Disclaimer: Leave a message after the beep...BEEP!

Japanese to Know:

Doushita no - What's wrong?
Daijoubu - Are you ok/I'm ok
Sou ka - I see/Is that so
Juunishi - Zodiac (member) (literally "twelve animal(s)")
Haa-kun - Haru (Shigure calls Hatori "Haa-san" and Haru "Haa-kun". Funny, huh?)
Zabuton - Seat cushion

Chapter 10

Frozen

"Talk?" Akito repeated, stepping aside to allow Hokage in.

Nodding, the boy fumbled passed Akito and fell to the floor.

"Doushita no?" she gasped, closing the door and coming to his side. "Daijoubu?"

"Daijoubu," Hokage breathed, pushing Akito away. He sat and stared at her. "It's about New Year's."

"What about it?"

"I have a deal for you."

She smiled slyly. "Sou ka."

"I'll stay by your side and your side only…in exchange for Yuki-kun's freedom."

"Freedom?"

"You let him play with the others. Let him enjoy New Year's. And Kureno-san, if he so chooses."

Akito touched Hokage's cold face. "So cold. Perhaps I should warm you up."

Hokage scooted away. "Do we have a deal?"

"How long?"

"Eh?"

"How long do I get to keep you?"

The Wolf sighed and looked away. "All three days. If you so desire."

"My lovely Kiniiri, stay with me longer."

His cold eyes returned to her. "I will stay three days and not a second more!"

Akito became bitter. "Then we have no deal."

Hokage jumped to his feet and fisted his frozen hands. "Then you will never see me again!"

"Where will you go?" Akito laughed. "You cannot run from me."

"I'll go back to America! I'll spend all my money so I can't come back! I'll live a long life without you!"

Akito frowned.

"Does that mean we have a deal?"

"I suppose we do." She crossed to him and touched his face softly. "Seal it with a kiss?"

He batted her hand away. "Save your foolishness for New Year's." Before anything else could be done, he bolted out the door to once again face the harsh winter.

"Even if it's only a little, I'll free you. I'll pay you back, Yuki. I swear."

"We should go look for him," Ayame said, pausing in his pace.

"How long has it been?" Hatori inquired, looking to Tohru and Shigure.

Tohru looked at the clock. "I think he left a little before five o'clock."

"And it's ten now," Shigure sighed, staring at the door. He longed to see Hokage burst through, smiling as he once did. "Something must've happened to him."

Yuki slipped silently from the room unnoticed. He grabbed a jacket and pulled on a pair of boots. Carefully sliding open the window, he jumped out, shutting the opening before racing into the dark. The Rat stopped and looked around once out of the snowy woods.

"Where are you, Hokage?" he breathed, leaning on forward.

"Yuki?" Kyo said, coming upon the panting Juunishi.

The silver-haired boy looked up, straightening. "Kyo, what are you doing out here?"

"I was at Shishou's. What are you doing out here?"

"Looking for Hokage. He's been missing for nearly five hours. You haven't seen him by any chance, have you?"

The Cat shook his head. "You're the first person I've seen. Shishou said there's a storm coming and that most people are probably getting ready for a possible black-out."

Yuki nodded. "We have to find Hokage."

"Why do I have to help?" Kyo hissed.

"Because you're out here and I can't do it alone. Just get over it," Yuki snapped. "Besides, Honda-san would be upset if we didn't at least try."

Kyo looked to the falling snow. "Where should we start?"

"I'll go by the Main House. You look around town. If you still can't find him, look in wooded areas; I'll join you after I make sure he's not hiding in the Estate."

The Cat nodded and jogged off. Yuki watched him disappear behind a curtain of snow before going his own way. He hadn't gotten very far when he heard his name being carried on the wind. Stopping, he listened closer. Positive it was he that was being called, he raced towards the voice.

"Kyo!" he yelled, trying desperately to see beyond the thick wall of white.

"Yuki, hurry! He won't open his eyes!"

The Rat jogged a bit further before coming upon the pair. Kyo had taken off his jacket and wrapped it tightly about Hokage. The Cat was trying franticly to keep the snow from the Wolf, but to no avail. Yuki knelt on the other side and hooked Hokage's arm around his neck.

"Take the other side; we'll have to carry him," he ordered.

Kyo nodded and did the same. Together, they stood and moved as quickly as they could. The wind kicked up and howled in their ears, whipping snow into their faces. Still, they trudged on.

"Yuki-kun, Kyo-kun!" Shigure hollered, coming through the thick screen. Haru and Tohru came up behind the Dog.

"Tohru, hug me," Haru said.

The girl looked startled for a moment before realizing why. Nodding, she gripped him tightly. In a puff of smoke that was torn away by the wind, a large cow appeared. After scooping up his clothes, she held onto his neck. Yuki and Kyo helped Shigure put the frozen boy on Haru's back.

"We have to move quickly, Haa-kun!" Shigure panted.

The cow nodded and started off at a fast pace. Tohru clung to his neck and kept up as well as she was able. She put all her strength into not slowing them down. Yuki ran beside her.

"You're doing fine," he reassured, noticing her determined expression. "We're almost home." He pointed to the trees, smiling.

Tohru nodded, forcing back tears.

The five made quick pace through the forest. When they reached the house, Yuki ran in and called Hatori. The Dragon came out, helping Shigure carry Hokage in. The others filed in after. Ayame had a pot of boiling water and several blankets. Hatori laid the boy out on the floor, propping up his head with a zabuton. He took a blanket from Ayame and dried off Hokage's bare skin. As he started to remove the boy's soaked clothes, Tohru made herself busy in the kitchen.

"Ayame, Yuki, build a wall around Hokage, but do not cover him just yet," Hatori commanded, hurrying upstairs. The two brothers set to work quickly, making sure the stacks were sturdy.

Shigure paced nervously, waiting for an order. When Haru returned to normal, he changed and began to help Ayame and Yuki. Hatori came back down and placed cloth between Hokage's necklace and his body.

"Shigure, go get a futon," he breathed, wiping sweat from his brow.

The Dog hurried to the nearest closet and pulled out a cushion. Upon returning, he laid it on the floor and looked to Hatori expectantly.

"Grab that end," Hatori said, picking up the other end. When Shigure did, he moved towards Hokage and held the futon over the boy's body. "Set it down carefully." Slowly and in unison, the two lowered the bed onto the wall of blankets. "This should regulate his body temperature back to normal at a safe rate," he explained.

"Tori-san, what's the hot water for?" Ayame questioned, holding up the pot.

"Tea," the Dragon sighed, sitting.

Hearing this magic word, Tohru reentered, carrying a tray with six cups.

Hokage is now in safe hands. You can all breathe now.