Kagura stirred. Groggily, she began making sense of everything. "I'm sleeping on something slightly cold. . ." she thought. She blinked a bit and yawned. "Good morning," a familiar voice said sweetly. Kagura suddenly realized what she was sleeping on and bolted upright. "Z-Zero~!" she exclaimed in shock. Embarrassed to look into Zero's beautiful silver eyes, she looked down at her fists clenched together. "W-we're sharing a room?" she inquired softly. Zero smiled. "No, I just stayed with you last night because you were already sleeping in my arms", he replied, sitting up. Kagura blushed. "Th-thank you", she murmured. Zero took her soft face into his hands and directed her eyes his way. "I love you enough to sleep in the darkest, dreariest, and coldest cave in the world," he replied sincerely. Kagura smiled.
"Good morning, Utau!" Ichiru said cheerfully. Utau arose from beneath her covers, stretched, and yawned. Ichiru had walked into her room on his own terms, but she didn't mind. Utau smiled sweetly. "Good morning, Ichi-chan!" Ichiru smiled and walked over. "I brought you some breakfast in bed," he said, laying a tray over her lap. "You ate already?" she asked. Ichiru shook his head. "Nope," he answered. "I wanted to eat with you." Utau smiled and her eyes softened. "I'd like that too." With that, Ichiru climbed into bed next to her and beckoned his own tray in from outside. Utau watched in awe. "He's so intelligent," she thought admiringly.
Later in the morning all members of Hino had risen and greeted each other. Rushi, Daisuke, and Ichiru were sitting on the couch, watching TV while Rushi read a magazine. Kagura and Zero sat at a small table playing chess and observing the beauty of the autumn flowers. "Look Zero! It's a Tiger Lilly!" Kagura said happily. "I love those." He smiled at her. Suddenly, Chii and Saito came into view. Chii picked the Tiger Lilly and blew on it. The Tiger Lilly broke into little pieces and it floated right through the window and rebuilt itself again. Kagura caught it. She closed her eyes and inhaled its aroma. Saito smiled. "It's you're turn, Kagura," Zero pointed out. "Oh! Sorry!" Kagura said, snapping back to reality. "Hey Kagura," Zero said, as he observed her steal away his pawn. "Hmm?" "Let's take a walk through the garden after this." Kagura looked up and smiled happily. "I'd love to!" she exclaimed. "Let's go now! We can finish this game later." Zero nodded. With that, they were out the door.
The couple walked into a garden maze. The leaves were all different colors and the flowers were slowly retreating into a slumber. "I just love Autumn!" Kagura said happily. Zero's eyes softened and her smiled at her. "Me too," he replied. Kagura smiled widely. "That's great!" she exclaimed. The weather was also transitioning from warm to cool. A cool wind whipped itself up, scattering already fallen leaves on the ground. Kagura shivered in response. Zero looked at Kagura with a small look of pain. "Your jacket!" he thought to himself. Like usual, he was wearing his school uniform and unbuttoned the jacket that was a part of it. He draped it over Kagura's shoulders and had a soft smile on his face. Kagura blushed. "Thank you", she whispered. Zero smiled. "No trouble at all, I'd do anything for you, no matter how bad it is for me," he answered sincerely. Kagura looked at him. "Then-would you die for me?" she inquired. Zero shook his head. "Without you, I'd die," he answered. "What would be the point of dying when you and I can't even have the pleasure of being together." Kagura felt tears building up in her eyes. She quickly wiped them away. "But you know-," Zero began sadly, "when vampires die, they can neither go to Heaven or Hell. They must bear the pain of wandering around for eternity, their souls never entering true peace, no matter what spiritual world." Kagura's tears came back and ran down her face. She moved closer to Zero and hugged him tightly. "I want to change that rule, if I can't do that," she said between sobs. "Then turn me into a vampire so we can have a peaceful eternity of our own." She sniffled. Zero was taken aback at her statement. Her hugged her tightly with one arm and gently stroked her hair with the other. "I could never let you turn into one of us," he whispered. "The life I live is painful and filled with sin. I could never let you endure that. We're beasts and have all prey and no predators. Never. . ."
"Never say never", the 21 year old side said tauntingly. "Can't you smell her sweet VH blood, Zero?" "No", Zero responded. The 21 year old laughed. "Eventually, if you can't control me, then Kagura will disappear and you will become the true beast you are talking of now!" he exclaimed with pleasure. Zero glared. "Then I will protect her as long as I have my sanity!" he responded strongly. The 21 year old smirked. "We'll see how long you can last."