Things We Used To Share

Kiryuu

Zero shot the Vampire, watching him turn to dust.

He turned to leave, mentally chucking another Vampire off the list.

His gun was cold and his eyes were colder. His jacket blew with the breeze, and he couldn't help but feel a storm coming.

But, then again, when wasn't he in some kind of pickle?

He laughed bitterly on the inside, turning  to watch the dust fly away as he turned to leave the alley.

The dark of the night didn't make it hard to see. He avoided a puddle as he crossed the street, dusting off his jacket before passing a lamp post.

He was close to his apartment.

...oh shit. He forgot.

He looked around, finding a grocery store.

__________

Zero locked the door behind him, kicking his shoes off beside another few pairs.

He walked into the kitchen, eyes meeting another pair of lavender.

"...I knew you didn't start dinner." Zero frowned, placing his jacket behind a table and setting the bags on the counter.

Ichiru held a tin of ice cream in his hand, giving Zero a shrug of his shoulders.

Zero glared at his younger brother before grabbing the tub of ice cream.

"Damnit, Zero..." Ichiru glared back.

"...You'll ruin your appetite." He said, washing his hands and going to unpack the bags. "Put this in the fridge." He said, placing juice cartons on the counter.

With a long groan, Ichiru obliged and got up. He opened the refrigerator, tossing the juice inside.

He looked to his older twin, frowning slightly.

"...another Vampire?" He asked, folding his arms.

Zero didn't answer, but Ichiru already knew.

"You've been killing a lot more lately." He said, watching his brother slice the salmon into small pieces.

"That's classified information." Zero said with a dark voice. "Non-hunters shouldn't stuff their noses where it doesn't belong."

Ichiru shrugged, rolling his eyes. "You're right." His voice dropped with sarcasm.

"Butter the pan." Zero ordered, not bothering to look at him.

It was strange when Ichiru suddenly appeared at his apartment door a few nights ago, after disappearing from the school for almost a year.

He refused to tell Zero where he was.

It was obvious he fled after the events of last year, he was good at disappearing, but where to?

Zero wasn't going to pry. Knowing Ichiru, he would just deflect the question. But it didn't stop him from wanting to know.

Ichiru went to get the pan from the cabinet. He paused, though, looking to the door.

Zero had already sensed it, the knife in his hand being set to the counter.

It was an odd aura, mixing with a Vampire.

Zero didn't think he'd make so many enemies, but he wasn't going to take any chances.

He grabbed his jacket and grabbed his gun, swiftly moving to the door. Ichiru stood behind him, eyes narrowed in thought.

"...who the hell..? And at this time, too." His younger brother mumbled.

There was a knock.

"ZERO!" Cried an overly happy voice.

They both grimaced.

"It's worse than a Vampire..." Ichiru said with an annoyed tone.

Zero sighed, going over to let in his adoptive father.

Beside him were two faces he recognized easily. Kaito and Yagari stood at the side of the four-eyed moron, neither of them particularly happy to be around him.

Cross stepped inside, sparkles around his face as he took his shoes shoes and neatly placed them to the side.

Zero's eyes twitched, realizing they wouldn't be leaving anytime soon.

"What the hell do you want?" Zero and Ichiru asked him.

Cross squealed, covering his mouth in joy. "You both said the same thing at the same time!"

Both twins glared at him.

"And now the same expression!" Cross said in awe.

"Cut to the chase so you can hurry up and leave." Ichiru turned the stove on.

"I came to check up on Zero, but Ichiru, it's good to see you're well." He said. This was going to take a whole day.

"We came to give you both important information." Kaito told them.

"What is it?"

Cross sighed, his cheery tone seemed to expire. "...As you know, Kaname will be in charge of the Vampires as Head Representative."

"So? He's not the leader of us, right?" Ichiru frowned.

"Well, he's agreed to discuss an initiative to sniff out more of the council's associates. We'll technically have a new Hunter List to act on." Cross explained, looking to Zero. "It is mandatory you are there, Zero."

Zero frowned at him. Not that he'd ever put his duties aside, but it's like he's being pulled away from his main focal point.

Especially with the chance of Hiro now dying.

He looked to Ichiru, who seemed to have everyone's attention. He and Kaito were the only ones who didn't know that they would be waiting for a chance to use the furnace in secret.

Zero knew he would strike if he found out he might not get the chance to be the one to kill Hiro.

"I know you are still after Kuran Hiro-" Cross began, facing Ichiru.

"I'm surprised he hasn't caused any chaos yet." Ichiru murmured. He looked to Zero.

"...does the rest of the association know about it?" Zero asked. "The curse?"

Cross shook his head. "No. And they mustn't find out. Yagari says he found more info, but nothing's changed."

Zero scowled, unbidden anger rising in his eyes. They hadn't told Ichiru much, or Kaito, but Cross knew what he meant.

Ichiru laughed. "How would they take it, I wonder. Would they immediately barge through the doors of the Kuran estate, demanding Hiro? Or would they erase all Purebloods on the spot? Knowing that the child of the most powerful family was planning on wiping away everyone?" He made a gesture for crazy.

"If they find out, there's a large chance the newfound treaty will dissolve. And there would be a war." Yagari's face is still, as if he's already pondered the outcome too many times to count.

The two twins grimaced.

The nuclear war that would arise if one side ever crossed the other would be a grievous one. Human lives would get drawn in the crossfire, killed or turned to become slaves.

The kettle whistled.

"...When is it?" Zero asked.

"This week." Kaito told them.

"Is it the best idea for Ichiru to attend?" Zero asked, receiving a glare from his brother.

"To be honest, neither of you should be going." Kaito said with a smirk. "You both seem have the worst history with Purebloods."

Cross sighed, scratching his head with a sorry look.

"Look, we've got a mission at hand. Enough with the hypotheticals." Yagari said, frowning at each of them.

"...let's get to work."