Chapter 7: Sleeping in the spring


Zero halted on the bridge he had ran onto, his hands curled around the railing after he had recovered from the cramp he was getting while being chased. The crescent moon in the river reflected vividly behind his own reflection. His breathing was erratic and sweat was glazing his flawless skin. He had run away from the shop and he had lose them. Yuuki had probably gave up on tailing him. A two hours chase was a bit beyond of the girl's capability.

Zero huffed. What he had been thinking back in the ramen shop was outrageous. Kaname was a male vampire just like him. To believe that he would be sexually attracted to the other, his mind must have been in a muddle!

He breathed in deeply. These past weeks, he had been bombarded with changes. His behavior, his lifestyle… they were all not his own. He looked down at his reflection, trying to find his old self in it. Why couldn't he grow up in an ideal world where he could be happy?

Zero released the railings and looked at the sky. "What I need is", he said quietly and the coldness returned to his body unexpectedly. The young hunter choked in surprise when cold air brazen his lungs. No, that wasn't it. The air he breathed in was turned into cold and dry air. Zero shivered and hugged himself tightly.

"Warmth, I n…need warmth", he couldn't stand anymore that he simply lied down, curling like a ball to gather heat. Would there be anyone out there who would be kind enough to give him the heat he need? He could die, he would die if this chilliness continued to pierce through his flesh. Slowly but surely.

In the distance, he could hear his name being called. So near and yet so far. He was losing consciousness. Deep in his mind, only one thought remained focus. He moved his lips to utter the incantation. Softly but clearly. He just needed one thing and if he couldn't find her , he would live on this world no longer.

He felt a hand resting on his forehead. It was warm but Zero was still enwrapped by the coldness that soon, he entered into a stupor. All the while, his lips kept on repeating the same incantation. He knew he would never stop chanting it.


Kaname ran towards the bridge with a whining Aidou moving not too far behind. The pureblood had sent Yuuki home and promised her to bring Zero back. Whatever jealousy he was feeling, he would deal with it after he returned to the academy ground. There on the bridge, the hunter was already on the floor boards, his consciousness slipping away by the seconds.

Zero was shivering, his neck strenuous and his eyes becoming out of focus. Kaname remembered the time he had saved Zero from the hunting ground of the vampires, the peaceful pond of deception. He had seen the hunter having similar symptoms, shivering in a mild temperature day as if winter has knocked on the season's door.

The pureblood rested his hand on the hunter's forehead. The hunter was a block of ice. He removed his hand and tugged his coat off from his top, covering Zero with it and lifting the hunter off the ground. Even Aidou who had been watching in silence felt worry for the hunter. This symptom was one that he had never seen before. Even his ice could only froze a person and immobilized him but never stole the warmth needed to keep him alive.

"S, Snow queen", Kaname heard the boy whispered.

"My… My snow queen", Zero repeated. The pureblood did not miss the word. The snow queen was after all the name of the hunter's charm he was researching into. Zero kept muttering the same words like a prayer, never ending like the winter he was experiencing deep within. The pureblood made haste to the academy and headed to the only direction he knew off. The act of healing could only be done by a doctor and he reached the door just in time to see the doctor going out for his break.

"I apologize for disturbing you", said Kaname, "but your service is required".

"Not at all, Kuran-sama", the doctor showed Kaname the way into his medical room. Kaname set Zero down on the treatment table softly. The doctor put on his stethoscope and pressed the cup against the hunter's back underneath his shirt.

"His heart beat is fading away", the doctor mumbled. He took the thermometer and checked the temperature. His eyes widened at the impossible reading and cast a worried glance at the hunter.

"Kuran-sama, may I ask that this boy be put in the ICU immediately? He is in a critical state. He should be move to the hospital with better facility than the ones in this school".

"I'm afraid that the one you should ask the permission from is his guardian but to inform them will make the situation more difficult".

"Forgive me, Kuran-sama but this boy is in danger of developing frostbite. I have to put him in the ICU immediately and supervise his condition all the time. My job as a doctor is to save life. I have recited my oath when I took this path".

Would there be no other way around this situation? Zero's symptom could be mistaken as a product of Hanabusa's attempt of assault. Kaname respected the people around him and eventhough the noble was mostly an annoying ball of energy, he was loyal at carrying out the pureblood's order. To send out for the hunter's guardians would only create a measly misunderstanding.

"If I am not mistaken", he mumbled softly, taking off the remaining clothes covering his top, "this method had worked before". He grabbed the hunter's hand, gently pulling him up and wrapped his arms around Zero. Aidou was left speechless as well as the doctor at his abrupt decision to lend his warmth to the hunter. Zero's strained muscle relaxed while in his embrace and his heartbeat slowly returned to normal. The shivering slowly went away and after quite sometimes, the hunter's breathing was no longer shallow as it was before.

"I have calmed him down. Calling the guardians will be unnecessary".

The doctor who had been stalling for a while now nodded and grabbed his pen. "This is an odd disease. From what I have collected, your action has somehow returned the warmth back into his body".

"He had been muttering of the word that I had been curious about. I will have to interrogate Kiryuu-kun afterwards when he is feeling better".

"I find this disease worthy of my attention. May I carry out a regular check up on this young hunter?" asked the doctor.

"I have said it before. Such decision is not mine to make. I would prefer if this event is kept only in between the three of us", Kaname sternly replied.

"As you wish, Kuran-sama", the doctor replied in a respectful manner. The prince's orders were absolute. He was a keen follower of Kaname and thus, he would not destroy his reputation in the academy just because he was curious. Although, if he was given the chance, he would gladly observe the hunter. The doctor however knew he wasn't alone biting at his own curiosity. There was another 'cat' who was sniffing eagerly at the road of knowledge. Aidou Hanabusa had the glint in his eyes that only the people who had walked the path of knowledge would know. Maybe he could use this noble's curiosity to his advantage.

Kaname was on the other hand battling with the hunter who was griping on his hands. There was no sign that Zero would let go of him soon. He froze when the hunter nuzzled closely. Such contacts was giving him unknown goose bump he found had no appeal of pleasure.

"Kiryuu-kun, you must let go of me", the pureblood said. Zero was in his comfort zone that he had dozed off on Kaname's stomach.

"He's like a cat. I should tell him about this moment later. Now I have a blackmail material to make sure he would not bark at me anymore".

"You will never speak of this to anyone, Hanabusa", Kaname said glaringly. If words got out, both he and the hunter would see a road to infinite shame.

"It seems like he would never let go of Kuran-sama. You can have this place until he wakes up. I'm sure he will come around soon enough", the doctor bowed and left the room.

"Hanabusa", he called to the noble.

"Yes, Kuran-sama?"

"Guard the door and don't let anyone come into this room. I will have your head and nothing else if you fail me".

Aidou gulped. "I will not fail you, Kuran-sama".