A/N: Thank you for the kind reviews/faves/alerts! I'm so glad everyone is enjoying this fluff fic. My muse is getting busy again, so I can finally update! Enjoy! ^_^ See chapter one for full disclaimers/summaries/warnings.

The week came and passed. Conferences, interviews and public appearances began to slot themselves into Zero's precious schedule. He found that it wasn't all as bad once the first half-dozen or so were through. With each new appearance, he'd worked to check his temper and project a confident air towards the 'independence' that the pureblood had worked so hard to propose.

Kaname held his own quite nicely and Zero found himself falling into something vaguely like friendship as their necessary closeness demanded some shows of civility. They'd had their own chatterings and arguings, but remarkably, neither had gone for the jugular and Kaname's private study remained intact.

The Kuran Manor became the unofficial headquarters for their little scheme as Zero still bunked at Cross Academy in the Chairman's spare bedrooms and Kaname was often traveling too much to have anywhere of real importance to stay. It was now becoming quite the common sight for Kaname to step out of his limo, exhausted, weary and craving blood tablets like candy when the familiar sound of Zero's approaching motorcycle would bring a smile to his face.

Kaname would hurry indoors and dispatch Seiren for the necessary tablets and a fresh change of clothes, before heading straight up to the showers for fifteen minutes of luxury. By the time he'd set foot in the study, Zero would already be there, pouring a glass of milk from the pitcher and balancing a sandwich-filled plate on his knees. The ex-human would look just as tired as Kaname, but the moment the pureblood would step into the room, Zero's expression would lift and brighten just the slightest.

"Long day?" Kaname inquired, seating himself across the table and surveying the selection of sandwiches.

"Try the cream cheese ones, they're good." Zero chewed happily. "You have one good cook. I think this is a new recipe ."

"I shall be sure to send him your compliments." Kaname half-smiled. Zero was dressed in his work clothes and looking distinctly worse for the wear. From what Kaname could tell, it looked as if Zero had fallen into water and simply rode his bike to dry off. He knew better, of course, and wondered how bad of a mission it had been.

As if sensing the pureblood's gaze on him, Zero scowled. "I'm fine. Quit staring. Just a lucky slip, that's all."

"Never." Kaname said automatically, before he could stop himself.

Zero blinked, sitting up straight. "What?" There was the faintest tremor in his voice. It was almost a warning. They'd been doing so good, so far, managing to dance around the really important conversations and avoiding the topics that neither were ready to tackle. Kaname's shift in that direction had tugged at their fragile truce.

Kaname swallowed. "I am sure there is a trick to it." His voice was calm and even. "I cannot stop staring, until I have discovered your…secrete. There is no physically logical way to fit a sandwich of that size in your mouth."

Zero blinked again, considering the words, deciphering them into smaller parcels before he smirked. "Jealous of a bigmouth, Kuran? It doesn't suit you."

Kaname found himself smiling along. He also silently promised himself that he would never stop staring. Zero Kiryu was far too fascinating a subject to let alone in peace.

"Well that just takes the-!" Zero stomped into the study and slammed the door behind him.

Kaname stopped short of plowing into the closed door and opened it with a resigned sigh. "I did warn you that it would be brutal." He said, mildly. "The Council isn't happy with our little game and of course the Association wouldn't sit silently either."

Zero swore, whirling around with a punch aimed at Kaname's jaw.

The pureblood's eyes grew wide and he dodged, darting away, quickly. "Kiryu?" The lavender eyes had begun to darken. "Zero?"

Zero stared at him, the crouched posture and worry showing plainly on the pureblood's face. The anger and fight drained out of him. His clenched fists slowly uncurled and he stomped towards the stuffed armchairs, dropping heavily into his usual seat. "Stupid, nosy, ignorant-!" He fumed and was off again on another tirade.

Kaname gave him space and time, excusing himself to the door to request the usual set of sandwiches, this time with some finger food for appetizers. Perhaps this time he might convince Zero to stay to dinner and somehow eating with his hands, seemed to calm the hunter down.

Sure enough, the moment that the food appeared, Zero's control appeared within seconds. He sulked, somewhat, but dug into the sandwiches and pigs-in-a-blanket fingerfood. It seemed to soothe whatever rawness had appeared and after a moment, he spoke again. "That was a stupid question." He finally snapped.

"I agree." Kaname said, smoothly. "Perhaps we should settle on an answer agreeable to us both and recite it in the future."

Zero snorted. "If any of them have an ounce of self-preservation, they won't ask again!"

"If they have something more important on the line, they'll ask it and worse." Kaname sighed.

"As if I'd marry you for your money!" Zero burst out. "I'm more than capable of supporting myself. More. Than. Capable!" He bit off each word. "I don't need your money! Your cook, maybe, your money, no! Heavens, no!"

Kaname blinked. That was what Zero was upset about? He'd had this all wrong…

"And looks—for—I'm not—you're not, we're not-" Zero stammered. "I like girls. Pretty girls. Girls are pretty." He leapt to his feet, stashing the plate and glass on the coffee table as he took up pacing the length of the room. "I'm not interested in, they're just, they-!"

"For what it's worth, Zero." Kaname chose his words carefully. "And yes, I do agree, girls are quite—pretty." He hesitated. "I am glad at least, it is you and no one else."

"What?" Zero stared at him.

"You're not that bad to look at." Kaname turned away, sensing Seiren's approach. "You're rather easy on the eyes."

For the remainder of Zero's visit, he refused to meet the ex-human's eyes.

If Zero happened to sport a somewhat attractive blush for several minutes, no one mentioned it.

~*~*~Thanks for reading!~*~*~