A/N: Okay, I have three ideas and only until ten tonight while I'm learning Astrology (IT'S HARD) and binging Young Sheldon. Zero POV… Ish. Trying to decide between two things.
Zero enjoyed his last day of Ichijo freedom, his computers filled with several different windows and the coffee pot on. With Touya asleep, he enjoyed the solitude as he flipped through his plans again, scratching the back of his head. Plan E didn't work, Plan F would have to require him to take a step back… And he was already so close.
He sighed, flipping to another web page. The one thing he still couldn't understand was Mayoko Kain's brain. Even before they were dating, Kitashi was over other women. The woman herself appeared at every event, her guarded smile and narrow eyes somehow untrustworthy.
"What you doing?" Touya asked as she crowded Zero, peering over his shoulder.
"How do you sound like Isabella?" He asked, scanning the next picture for any tell-tale signs.
"Oh, Mrs. Kain." Touya sighed and rolled her eyes, sitting next to him. Zero watched from his peripheral, amused that, for some reason, she had changed into her onesie.
"Not a fan, I take it?"
"Much as I love Kain…" She shook her head, pointing to the arm around her waist. "Even her own husband doesn't like her."
"Huh?" Zero examined the photo. Other than his arm around her waist and hers on his shoulder, it was just a photo. He turned to her quizzically.
"Seriously?" She sighed and flipped her hair over her shoulder, pointing to the arm resting on her hip again. "Loosely placed. No tension in the fingers. Look at his face."
Zero did so, raising an eyebrow. "It looks like Kain's."
"Exactly. Guarded. Not really smiling nor amused but like he's being paid to be there. Now…" She pointed to the arm resting on Kitashi's shoulders. "Tell me what you see."
"… An arm."
"People say you're so smart…" She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Okay. Her nails are digging into his shoulder. It's a tactic Souen uses on Aidou or vice versa when they're doing meetings."
"Yeah… And?"
"It's easier to drive a person. If you need to greet people, you need an easy way to control." Zero stared at her blankly. Touya forced him to stand, taking the same stance as Mayoko. She rested on his shoulder, pushing him forward. "Got it, Zero?"
"Yeah." He sat down again, examining Kitashi. "Why didn't he just leave?"
"… How long have you been tracking aristocrats, Zero?"
"As long as I've been alive, Rima." He hated her overuse of his name.
"And yet, you still don't know that purity of blood is a major factor?" She avoided his swatting hand, returning to her seat. "What are you looking at these old photos for, anyway?"
"Project from Kain." Zero stated nonchalantly.
"He's reopened the case?"
"I reopened the case." He knew she'd ask why, shutting her up with another photo. "This was taken within the same year, right?"
"Yeah. It was rumored that Kitashi and Mayoko wanted a surrogate and then Mr. Kain started… And when Mayoko found out, she adopted the kid cause she couldn't have any." She shrugged.
"Do you know her name?" Touya shook her head. Zero smirked to himself. "Want to bet it's Mayumi?"
"I ain't betting with you. You always win."
"… It's an expression."
"I know. I also know you're a total Sherlock while I'm sitting here like Mrs. Hudson."
"Then, who's John?"
Touya smirked. "We going down the dirty path?"
"… Arguments sake, let's say we are."
"Well, I do like the idea of you and Kaito…" She giggled as Zero back handed her instinctively.
"Mrs. Hudson? More like Irene Adler." He muttered. "Kaito can be Mrs. Hudson."
"Then, who's Ichijo? Especially since Kuran's Moriarty."
"… Probably Mycroft." He continued scrolling through, only half listening as Touya started a defense that Mycroft was an amazing character, stopping at another photo. "Rima."
She pouted, turning her attention to the picture. "Kitashi and Mayoko Kain welcome baby boy… What of it?"
He tilted his head. "… Is it just me or does she…"
"It's only that she looks happy." Touya stared again. "Huh…"
"What?"
"I always thought Kain was an Aquarius…"
"With the amount of responsibility he takes on?"
"True… Though, he does have technological advancement." Zero opened a new Word document. Touya read over his shoulder. "Ask… Souen… About… Mayumi…"
Reading her thoughts, Zero nodded. "She's the one who mentioned her."
"… Are you going to… Persuade the information from her?"
He didn't answer.
Zero had only met Mrs. Souen once before during a girl day that Touya was supposed to attend. The younger Souen had nearly broke Zero's hand at the approach of older Souen, the stench of alcohol on her breath. "What are you doing here?"
"Hanabusa insisted." The way she spat his name, Zero was sure she was still unhappy with her daughters engagement. In the same moment, her eyes trailed over Zero, darkening. He turned his head away, this time squeezing Souen's hand. "Are you and Akatsuki sharing a paramour, Ruuka?"
"Ew." Souen answered, tearing her hand away from Zero's. "Why does your mind always go to the gutter, mother?"
"Living with your father." She tried to joke. She leaned in to Souen's side, trying to whisper. "He's a fine…"
"Mani-pedi's?" Zero interrupted, much to Souen's approval. The older nodded as the two walked to the chairs, following them. There was no doubt she was looking at the real estate.
"I need you to distract her." Souen whispered.
"Nu-uh." He shook his head viciously. "Not happening."
"I can't take another evening of hearing Kain's name." Zero wasn't sure if that was due to the pressure or her missing her cousin. Zero glanced at the older woman who was currently chatting up a masseuse, the power clearly flowing through her.
"I'm scared." Zero whined.
"Of my mother?"
"Yes."
"Same." He made the mistake of meeting her big doe-eyes pleading with him. He ran a hand through his hair.
"So, how did a Hunter wind up playing house with my nephew?" Mrs. Souen asked as Zero resisted the temptation to run home.
"Long story short: Akatsuki taught him how to vampire."
"Ruuka, that is an incorrect sentence." The older scolded.
"It's the truth." Zero answered, quieter as humans approached. Neither of the Souen's bothered to lower their voice, even around humans.
"… I see. And, then what?"
"Obviously, they started falling in love, get married and planned to have millions of babies together." Souen cut in. Zero sunk in the chair, wondering why he was in the middle of this conversation.
"Ruuka, you know better than anyone that marriage is between two influential families – a woman and a man. Though…" She smiled kindly, setting Zero on edge as she rested a hand on his forearm. "There is room for… distraction."
"Ugh."
"Don't you 'ugh' me, missy. Honestly, I was all for Hanabusa and you to be together – discreetly."
"Mom…"
"What? It's not uncommon." She leaned into Zero. "You know, her father also has that propensity… But, at least he keeps his amusements on the down low."
"Unlucky for him." Souen slouched in her seat.
"Or, lucky for me and him." Mrs. Souen returned her attention to Zero. "But you… He'd have to lock in the attic."
"Akatsuki and Zero's relationship isn't like that." Souen defended.
"And, I'm telling you: it's natural for it to be that way." She sighed as Souen huffed, traveling up Zero's bicep. "You understand, don't you?"
Too clearly, he thought, eyeing her inching fingers.
"Welcome, welcome." Souen's mother wrapped her arms around Zero's bicep, resting her head on Zero's shoulder. Zero shoved his hands in his pockets as she led him to the parlor. Unlike Kain or Aidou's manor homes, the Souen's manor house was smaller yet, the furniture inside was older and held a musty scent. Zero sat down as she kicked her feet up, the wine bottles hindering her intelligence.
"I have –"
"Questions, I know." With one last inhale, she lifted herself. It was the moment her eyes met his, Zero knew that he was looking at an older Ruuka Souen. "Quid pro quo, yes?"
"What is it."
"You know." She poured him a blood wine once he assented. "Now, what is the question?"
"Mayumi."
"Mayumi…" She had a small smile on her face.
"Who was she?"
"Akatsuki's mother." Zero almost left. He knew that much.
"Surrogate, right?"
She shook her head. "No, Kitashi and she were in love."
"Huh?" He cleared his thoughts as she rested a hand on his knee. "But… He was with Mayoko…"
"Really…" She drank deeply. "You've been privy to the love lives of the family and yet, you haven't realized no one's happy with who they're with?"
"The Aidou's seem happy…"
"And look how much they've dealt with." Souen sighed. "It's still a pity my Ruuka didn't wind up with Akatsuki…"
"What's the big deal about her being with Aka… Kain."
"As much as I love my brother-in-law… Kain's blood is less diluted with human."
"But… The Kain's are obsessed with human–"
"Yes. Because they're not."
"… Are they on par with Shiki?"
"Shiki's? No, no."
"… I thought it was one human, aristocrat. Two humans, Level C."
"It takes a while for an aristocrat to become Level C. One by one, they lose a power until they become Level C but, it takes more than one human." She tapped his nose. Zero was unsure of how they had become so close.
"So… Who's Mayumi? A human or…"
"No, no. She was one of my sisters."
"… But, weren't there only the three sisters?"
"Four. Three married well, the other…" She righted herself. "Her sister's husband's… entertainment."
"Why did he marry Mayoko if he and Mayumi were engaged? She's of the right blood line…"
"Why do you think?"
Zero knew. "What happened to her?"
"Family rumor? Kitashi's ambitions rose to Mayoko's. He took the child after he found out Mayoko was barren and Mayumi ran, heartbroken."
"Then… Why would he –"
"It's a good thing you're a beautiful man." Zero stared, afraid of his interest in the woman. "No more questions?"
"S-L-U-T." Touya cheered once Zero returned home.
"Good morning to you, too." He greeted, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"Mm-hmm. Sure." She bounced towards him, leaning against the island. "So, what'd you trade it for?"
"I didn't trade it." Zero answered.
"Really? You smell like her."
"She started and then passed out."
"You got lucky."
"… I hate that double entendre."
"Whatever." He turned towards her, the cheesy grin on her face. "So, what'd you learn?"
"How many sisters were there?"
"Well, let's see…" She ticked off one finger. "Mayoko, obviously. Yua. And… Anzu?"
"… Anzu Aidou?" Touya nodded. "Really?"
"Hey, be nice."
"I am being nice." Still, his brow furrowed.
"What?"
"… Mayumi should be on that list."
Touya stared at him. "She's the illegitimate sister?"
"Illegitimate?"
"Long story short: she's the half-sister."
Zero exhaled and rested against the island. "How much infidelity is there?"
"When love and finance aren't together? Much."
"How do you know all this?"
Touya avoided his eye and tucked a strand behind her ear. "It… was part of my studies."
"Huh?"
"Mr. and Mrs. Touya thought it'd help us blend in with the others since we're borderline aristocrats." They were silent for a while, Zero's phone blowing up a convenient distraction. He answered.
"… And, she's a good woman! What… You know her issues and yet, you go and do her?" Souen's voice was loud for this early in the morning.
"Morning, Mama." Zero stated. "How's the honeymoon?"
"Interrupted." Aidou's voice rang, letting Zero know he was on speaker. "We're flying back today."
"Why?"
"Why do you think?" Souen snapped at him.
"I'm still confused." He turned his phone on speaker, the sudden vibrations bothering him.
"Because you did my mom!" Touya whistled. Souen's voice was higher. "Am I on speaker?"
"Am I?" Zero questioned, trying desperately to hide the wall of texts coming in. Touya's seemed to be doing the same.
"Regardless… And, what did you need to know, precisely?" Souen questioned.
"What did she tell you?" He knew he should stop counter blocking but, the temptation was too great.
"She told me it had to do with family secrets."
"Eh, close enough."
"It's even more disturbing bec—"
"Who was the one who put me in the middle chair because she didn't want a discussion of Kain being better than Aidou?" Zero interrupted. "I was the one getting felt up. She wasn't trying to crawl into your lap or put her ass in your face."
"Are you sayi—"
"It was a trade. And, before you go off on me, listen: I did not have relations with your mom."
Silence. He knew his recollection was weighing in on her decision. "How far?"
"Made it to the bedroom before she started into a wine slumber."
"Ugh… So, you were going to –"
"Quid pro quo."
"That… Makes it worse, somehow."
"Her idea, not mine."
"Hey," Touya interrupted, "anyone else getting spammed by Kain?"
"Yeah." Aidou answered. Zero nodded as Souen sighed. He was glad for the reprieve.
"We'll be back tomorrow morning. Kiryuu – this conversation is not over." She hung up on him.
"Should I purchase a coffin?" Touya asked, examining the memes Kain had sent her.
"Or two." The last message popped on the screen. Curiosity won over rationality.
I don't know if you even receive these. But, I miss you. I miss gossiping about the office staff and adding onto a joke I didn't even know was a joke. I miss holding you, brushing your hair out of your eyes. I miss your threats. And, I know I shouldn't. I know that you're with Ichijo now and, I'm with Shiki… Like I thought I wanted.
Zero pinched the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes shut. He didn't need the reminder, the stench of failure permeating him. How much longer until Ichijo kicked him to the curb? How long did he have to wait for Ichijo to introduce him formally to the Kurans? How much would he have to endure. It ate at him. He knew he could have stayed with Kain and made as much progress as he had in the two or three years he was with Ichijo. Abruptly, he stood. "I'm going to bed."
"Isn't it early?" Touya asked, covering a yawn.
"I've been up all day."
A/N: With Hana and Ruuka back, I can finally do a 'here's all the meetings Kain has with his family and friends' chapter. Though, I'm thinking something fun for the last chapter in my head.