Helloo~
I haven't mentioned this in the previous chapter but updates will be every week. :)
Hope you enjoy this chapter!~ *cheers in the background*
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"Zen!" She called. "Get up!" We need to get you home."
"Zen!" Shirayuki said again when he didn't respond.
Luckily for her, Zen groaned and tried to get on his feet.
"I knew you weren't feeling well." Shirayuki mumbled as she continued to help Zen.
After some time, the both of them were on their feet, and one of Zen's arms rested on Shirayuki's shoulders.
"Here we go…" Shirayuki half-whispered.
Thank God we're not that far away! She thought.
And so the both of them started to go back to the castle, but they also stumbled across the way. She could feel Zen slowly losing his energy as they walked through the snowy path. Suddenly, Shirayuki caught a glimpse of a person and hoped that whoever that was would help them. As Shirayuki and Zen approached slowly approached the person, Shirayuki began to see some features and recognized who it was immediately.
"Obi!" she shouted.
Obi must have had really good hearing because he heard Shirayuki immediately. He rushed towards her and was surprised to see Zen looking half-conscious.
"What on earth happened to him?!" Obi frowned, then looked at the red headed girl Zen was with.
"I don't know." Shirayuki whined.
"Well, we must take him to his room." Obi said, taking Zen from Shirayuki and carrying him.
She nodded, and followed Obi closely back to the castle. It seemed like forever before they finally reached the ground floor, but when they did, Obi instantly spotted Kiki and Mitsuhide.
"Kiki-san!" Shirayuki called. "Mitsuhide-san!"
"Good heavens! What happened to him?!" Mitsuhide narrowed his eyes at Zen.
"Fever. Can you please help us?" Shirayuki replied.
"O-oh! Uh sure, no problem." He said and proceeded to help Obi carry Zen.
The five of them made their way up the stairs and into Zen's bedroom, occasionally stopping to rest a while. When they finally reached their destination, they lay Zen down and caught their breaths.
Shirayuki bowed. "Thank you for your help!" She said before the rest of the four left.
She sucked in a breath, and steadily returned her gaze to the Prince of Clarines who was asleep on the bed.
"I guess I'll just watch over him.." She whispered to no one in particular.
Shirayuki sat on the chair facing the table where the tray and cup were still at, and stared at the window. Apparently it had stopped snowing, and the sun was softly shining again. When Shirayuki decided to check the time, it read around 5. She sighed, bringing her head down to her arms rested on the table as she watched Zen. Slowly, her vision blurred, and sleep overtook her.
After some time, Shirayuki rose from her sleep when she heard someone groaning not so far from her. She turned to the sound, and realized it was Zen. She observed her surroundings: The room was lit with a single dim light, the sky was dark, and the clock read around 6:15. She rubbed the sleepiness away from her eyes, and stood to check on Zen.
She hovered above him, noticing his cheeks were still flushed red. Shirayuki grew worried, and leaned in closer in order to touch Zen's forehead. She also sat on his bed, a little embarrassed. Zen felt the touch of someone's cool hands and groaned in reply. Although he kept his eyes shut out of tiredness, he could make out the delicate and soft features of a ladies hand.
"Kiki?" He muttered. "Is that you?"
Shirayuki just sat there, unsure of what to answer.
"N-No it can't be Kiki…" Zen frowned. "Her hands are not this soft…"
He was able to say before dozing off again.
Shirayuki blushed, and noticed a towel and a small bucket of water near the door. She hurriedly went to get it, assuming someone who knew about Zen's situation left it there. When she did get it, Shirayuki dabbed the white towel into the cold water, wrung it, and gently put it on Zen's forehead.
On the other hand, Zen, who was unaccustomed to the cold feeling, awoke again. Unlike before, his eyes opened immediately and grabbed the hand which had placed the towel on his forehead.
"So it's you, Shirayuki…" He mumbled.
Shirayuki's growing red hair reached the tips of Zen's face as he reached out to touch it.
"So beautiful…" She heard him say, his voice almost inaudible as he stroked it.
Shirayuki's face turned into the color of her hair, as her heart beat faster for the boy in front of her.
Zen chuckled. "Your face is turning into the color of your hair."
Shirayuki gasped. Th-Th-Th-That bastard! She thought, as Zen sat up.
He leaned in towards her, his eyes showing no hint of hesitation. Then, with a husky voice, he whispered:
"Why? Is it because of me?"
A cold chill ran down Shirayuki's spine as she pushed him down on his bed.
"Y-y-y-you should j-just rest!" She said, and covered him with a blanket.
"I'll get you medicine." Shirayuki continued before rushing out…although she did hear him say:
"It'd be nice if it was because of me.."
Even before she reached the door.
Shirayuki rushed to where Ryuu was in order to get medicine and water. Lucky for her, it wasn't that far away, and she had memorized the castle grounds by now. Shirayuki made her way back to Zen, and gasped when she saw Zen standing near the window with Kiki and Mitsuhide trying to get him back into his bed.
"Z-Zen!" Shirayuki exclaimed.
"Ohhhh! Hi Shirayuki!" Zen smiled almost too cheerfully.
Shirayuki looked at Mitsuhide. "Is he always like this when he gets sick?!"
"Nope. This is the second time." Mitsuhide replied.
"The first was when he was a kid." Kiki interrupted. "He started singing like an idiot! Now THAT was a sight to see!"
Shirayuki sighed, clearly defeated.
"Lets's just get him back to bed." She said.
A knock came to the room just as Kiki and Mitsuhide were about to help Zen back to his bed, and a guard entered.
"Excuse me, Miss Kiki and Mitsuhide, Izana-sama requests your presence. Please come with me." He said.
Kiki frowned, and motioned for Mitsuhide to follow the guard. And so, Shirayuki was left with Zen….again.
Since Zen was still standing, Shirayuki put the crushed herbs down first.
"Zen! Please get back to bed!" She pleaded.
It was pretty hard, but Shirayuki managed to convince Zen to go back. Zen had walked 3 steps towards her before tripping in an uneven part of the carpet that covered the floor of his room. Unfortunately for Shirayuki, Zen landed on top of her….again.
Shirayuki groaned, and mentally counted that this was the second time Zen fell on her the whole day. I'll make him pay for this later. She decided. However, her thoughts were interrupted by Zen trying to get up. Thank the Gods that he managed to get most his weight off her, and so she wasn't squished. Zen's nose brushed against Shirayuki's as Blue eyes met emerald green. It was over in a moment, but Zen gave Shirayuki a ghost of a kiss on the cheek, to which Shirayuki blushed for the nth time. Zen laughed, and Shirayuki pushed him over so that he fell next to her. She stood up, reaching a hand for Zen, and helped him to his bed.
"Stay there!" She said.
"Yes maam!" Zen saluted clumsily, but stayed put.
Shirayuki took the medicine made from the plants she had picked earlier this morning and dissolved it in water. She then handed it to Zen, who drank it and scrunched his face in disgust.
"Now rest." Shirayuki commanded, sat down next to Zen, and put the blanket over him.
Zen hummed a soft "Okaayy" and she sighed in relief.
Shirayuki checked the time again, and gasped when it read 7:30.
She quickly apologized to Zen, saying she had a few things to finish up…being an herbalist and all.
"Nooo don't leave me!" Zen whined.
"But I have to!" Shirayuki said in reply.
"Noooo…."
"I'll come back for you first thing in the morning."
"…..Hmph, fine."
Oh Thank God. Shirayuki thought before she tried to stand up. Zen stopped her however, before she could.
"wh-wha?" She started.
Shirayuki wasn't able to finish because in a second, Zen's lips were millimeters away from her own. She sucked in a breath, not knowing what was going to happen. Zen leaned in ever so slowly, and Shirayuki's eyes fluttered to a close. Just when she thought nothing was going to happen, Zen kissed her slowly.
Oh my goodness… Shirayuki thought.
Zen pulled away to catch the breath, and Shirayuki thought it was over. However, Zen kissed her again and this time his hand found its way into Shirayuki's hair.
"Hngg…" Shirayuki let out a sound, unsure if she was able to kiss back.
It seemed like a lifetime before Zen cut their kiss. When he did, Shirayuki looked confused.
To this, Zen chuckled and whispered "I love you." Into Shirayuki's ear.
Shirayuki wasn't sure if he heard him right.
"wh-wh-wh-what?" She stuttered.
"I saaidd," Zen smiled at her. "I love you Shirayuki."
Then, as if nothing happened, Zen yawned and immediately started snoring.
Shirayuki was sure her face was beet red, but she went back to her room more flustered than ever.
