to make space for himself (more than he needed) to pass through the door. Kaname flinched when the door was slammed closed in his face. Kaname had hard time wrapping his mind around what just happened. He merely narrowed his eyes on the innocent door, but he was sure of one thing. Moriya Gin was interested in Zero and did not like what he witnessed, thus views Kaname as a hindrance. That feeling at least is mutual between the two males.
Inside the room, Gin joined Zero on the bed.
"Hey there… I came to check on you and did not find you on the couch…" Gin spoke first.
"Hey… Um… It was not that comfortable after all… Uhm… When did you come in?" Zero stuttered, he was worried that Gin might have heard or seen something he should not have.
Grey eyes softened when they noticed the trepidation of the silverette. He pointed to the door, "I reached just as Kuran was leaving… Is everything okay? He did not do anything to bother you?"
Zero shook his head furiously, "No, nothing. He just came to report on the mess that happened. You know, since Cross was too busy and did not allow me to go to the headquarter."
Gin nodded, acting oblivious to the pink hue that dusted Zero's cheek, "He probably wanted to prevent you from going on a shooting spree over there…" The teasing remark earned him a heartfelt chuckle from the hunter who was nodding at the truth of the statement.
Zero stopped his laughter when Gin cupped his face with one hand, his eyes reflecting the smile showing on his handsome face, "You should laugh more often… It suits you better than the sullen look you wear." He tucked one silver strand behind a pierced earlobe before retracting his hand. Zero scowled at him, "Are you saying that I am too dark and gloomy that I need to lighten up?"
Gin immediately raised both hands up in surrender, "Nothing of that sort!" He smirked, "I personally find you cute either way" he teased the now blushing and flustered hunter, "Although I prefer when those dimples on your cheeks are showing." He gave him a tongue out.
"What… That… Are you an idiot? Calling a grown man cute… Anyways," Zero stuttered, not used to the kind of blunt and straightforward complimenting, "What did you come here for?"
"Oh! I made some food, and wondered if you were hungry. It has been a while since we had a meal together." Gin announced eagerly,
Zero smiled wistfully, "Thanks but I really have no appetite right now."
"Hmm?" The tall teacher flopped on the bed next to Zero, making them bounce with the mattress from his weight.
"Worried about Ichiru?" He glanced at Zero
"Um… I know that he will be fine and… but still… Nothing would have happened if I didn't ignore his calls, or answered Kaito instead of sulking like a brat about everything." Zero complained while squeezing the pillow on his lap.
Gin hummed for a moment, "You guy really have a knacks for self-deprecation. You and Takamiya-kun are quite good in blaming yourself and brooding. Well… I agree with the sulking like a brat part though…oomph!" Gin failed to finish his teasing as Zero suffocated him with the pillow, when he finally let go of the panting blue haired man, Gin smirked, "See? A reaction fit of a cute brat…" He anticipated the hit this time and put his hands to guard himself.
After a bit of struggle, and some feather flying around, Gin managed to pin Zero under him, both out of breath staring at each other before bursting in laughter.
He resumed laying besides the hunter, and enjoyed the moment of silence as they both stared at the ceiling.
"Gin?"
"What?"
"I remember when you first came to work here; you told me that we should leave whatever happened between us behind and start a new chapter as friends and coworker. Am I wrong?" Zero inquired
"Nope… I did say it, and you agree instead of beating me to the pulp." Gin chuckled remembering the rocky introduction with the acting chair.
"Good, I thought I heard it wrong, especially when Ichiru appeared to know about that night." Zero met the grey eyes with a knowing smirk.
Gin mouth formed an 'oh' shape before groaning, "Shoot!"
"What is this about really, the bromance with Ichiru and the talk about liking me…" Zero talked in a flat tone
Gin's cheeks tinted pink, that Ichiru, I thought he said that he won't intervene.
When he got no answer, Zero got into a sitting position, his back to the other man before he spoke again, "In any case, I do care about you and I feel comfortable around you, which by the way, does not apply to many people. Therefore, I would like us to remain like this, if possible."
Faced with an obvious rejection before even confessing, Gin stared at the back of the hunter while remembering the discussion he had with his twin. He was surprised to see Ichiru at his doorstep coming to apologize for Zero's lashing out on him, although Gin did not think much of it. What surprised him more is that Ichiru decided to have a 'good talk' about Gin declaration that he had feelings for Zero… He had to admit that the little chat opened his eyes about many details he would have missed if not for Ichiru bringing them to light. He was still not sure if the human twin was actually helping him win the silverette's heart or trying to discourage him. Either way, the discussion did nothing but strengthen the resolve of the Ethic teacher.
"What if I refuse?" He answered while crossing his arms behind his head.
"That's too bad because I won't anything to do with you, from now on." Zero deadpanned
"Are you that scared, of being loved?" Gin inquired.
Zero scoffed, "Is that what you thought I felt… Quite funny… It is for your own good actually, nothing good will come out from associating with me while you have such 'feelings' for me, if they are even there."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing~"
"Zero? Do you think I was joking? Let me say it clearly," he grabbed Zero's arm to make him look his way, "I like you, and I am dead serious about it. I have been trying to drop hints whenever you were around but you were oblivious to it. Because I am serious about you, I am not backing down. I anything else, I will be more pushy about it now that you know."
the honesty shining through the grey eyes surprised Zero, but refused to accept it.
"Is that so? Okay, you went ahead and said it, what are you expecting? A relationship, dating, romance, love… Give a break Gin. I am not into stuff like that, I already tried once and will never make the same mistake again."
"Oh! Are you referring to your ex that you cheated on?"
Amethyst eyes widened then scowled at the man propped on his elbow. "How much did Ichiru run his mouth about my past?"
Gin smiled slyly, "Enough for me to conclude that you are a big coward when it comes to love."
Zero snorted, "Quite the self-satisfying observation." Zero flipped and climbed on top of Gin with a dark look, he pushed him on the bed and hovered over his face, talking close, "Let me make a correction. It is not cowardly, I simply don't believe in love, I only believe in fucking" His breath tickled Gin's face, trying to get any kind of reaction from the level-headed human. "Besides, love and dating are just an ugly disguise to be given free permission to do whatever you want with your partner, in the stupid name of love."
Gin interrupted then, "Is that what he made you go through?"
Zero chuckled, "Oh please! Don't act like you are not the same, every one of you are after one thing… I admit I liked it better when you approached me at the bar with your real intention compared to this cheap roundabout way to get into my pants again. Was it that good to make you so desperate and go as far as win my brother over to pressure me? That is just low, Gin." Zero finished as he straightened up, still straddling the man nonchalantly.
Gin laughed, surprising Zero who raised an eyebrow. He ran his finger through dark blue hair, as he shook his head in disbelief. Looking at the hunter again, "You really don't get it do you… I am not just after your body Zero… It is true that I like it when I held you but- ugh…" He grunted suddenly when Zero grinded his rear against his nether regions.
The silverette gave him a victorious smirk, grinding nonstop after placing his palm over the chiseled clothed chest. "Oh really? You are saying that your love transcends the physical boundaries. I doubt anyone can ever overcome that…"
Zero grabbed Gin's hands when the clutched his hips to take him off his lap. He locked them on either side of the human's head with his super strength. "It is quite easy for me to pin you down, don't ever think that I am the same as that docile princess you had fun with that night. Also, stop making yourself into a fucking saint when we both know what you want by the end of the day. It would have been easier if you came out and said, that you wanted to fuck me" He did not stop his ministration, never broke eye contact.
Zero knew that he would not be able to react seeing that his body was totally spent from his tryst with Kaname and just wanted to drive his point across to make Gin give up. However, the motion and the rubbing against his inner thigh reminded him of how Kaname got rid of the chafing that bothered him that morning. The effect of the drug coupled by the hot tongue of the pureblood did wonder to his worried mind.
A chuckling coming from the man he was stirring interrupted his thoughts; he looked at the smirking face with a frown. "What are you doing getting worked up by yourself Zero?"
"Huh?" The hunter glanced down only to realize that his plan on riling Gin up and leave him high and dry after backfired. He ended up being the only one with a bulge in his pants, making a fool out of himself.
Gin took that chance and flipped their position and grabbing Zero's chin to make sure he does not avert his gaze. "Never and I say never put word in my mouth…" He spoke smoothly, "I may not know everything about you but that does not deny the fact that I found the different sides of you that I discovered endearing. I could not help it if I am attracted to the grumpy Zero who was always bickering about Yuki visiting him everyday when He was obviously grateful for the company. I cannot help but admire the way you go out of your way to make it see like you don't care but still pay attention to the well being of those around you. I won't deny that I liked the uninhibited you in bed. However, I despise it when someone assume that I am only thinking with my lower half. You should try harder if you are that keen on having me give up on you." He let go of Zero's face and got up to leave.
He paused when Zero spoke, hesitantly, "It is true that you might be amongst the few people who witnessed the two sides of my life and still decided to stick around. However, I am no good for you Gin. You deserve someone better." Zero rolled to his side, having his back facing the tall man.
"That is for me to decide…" Gin answered, "Does this mean that you are okay with the idea of me liking you?"
"Suit yourself" Zero grumbled, "Don't get your hopes up though, cause it is hopeless."
Gin laughed at that and left.
Zero sighed in the pillow he was hugging, "Never thought he was this persistent. Ugh!"
∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞
About an hour later, Zero's phone rang.
"Yes?"
"Kiryuu-kun, I hope I am not disturbing you." Isaya Shouto spoke, making Zero jump off the bed.
"No! Something is wrong with Ichiru?" He voiced his worry
"No! Nothing is wrong with him, I am not at the hospital actually."
"Oh!" Zero relaxed.
"In fact, I am on my way to pick you up. Cross-kun told me that you did not have a car, so I offered to give you a ride."
"To where?" Zero scowled, he was sure that he had no plans to go anywhere.
"You see… Since you took the antidote and feeling better now, I thought you might want to let off some steam, and I happened to have two punching bags that you will enjoy dealing with. What do you say?"
A huge evil grin appeared on Zero's face, "With pleasure, I will be ready in five minutes, max." A dark laugh escaped as he cracked his knuckles. I never thought I would say this, but I fucking like this fella. There was a reason why Zero asked Isaya Shoto to take the position of the co-president, the two of them got along surprisingly well. He was sure that Isaya figured the frustration Zero was feeling at being unable to do something about the one who assaulted his brother.
∞8∞∞8∞ At the headquarter ∞8∞∞8∞∞
Zero followed Isaya to the first detention room where Jinmu was kept. "I would have handed them all over, but Takamiya-kun did quite the number on most of them. I managed to keep this one for you." The pureblood spoke in a tone that Zero didn't know if it was sarcasm or humor, either way, he sure seemed happy to open the door for Zero.
Once inside, he closed the door and locked it from outside. He leaned against the wall humming while some pained cry resonated from the cell shortly after the hunter went in. Isaya chuckled at the memory of the horrified Cross Kaien when he brought Zero in. He shared a different opinion with his friend when it came to his children. Instead of sheltering them, Isaya preferred letting the hunter run wild because that is when Zero was at his best. That is how he gained the respect of the pureblood.
∞8∞∞8∞ Inside the cell ∞8∞∞8∞∞
Jinmu was chained on chair. His physical wound got better. Although he did not understand the reason why the pureblood had them treated after Kuran came to interrogate him. Little did he know that his real punishment has yet to be inflicted.
The door opened and his breath halted at the sight of the last person he wished to see that day. Zero Kiryuu glanced at the door as Isaya locked it from outside. He nodded at him from the small window before sliding it shut. Glinting violet eyes landed on him and felt his blood run cold with every step Zero took towards him.
Without saying a word, Zero unchained him and took few steps back. Jinmu stood from the chair and put more distance from the eerily calm hunter. Zero took off his jacket and popped a few buttons after rolling up his sleeves.
"It has been a while, Jinmu-san. Since Yagari-sensei took off if I am not wrong?" The casual voice of the hunter confused the man even more.
"What are you doing here, coming to avenge your little brother? Did he finally kick the bucket?" Jinmu spat, confident that the hunter would not kill him even if he wanted to. The capital punishment would be too biased.
"Too bad for you… He is alive and kicking, same with his husband." Zero answered as he pulled the now empty chair and leaned on it, "Now, Jinmu-san. I would like you to answer a simple question. Are you a retard?"
"What?"
"Yes or No" Zero added, his head down as he examined the random scratches on the chair. His bangs hiding his expression from the old hunter's view.
Jinmu snorted, "Who's the retard here? Did you come for a pop quiz, idiot." He scoffed but froze when the chair came flying his way and slammed to piece against the wall inches away from his right side.
Seeing the silver hunter coming his way with a murderous aura, Jinmu grabbed a broken stick and lashed at him to defend himself. Zero grabbed the wrist hard enough without breaking it, and punch the man square on his guts. The old hunter doubled over, coughing hard.
Zero put some distance again and gave him time to stand up. Irritated, Jinmu started chanting his next attack, aiming to blast the ex-human. Zero waited patiently for the few second until the spell launched his way. Jinmu smirked, "That was dumb of you to release me from those restraining shackles, serves you right, vampire."
"You said something?" Jinmu froze when the voice of the silverette came from behind, his eyes as huge as a saucer when he verified that the spell he launched dispelled against the reinforced walls of the room.
He has no time to react before Zero tackled him to the floor. Just before his face connected with the concrete, he was kicked from midair to the roof. He let out a strangled cry as his spine was the first thing that cracked from the impact. Gravity has to play its role into pulling him to a worse landing. But Zero did not allow it as he grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. Blood trickled from his mouth, and the sight of Zero's ruby red eyes did little to calm his panicked brain. All he could think about is that he was going to die if no one came to stop the beast here present with him.
Zero let go of him and looked down on him with disgust as he crawled into the far corner. "You know… Ichiru… He has a broken leg. I should do the same for you… BUT~" the evil smirk was back, showing protruding fangs, "I like taking my revenge slowly and tenfold… Would you not agree, Jinmu?"
"Hiiii" Zero's prey shrieked as he stepped on a leg hard enough to shatter the ankle. He did the same with the other leg before crouching and snapping calves like crackers. The pleas of the old fell deaf to his ear as Zero's expression darkened more and more.
Barely thirty minutes later, every bone that could be broken without killing the person shattered in Jinmu's body, except for his hands. Zero opened the small window and asked Isaya for another chair along with a specific item. Shortly after, the limp body of the still conscious hunter was sitting on the chair, reducing to a crying mess with the odor of pee and excrement bothering the hunter's nostrils.
Zero kneeled in front of him until they made eye contact, and took his left hand. he held the ring finger between his fingers and looked at the man while removing the wedding band. Jinmu's eyes widened as he realized what Zero was about to do, he whimpered weakly. "Last payback, I told you, tenfold." Isaya winced at the intensity of the last scream. Although he knew that, it won't end there.
"Time for your sentence, motherfucker." Zero announced as he came back in front of the prisoner, Jinmu's eyes widened when he saw him draw a sword from a sheath with the Kiryuu emblem carved on it. He instantly recognized it as Ichiru's sword.
"I will have to rethink about the boundaries of the capital punishment after this. It is really anti-climatic to let you out of here alive." Zero talked as he traced the edge of the blade and then looked into the terrified eyes with now hardened an pitiless violet ones. "I know that you took out the hate you have for me on Ichiru, that is why I decided to deliver your sentence with his favorite weapon. Even if you are going to stay alive, I won't allow you to call yourself a hunter anymore. Neither a legal one, nor a rogue. It is too prideful of a title for scum like you. As you said, I need to clear the pus to keep the organization stable… I am taking that advice and will start with you."
"Nooooo!" Jinmu could do nothing but scream as the sword swung and sliced through his arms. Zero cleaned the blade over the chest of the unconscious man before putting it back into the sheath. Isaya opened the door before he even knocked and tapped on his shoulder. "I will take it from here, good job."
Zero did not answer, eyes dim, drained of all energy. He found Cross at the end of the corridor who gave him a sad smile and ushered him saying, "Let's go home."
∞8∞∞8∞ TBC ∞8∞∞8∞∞
REVIEWS!
More twists are coming up,
I will dedicate the next chapter to My Hopes and Dreams & miketsukami13 Because their requests and suggestions helped me make chapter 31 more interesting than it originally looked. I will posting it soon probably, since no one would knock me out to sleep.
Thank you for reading.