A/N: Meant to get this up yesterday but, I also forgot about the week from hell (month end) that I endure each month. So, this'll probably be a shyte chapter just because I am overtired and overheated (seriously – it's 11 PM and the temperature's still 25 Celcius).
Zero shut the door behind him, tearing off his shoes and shoving his feet into his slippers. Finally home, his mind returned to the suitcase and a concerned Wakaba. The concern grew with each of Kain's grunts instead of words. Zero had asked for updates as the taller of them landed on the couch, covering either his temples. At least, Zero would say temples. Wakaba leaned forward, her brown eyes wider. "Is he okay?"
Zero shook his head adamantly. "Not in the slightest."
"Right, stupid question." Again, that wave of concern. "Is there anything I should be weary of?"
"Hide the booze, for starts. If you've got pain killers, hide those, too."
"I only did that once." Kain muttered, crossing his arms over his chest like a sullen teenager. With his protruding bottom lip, Zero could see the relation to the Aidou's.
"Feeling better?" Zero asked, almost cheerfully.
"Ugh." Zero scowled as his former roommate fell to his side.
"I'm going with… No." Wakaba answered.
"How's Rima?" Zero tried, knowing it perked the aristocrats attention.
"She's okay. Miffed about everything but, that's our girl."
"Mom and dad?"
"Arguing nonstop."
"And, yourself?"
"I'm okay. You?"
Zero shrugged. "… This week was like a holiday so, I guess I'm fine."
"Are you, though?"
"Yeah." He lifted himself out of the chair, drawing his walls back up. If he started now, he could fortify them before he'd be expected to meet with Ichijou. With one last glance at the couch where the occupant now lay, his arm over his eyes, Zero left for his own shared apartment.
"I'm home." He now shouted, letting his voice carry. Touya emerged from his bedroom. He lifted an eyebrow impressively high as she seated herself on the bar stool.
"How was the Hunt?"
"What were you doing in my room?" Zero countered, approaching the blonde. She tilted her head.
"My bathrooms cluttered so, I used yours."
"It never occurred to you to, you know, declutter?"
"No." He pinched the bridge of his nose, pouring himself a blood water. When he lifted his head, he noticed her nearly imperceptible shake of the head. "What now?"
"How was the Hunt?" She asked again, her eyes shooting to the bedroom door. Zero set his bottle down, not even taking one sip.
"… Did you and Sayori screw in my room?"
"What? No!" She scoffed. "Like we'd even go in your stale ass room."
"… Yet, you used my bathroom?"
"Yeah. You have better hair products."
Zero's jaw clenched. Again, Touya's gaze flittered back to his room, the small imprint of her teeth now on her bottom lip. Catching her eye, he lifted his shirt to reveal Bloody Rose and jerked his head toward the room. This time, she shook her head aggressively. Deciding that it was probably someone she'd have to kill him over, Zero pulled the gun out, stalking his way to the closed door. He outstretched his hand towards the knob when the door swung back violently. It was as if a huge cloud of smoke or dust had protruded his vision. Once it cleared, he found Ichijou's perfect blue eyes meeting his.
"Did you miss me?" He asked in that cheery voice. Zero heard the threat. How dare you not tell me. Ichijou's attention returned to Touya. "Really, Rima? I thought you said he'd go directly to his room."
"He usually does – unless he wants a cigarette."
"I'd like one now." Zero answered, taking one from Touya.
"Don't you have your own?" Ichijou asked.
"Packs empty."
"Well… Hurry up. We have a big night ahead of us."
A big night turned into two. Into three. Into so many that Zero had no clue how many. The first seemed better than the others. Then again, it might be because it was the first warning. The second had been the missing bloody clothes. The excuses ramped up until Zero was sure he had committed a felony three years ago which he was now being punished for.
On this unseasonably cold day, Zero could barely open his eye. The room permeated blood. His blood. The giant slashes over his body from when Ichijou used a knife confirmed it. He couldn't lift his head, the pain in his neck shooting upwards and creating a migraine so bad, he could see the white light at the end of a tunnel. He crashed down again, hissing as he tried to turn over. He was sure he had been in the same position for at least a day. Probably due to blood loss. His throat was dry to the point it hurt to breathe, his lips chapped and dried blood from the exhaustion. He tried to open his mouth, grimacing. Whatever Ichijou did, he had broken his rule about not hitting the face.
Still, Zero forced his muscles, keeping his head up long enough to pour water from the vase into his mouth. The liquid burned his throat, his body encouraging for more. Again, he collapsed.
When he woke up this time, the pain was the same but, the scars didn't make movement unbearable. He traipsed to the bathroom and sat on the tub floor, letting the water coat whatever bloody mess there still was. His muscles jerked to life, the pain almost excruciating. He licked some of the blood off, a good start to what his body demanded. It seemed that he had absorbed the water through osmosis, enough to think clearly. For the first time in a long time, Zero's normally neutral expression decomposed into subtle tears. What am I doing?
He turned off the tap, the thoughts shadowing him. I've done nothing. The best I've done is take a bunch of vampires to bed. I'm no where near where I need to be. I've wasted your sacrifice, Ichiru. I've gone and wasted it.
He raised his hand to his lips, biting down. The thoughts cleared, only to start again. This time, they focused on his forever young parents. Mom… Dad… I'm not the son you wanted. That's for fucking sure. I've let myself become a part of some vampire game. I'm a vampire…
He didn't realize he had thrown his hand against the tile, breaking the porcelain until the blood slid down his arm after he hid his face in his hands. It had been a similar reaction during the change. He could see his sixteen year old self in front of him, the same feelings bubbling to the surface. Self-hatred. Uselessness. Fear. He knew those emotions now. He lowered his head. I'm sorry I can't save you. He thought to his past self. I'm sorry that the only chance you'll have is after you're dead.
He had scoured the small dungeon, as he called it, for Bloody Rose to find her disregarded in a corner before he sat on the edge of the bed. One shot…. It'll hurt like hell. He rested the barrel against his head, waiting for the calm he felt. Unlike his first and the last time he tried this, people kept creeping into his mind. Kaito. Yagari. Cross. Yuuki. Those he expected, brushing them away. They'd, at the very least, understand. It was the new faces. Wakaba. Touya. He felt his heart break, realizing that Touya would be inconsolable and Wakaba… He strengthened his resolve. Aidou and Souen appeared. Aidou would try his best to remain stone faced. Souen would be screaming at him from the beyond. From behind them, he could barely make out the fiery head.
Kain… Zero could see the aristocrat, his expression grave. He wouldn't cry, wouldn't grieve. It would break him… Zero thought. He hadn't noticed he lowered Bloody Rose. Everyone would be polite about it… He'd probably be more of a risk than before…
Zero slid Bloody Rose back into her holster and mixed himself a blood water though, he knew it would only sustain himself for a few hours. He smeared the foundation Touya hid in Ichijou's bathroom on his face and neck, grimacing distastefully towards the open wounds. What, did he tear the skin from the bone after he cut? With a sigh, he wrapped his arms in bandages, not bothering with the gash on his abdomen or leg. Then, he started walking.
The dangerous part about having no direction is the feet will always know where they want to go. Zero didn't realize where he had wound up until Kain opened the door, dressed in, what Zero considered, his best clothes. Though the vampire would humbly suggest that jeans and a t-shirt weren't his best, they suited him more so than the dress clothes he had deemed more appropriate. His eyes widened upon seeing the Hunter.
"…Miss me already?" Kain joked, his voice hoarse.
"Had to check on my moody teen." Zero returned, resting against the doorframe. With the others gobsmacked expression, Zero gestured toward the apartment. "Can I come in?"
"Mm." Kain stepped aside. Zero hoped he didn't notice the limp as he brushed past. By the time he rested himself in one of the dining room chairs, Kain had poured and set a cup of tea in front of him.
"How's Sayori?" Zero questioned, his eyes closing more and more frequently.
"… Fine." Kain settled next to him, brushing the hair from his forehead. "You're really pale."
"Pot, kettle." The Hunter answered, bemused.
"… Ichijou's doing?"
"Mm." Zero rested his head on Kain's shoulder.
The other stood abruptly, irritating Zero's neck. "I should make something…"
"Kain…"
"I'm pretty sure we have –"
"Akatsuki." His name rang in the apartment. Slowly, the aristocrat turned to the other. Zero could see himself reflected in the others' eyes. Frail. Pale. If he had been a human, surely he'd have bled to death by now. Still, he kept his distance until Zero tried to stand. He rested his hand against his hip, the Hunter hissing and gritting his teeth as Kain tried to take his weight.
"What's he done to you?" Kain whispered, lifting Zero's shirt. The other overlapped his hand on Kain's, ignoring the pain shooting up his arm.
"Just hold me." Zero whimpered, burrowing his head in Kain's chest.
"… After you show me." Kain leaned him against the couch, cupping his cheek. Even then, Zero grimaced, hanging his head low to avoid the pleading iris. "Please."
"Why can't you just leave it be and do as I ask?" He asked, gripping Kain's arm with as much strength as he could muster. The blood seeped through the bandage. In one swift motion, Kain lifted his sleeve and his expression shifted from one of concern to horror. Zero shoved the sleeve down. Gingerly, he felt Kain's fingers under his chin, tilting his head upward. It had shifted again between anger and hurt.
"How long?"
"I don't want to discuss this." Zero answered.
"Tough." Kain asked again. "How. Long."
"…" With Zero's non-answer, Kain ran a hand through his hair, tugging on the roots.
"You're not going back, right?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"There's always a choice."
"But, to get to my end goal –"
"There are other ways, Kiryuu." Still, Kain supported Zero though, it was a little less gentle than the first time. Between each hiss, Kain's grip loosened.
"Name one." Zero asked once he was seated on Kain's bed. The room was to Kain's liking: sparse. Kain lay on the other side, easing Zero down with him.
"… One where you don't put up with this."
"So, no clue." Zero wrapped his good arm around Kain's waist, burrowing into his shoulder. Within minutes, he was out.
A/N: Hello lovelies! I hurt myself writing this. But, considering Zero's choices, it felt natural. Next chapter will be Kain's.