A/N: Here is the third chapter of Breathe Me! Thank you to those who have replied to this story, I really REALLY appreciate it! Enjoy :)


Zero ripped her arm free of the man's hold and nearly fell back as she rushed in a twirl of skirts to get a glance at his face. Thankfully he stabilized her with another hand before releasing her but in her rush, her hood blew off her head and her braid whipped out as well, nearly whipping the man in her surprise.

He was tall with a strong muscular build, easily dominating her average frame. Outfitted in a high quality white tunic and black military coat, he cut an imposing figure beneath her violet gaze and she fell back a step more to put space between them as she took in the rest of him.

His black pants were well-tailored and perfectly pressed, running into rich red-brown leather boots that were accented with what was sure to be real gold metal works- the same gold metal works that acted as buttons on his coat.

Her eyes flickered to the crest ring on his forefinger- a golden rose.

It struck her as familiar, but she couldn't quite guess where she had seen it before.

"You have a beautiful voice…" He complimented and her eyes flashed to his face.

His lips were upturned slightly into a charming smirk, a dimple appearing in his cheek beside the wry grin.

Her eyes next locked on his own- they was something quite beautiful about them…

They were a warm chocolate-wine color and they seemed amused and never seemed to leave her face.

She felt herself flush as he scanned her up and down.

"Do I know you?" She asked, smoothing a hand down her skirts, her breathing harsh even to her own ears.

Damn this corset!

He stepped closer, "I don't think so… But I'd like to get to know you…"

She swallowed, "Zero."

He smirked once more, "Zero."

She took another step back but he grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her back, her chest colliding against his.

"Aren't you going to ask my name, Zero?"

She swallowed, "Should I?"

His smirk deepened, "Probably not- plausible deniability and all that."

In a flash she found her back against the ancient tree she had come to visit, her breath leaving her for a full moment as she felt him bend his neck to inhale her scent.

"I d-don't understand…"

What is he?

How hadn't she noticed them move?

He gently tapped his lips against her throat, kissing her collar gently before whispering in her ear.

"Sing for me, Zero."

"Wh-what?"

"Sing for me." He bid, "I will leave if you wish- but only if you let me listen to your voice once more as a parting gift."

"Someone is presumptuous," She snarked quietly and he chuckled, stepping back to gift her with a soft smile.

"Yes, but it hasn't failed me yet."

Who is he?

How can he look so perfect- so beautiful?

So inhu-no- he must be human. No vampire has set foot in these woods for almost ten years.

He must be human- maybe he was a foreign dignitary.

Yes- that had to be it, especially given his dress.

Zero pushed up off the tree and swallowed, spinning around so her back was to him.

Kaito had always teased her for being shy- and she was, who could blame her? She had only met a handful of people in her life, after all.

She wrung her hands as she searched her memory for a song she knew like the back of her hand.

She blew out a breath and was careful not to face him as she began, her face flushed with embarrassment.

"Waste away, I'm crawling blind. Followed by what I left inside, For you, just you. I'm caught in place, but I ignore what I can't erase…"

She flinched and stilled when his hand wrapped up her own, slinging her around to face him.

He pulled her close, placing his other hand on her waist.

She swallowed and began again.

"I will run and hide until memories fade away. and I will leave behind a love so strong…"

He hummed the tune to the song beneath his voice, his eyes falling closed as she sang- almost as if he took more pleasure in it than she did.

"Close my eyes, these voices stay. Haunting me, I can't escape. For you, just you- time will always wait, while I throw away what I can't replace…"

It was a sad song but it was one she had always loved when she found the book containing the lyrics as a child in their cottage.

She closed her eyes and fell into the music of it, not noticing the man begin to lead her around in a small dance as she sang.

"I will run and hide until memories fade away and I will leave behind a love so strong…"

Her eyes did not stray from his face- his perfect features taking pleasure in her voice even as she realized something was off about his features.

The words of the song seemed lost on him- seemed like they didn't matter.

Whereas she lost herself in the meaning of the lyrics, he seemed to barely take note of them- no, he was entranced not by the song- but by her.

"I will run and hide until memories fade away and I will leave behind a love so strong…"

Zero twirled when he released her and when he caught her she saw his eyes open to seep over her once more- to hover over each of her facial features.

She thought she saw some beautiful unknown emotion in his eyes- but it was as if he locked it away never to be seen again.

When she blinked the moment of beauty was gone and she closed her eyes as her voice took hold once more.

"I will run and hide and I will leave behind…"

A teardrop began to run down her cheek- then another.

"I will run and hide until memories fade away and I will leave behind a love so strong…"

Her breath stuttered for a moment- emotions she had never found outside of song flooding her and overcoming her in a wave.

"I will never find…"

She opened her eyes to feel his fingers brush away the tears that had slid down her cheeks.

He was looking down at her in what looked like pity and for some reason she couldn't bear it- not at all.

"Don't look at me like that!" She chided.

She withdrew from him and wiped her cheek with a hand, twirling away to grab her basket from the base of the tree.

"Look at you how, Zero?"

He spoke her name with an alluring purr and she swallowed tightly.

"You have nothing to pity me for," She sighed.

"I don't pity you- I pity the world when it loses your voice." He drawled, his arms wrapping around her to pull her back to face him.

His warm breath commanded her to look at him- but she couldn't- not when she suspected what he actually meant.

Not when she suspected what he actually was.

"Humans are such foolish short-lived creatures," He muttered, "Know that I will never forget you even after you're gone."

She stood still as a statue, her eyes downcast at her quivering hands.

Gripping the handle of the basket tight she looked up and he was gone.


A/N: As always, leave your quesitons/inquiries in the REVIEWs and I will reply as soon as I receive them! Please FOLLOW for more and (!) REVIEW (!) your opinions, impressions, critiques, etc... My questions for ya'll this chapter: How do you think Kaname sees Zero in this chapter? What do you think thus far? Let me know in the reviews! Thanks for reading! :)