A/N: Behind Closed Doors Chapter: Ruuka and Hanabusa

Raining. It should have been raining. Hanabusa felt the tug on his heart as he turned his face away, watching as the words echoed in the air. He was glad they were blocking the doorway, sure that mob mentality would take over. Despite the constant inward fighting rising inside, Lady Yuuki's calm and concerned influence on him helped. It was better than the same every other noble had with the dawning of the new command hardening their expressions towards himself and Ruuka. His wife clung to him, her distress carefully untangling into something unreadable. He watched as she spun around, her voice confident and indifferent.

"Where's she going?" Kiryuu asked. Hanabusa returned to the situation unfolding.

"Saving face." Kiryuu scoffed. "What?"

"Just when I think that she cares about someone other than herself…"

"She does."

"How does that help?"

"Despite anything, Kain will need reputation and money. If he can't get it from vampires, she has to ease humans." Kiryuu grunted his understanding, his expression hardening. Hanabusa couldn't bring himself to look. "What's happening?"

The silence that followed reminded him of how selfish he could be. He opened his mouth to discuss something else. Kiryuu spoke instead. "Not much has changed. Kain's stopped drinking. Kaname left. He's still clutching onto Gonkuro. Looks more like he's in shock than anything else."

"You know, you don't –"

"Enmei's beside him, now. Trying to lift him up. His legs are shaky. He's dragging Gonkuro with him." He chuckled wryly. "Yuuki's trying to help. Enmei shoved her off."

Hanabusa growled. Kiryuu continued. "It seems he apologized. How can someone that tiny support both?"

"Enmei's strong. He beats me at arm wrestling."

"And, they're gone." He pried Hanabusa's fingers out of his shoulder. Realization hit him, the blood on his fingertips evident.

"Sorry." Kiryuu shrugged, pulling himself from the balcony doors and stalked off. Hanabusa allowed himself to take in the party, accepting a drink from one of the waiters. Shiki and Ichijou seemed unbothered by the situation. Hanabusa shook his head. You deserve better, Kiryuu.

The Hunter had joined Touya. The small, mean girl's expression fluctuated between sorrow and disgust. His attentions followed his wife, watching as she schmoozed with the last of Kain's clients. A slight smile crossed Hanabusa's face, somehow still amazed by how well she composed herself. She met his eye, the glint of anger still apparent. He lowered his head, turning the drink in his hand. The Hunter rejoined him. "Can I ask for a lift?"

Hanabusa swallowed his elation and relief, glad the monologue would be postponed. Artfully, he raised an eyebrow. "Isn't Ichijou driving you?"

"He's busy." No emotion, only fact. Over Kiryuu's shoulder, Hanabusa could see them more involved than previously.

"Course you can, then."

"And… I want to talk about it."

"About… What?"

"You don't seem surprised that…" Kiryuu jutted his chin towards the door.

"Don't mistake my morbid curiosity as expecting it." Lee, sure. Gonkuro? He forced a smile on his face. I'm an idiot. Here I am, worrying about myself… And I just made Kiryuu watch Akatsuki's discharge and banishment… "How are you holding up?"

Kiryuu shrugged, the smallest glimmer of something unrecognizable crossing his expression. "Not something I'd ever like to see again."

"Well, there's only one Gonkuro so… It probably won't."

Kiryuu shook his head. Did he mean Akatsuki drinking? Or the possible thoughts that crossed his mind? "… Yeah."

"How's Touya doing?"

"… Not okay. I'm staying with her."

"Afraid she'll move into Ichijou's?"

"More afraid of her doing something drastic." Hanabusa chuckled at the thought. "What?"

"Just remembering the Academy."

"You're all dicks, still." He glanced at the blonde, freezing at the sight. She seemed almost catatonic. "But, I'm more understanding of why now."

"I'll collect Ruuka. Think she's almost done talking with the sales representative."

"What I don't understand is why she spent most of the evening talking with Kain's employees."

"The first thing is to make sure they know nothing changed."

"Even if you're using compulsion?"

"Very little. Ruuka might be good at illusion but… No vampire is good at compulsion." He clapped Kiryuu's shoulder. "See you in twenty."

He strode across the room, effortlessly wrapping an arm around her waist and leaned into her side. He whispered in her ear, her annoyance dissipating into a blush. He bowed towards the Kuran's, meeting Lady Yuuki's eye with curiosity. He couldn't bring himself to meet Kaname's though, through gritted teeth, Ruuka expressed that her cousin deserved the punishment. It wasn't until they were in the car that she exploded. "What was that? He's never drank human blood and suddenly, he's the villain? And, what was with the intimidation tactic? What were they arguing about? Why did he deserve that?"

"He didn't."

"Then, why –"

"Ruuka." He placed a hand on her shoulder as her eyes brimmed with tears. "He didn't."

She studied him for a long time, the minutes stretching into forever. "What are you hiding from me?"

"Nothing of importance."

"We promised to share everything. What do you know?"

"… That Zero will be joining us."

"Oh, fu…" She clutched at her necklace. "We should have shielded him. Watching that as just… us, it was bad. I can't imagine…"

Hanabusa brushed the hair out of her face. Like a dog with a bone, she switched the conversation again. "You can't keep me in the dark, Hana."

"I'm not keeping you in anything."

"Then, explain what's going on."

"If I don't know what's going on, how can I explain it?"

"Don't use your –"

Kiryuu slid into the backseat. "Sorry I'm late."

"It's fine." Hanabusa forced a small smile, glad for the interruption.

Her expression softened, meeting Kiryuu's eyes in the rearview mirror. "How are you feeling?"

"Really tired of that question."

"… And Rima?"

"… She's broken."

"How can you tell?"

"Called her a bitch and all she'd do is nod. No witty comeback or, 'takes one to know one'. Nothing." He sunk in his seat.

"Rima didn't want to join?"

"Sayori's picking her up."

With that, Hanabusa started driving. "Maybe she'll help her calm down."

"That'd be the best outcome."

"Why do you sound doubtful?" Ruuka asked.

"Blood lust. She feels guilty and eats a lot."

"Rima's more controlled than that."

"Why do you sound uncertain?" Kiryuu mimicked.

"You put the idea in my head." Ruuka scolded, slouching. Hanabusa took her hand and pressed his lips to the back of it. They rode in silence, joining Kiryuu inside his shared apartment with Touya. The blonde sat on the couch next to an alive Wakaba, her blank expression on the television. Even from the entryway, Hanabusa could see she was shaking. Ruuka sat next to her, enveloping her in a comforting hug. The façade she had been holding onto fell, causing a chain reaction between the two girls. Wakaba rubbed her girlfriend's back.

Kiryuu was silent for a moment, filling a glass with tap water. "What's the plan, then?"

Hanabusa tilted his head as Ruuka reduced her spout of emotion to drying her eyes. "What do you mean what's the plan?"

Kiryuu lifted a finger. "He can't stay at Lee's. He's had a taste of blood and he'll be craving."

Another finger. "He can't go back to the manor right now. All those memories and being alone…"

Another finger. "He can't stay with you and Mama."

"No… He can't." Ruuka admitted bitterly.

Another finger. "He can't stay with Rima and me – she'll tear out his throat."

"I could move in with Sayori." Touya interjected, still trying to clear her face of moisture. "And he could stay with you."

"He can't."

"Why not?"

Hanabusa ruined the silence. "His Hunter instinct."

Kiryuu shrugged. Wakaba nodded. "Then, what do we do? Can't leave him alone and, apparently, no one here can stand being around him."

"I might have an idea." Hanabusa groaned inwardly as Kiryuu froze. The blonde turned to Lady Yuuki, his expression one of exasperation.

"No shoes, no jacket…" He pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Sorry, Aidou." She shot him a sheepish grin.

"What's the idea?" Wakaba asked, stopping the derailing.

"I did stop Kaname from outwardly killing him. So, I absolve him for feeding on a human. Although…" She stared at her feet. "It… doesn't change much."

"It changes everything." Ruuka smiled at her, the stress lifting from her shoulders.

"No. There are those that are only loyal to Kaname and… I shouldn't be undermining his commands…"

"Then, why are you?" Kiryuu questioned. Hanabusa stepped directly into Kiryuu's path, suddenly remembering his death threats.

"Because whatever's going on… Kain didn't deserve that."

"Have you been to see Akitty?" Touya asked.

Yuuki nodded. "I told him that'd I'd be doing this."

"Why'd Enmei push you out of the way?" Kiryuu interrogated.

"I was trying to help by lifting Gonkuro."

"Did he say anything to you?" Ruuka asked, the anger flaring up.

"Just that I'm a stupid Pureblood. He apologized afterwards." She corrected as the majority of the vampires' teeth clenched. "I mean… He just watched someone he considered his uncle drain his dad…"

Silence. Hanabusa clapped his hands. "Okay, so… Akatsuki can't stay with any of us otherwise, we put Lady Yuuki in jeopardy and, even though he's the best option, pretty sure Zero-kun will put an actual bullet in his head…"

"I'll let him stay with me." Wakaba perked up. All eyes fell on her, Touya gripping her hands. "I'll be fine."

"Yeah – Gonkuro thought so, too." Touya countered.

"Gonkuro got in between Kaname and Kain." Yuuki answered. "It was… Almost like he wanted Kain to feed on him."

Hanabusa was extremely aware of Kiryuu's raised eyebrows. Like he had recalled something. That didn't stop him from asking the question. "What if he feeds on you?"

"Then, I'll rip his head from his neck." Touya answered, almost sweetly.

"He won't." Wakaba replied, soothing her girlfriend's tensions.

"You're not doing this for free, are you?" Kiryuu asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"All I want is to know what Kaname's plan is. Right now, he seems a bit preoccupied with making Kain suffer. I want to know why."

"Connection to Kiryuu." Ruuka answered.

"Yes but, why. Their relationship has nothing to do with Lord Kaname." Hanabusa argued.

"Can I trust you to find out?" Her eyes were on Hanabusa but, the words sounded more for Kiryuu. Hanabusa nodded.

A/N: Love Hanabusa being secretly overdramatic. Kinda hate my queens being both upset and unable to have ANY information… But, that'll change soon enough. Kiryuu didn't do much this chapter but, next chapter… Ow.

Until next time, my lovelies!