How much longer?

Zero paced the room angrily. The Hunter Association had done nothing to even attempt to look into the case. And it wasn't just about Saki.

He had a feeling. A hunch. The kidnapping was more than just a simple kidnapping. Saki was just in the middle of it, that was all. He couldn't really care about her. It was the fact that other people could get hurt.

Like Yuuki.

With another annoyed snarl, he turned on his heel, pacing again to the other end of the room. The agitated walking had no effect on soothing his nerves.

"You're awfully worked up," Kaien commented from his desk as he watched Zero march past him for the fifth time. "Something wrong?"

"It's been two weeks," Zero managed through gritted teeth. "Who are those people? Why hasn't the Association done anything?"

Kaien was silent, as his eyes followed Zero back and forth across the room.

"They've been calling for a new president," he commented. "After the current one did a lousy job of keeping the Association in place. And conspired with the vampires."

"Then elect a new one," Zero muttered under his breath. "Grab some old geezer, wrap him in a cloak and call him president. How hard can it be?"

"Not just any old geezer can become president." Kaien's ears were surprisingly sharp. "It is a big task-"

"So we're just going to leave those strangers to wander around and kidnap people?" Zero could barely believe his ears. "Why don't you become president?"

A sharp knock on the door interrupted Kaien and Zero's discussion.

"Kaien," a dark head poked through. "We're ready." Her crisp accentuated voice was cool as she surveyed the scene in front of her.

"Well, Zero, I should be leaving now," Kaien jumped up from his seat, waving at his foster son.

"Hold on," Zero made to stop Kaien. "Where are you going?"

"Going?" Kaien had a guilty look to his face. "Oh, nowhere in particular. Just an assignment."

"Just an assignment," Zero frowned at the light-haired hunter.

"Toodles, Zero-kun!" Kaien disappeared out of the room, waving madly. Something was definitely up.

~~~

Blood.

Thirsty.

Hungry.

Die.

The words floated in my mind, as I lay there, floating in and out of consciousness. The room was so dark, I didn't know if I was awake or asleep.

All I knew was my thirst.

Voices.

They're getting louder. It was almost like a fight. It almost sounded like metal on metal.

Light burst in, filling my vision with its golden glow.

Footsteps came pattering in, and voices called out.

Who are they?

Was I dead?

Red was the last thing I saw.

~~~

"Detain her, quickly!" Kaien fired out orders rapidly. "We don't have much time."

Eyes glowed red in the dim lighting as the blood-crazed vampire struggled against the hunters holding onto her.

"She's too desperate," one of the hunters called. "We have to knock her out."

"There's no other way?" Kaien was momentarily mortified. "Can't we-"

"I'll do it if you can't," another voice snapped. The man raised the hilt of his sword. One swift blow and Saki lay sprawled on the ground, still breathing heavily.

"That wasn't necessary, Akiya," Kaien glared at the other man. "We could have done that without hurting her."

"We're wasting time here," Akiya growled. Picking up Saki's limp body, he strode out of the doorway. "We're leaving."

"And who was in charge of the assignment?" Kaien muttered under his breath, but followed Akiya anyway. "Let's go."

~~~

One hectic mission, Kaien sighed against the steering wheel. Finding the base where Saki had been kept was hard enough, but breaking in was a whole new thing. He was a hunter, not a trained ninja.

"Stuff you, Akiya," Kaien muttered quietly, his fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly. How hard had he hit that girl? Even though she was a vampire, she was weak.

He glanced at the motionless girl sitting in the seat beside him. Her hands were bound, and so were her feet, in the case she woke up and attacked someone.

It didn't look like she would wake up soon though.

He and the other hunters had found her underground, right beneath the house of a vampire aristocrat. Why there had been any base there to kidnap a vampire was beyond Kaien, but he had a feeling that it bordered something along the line of treason.

The small number of guards and vampires at the base had been useless in terms of information. Kaien could only assume that they were servants to the aristocrat who owned the house above, or were a secret group.

Saki stirred slightly, and Kaien immediately glanced at her, hoping she was waking up.

Nothing.

~~~

Zero scowled at the clock that ticked teasingly on the wall, annoying him with every 'tick' it made by the second.

"Zero?" A crisp voice broke the silence as a head popped through the door, peering at Zero seated at Kaien's desk. "Kaien wants to see you." She made no comment about Zero's seating, but her ice blue eyes narrowed in disapproval. Zero ignored it. He'd been disapproved his whole life, it would be stranger if he were approved.

"Where is he?" Zero got up from Kaien's comfortable leather chair. "Why can't he come up here?"

"He's in the infirmary," the woman opened the door fully, standing in the wooden frame. "There is a...visitor." Her voice hesitated, the sharp and crisp accent lowering slightly.

"Ok," Zero gave a shrug, marching out the door, past the blue-eyed woman. "Thanks."

"You're here, Zero," Kaien greeted the tall hunter. "I sent Adriana to get you a while ago."

"Did you now?" Zero replied disinterestedly. "What do you want?"

"I really don't know what's gotten into you right now," Kaien folded his arms, staring at Zero. "But if it makes you feel better, we found Saki."

"Saki?" Zero repeated. "Where was she? Is she dead?"

"So pessimistic," Kaien sighed, a pout forming on his face. "No, she is not dead, but very much alive. Weak, but alive. Do you want to see her?" Kaien gestured to the door next to him.

"Why should I?" Zero glared at Kaien, making to move away. "She's none of my business."

"Yes, she is," Kaien replied swiftly, grabbing Zero's arm. "After you did a lousy job of bringing her back. In the end, it was all up to me." Kaien let out a long exaggerated sigh, continuing to drag Zero to the door.

"At least get her to eat something, won't you?"

Stuck in the infirmary, Zero glanced over at the motionless figure lying on the bed. Crisp white sheets lay wrinkled on top of her, evidence of a struggle. A jar of blood tablets sat on the table, the lid unscrewed and lying on the table.

Stifling a sigh, Zero marched towards the bed, wondering why Kaien would want him of all people, to visit Saki.

You look like him.

Your eyes are the exact same shade.

Your being is composed of him.

You killed him.

You ate him.

Zero stopped, his breathing coming out heavier as he stared down at Saki's face. The voice echoed around, taunting him, jibing him.

Mocking him.

A wave of emotion washed over him, and Zero fell to his knees with a strangled hiss. Screwing his eyes shut, he could do nothing except stare at darkness, and listen to that voice.

Dying.

Monster.

Kill.

Rejected.

Ignored.

Forgotten.

Never forgiven.

Zero clenched his jaw, hating Kaien for making him come in here. It didn't help, that every time he saw her, he could only remember her face when she realised what he had done. Killed her light. Ate her power.

He murdered his own twin.

He wanted it, Zero retorted silently. He told me to. He was already dying. It wasn't my fault.

The sharp intake of breath disrupted his mental battle. Looking up, Zero found Saki's brown eyes boring into his.

"Ichiru," her voice was barely above a whisper. Her eyes closed for a moment, and Zero saw one tear leak out from the closed eyelid.

Should he break it to her?

Tell her that her boyfriend hadn't come back to life?

Or let her live a lie?

Then die in the truth.

"No," he heard Saki whisper, as if to herself. "He's dead."

Part of him felt relief when she said that, but the other part felt guilt.

"Are you hungry?" It was a strangely awkward question to ask, but when Zero finally took a closer look at her, she was skinny. Not slender, but rather, that she had been starved.

"No." Her reply was abrupt.

Zero raised an inquiring eyebrow.

"One tablet won't kill you," he reached for the jar of pills. "Just eat one at least."

"No," Saki turned away from him, a lot like a child turning away from their parents when they sulked.

"Now you're just being unreasonable," Zero tried to reach over her and force a pill in her mouth. "Kaien said you had to eat." He tried unsuccessfully to shove a pill in her mouth.

"Go away," Saki ducked under his hand, pulling the sheets over her head. "Leave me alone."

"You look like you haven't eaten for weeks," Zero's tone was incredulous. "Are you trying to diet?"

There was no reply from under the sheets. Zero sighed, glaring at the shape of the insolent girl that hid under the sheets.

"Do as you will," he muttered in resignation. A thought came to his mind. "What did they do to you, when you were...kidnapped?"

Still no reply.

"There's no one else in the room, you know," he informed the pile of sheets next to him. "You can tell me."

What if she doesn't want to?

The voice cackled at his assumption.

"They locked me in a room," Saki's voice was muffled. The sheets next to him shook and twisted as Saki curled up. "They had a jar of blood tablets that they wanted me to take."

"Blood tablets?" Zero repeated. "What was wrong with those?"

"Something was off," Saki's voice trembled. "I wanted to eat them, but I couldn't. I didn't know what they were."

"You were worried they would be tainted," Zero concluded.

The sheet bobbed as Saki nodded.

"Well, I can assure you these ones aren't tainted," Zero rested his elbows on the bed, kneeling on the floor. "How about you have one then?"

"No."

Stubborn as ever, Zero sighed quietly. Not for the first time, he wondered how his twin had even fallen in love with her.

~~~~

A nice long chapter for you wonderful people! After I've slacked off on the writing =.=" But Wattpad kept lagging and pausing, so it wasn't entirely my fault (even though I was the one that rage quit XD). And it was an interesting chapter *pats myself on the shoulder* at least...I think. So, what do you peeps think is going to happen next? I hope you enjoyed that chapter :) Although I think it was a little fast-paced. What do you guys think?
Don't forget to vote and comment. Thanks for reading!!

~Evil_Incubator