There was a lot of blood; a dog whose body was cut in half; a girl with bruises and eye ball lying a few inches away from her face, where her left eye is nothing more than a black hole.

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Crisis 11

Dog & Girl Pt.1

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"Are you alright?" Zero asked, rushing towards the girl that was soundlessly lying on the floor before the corpse of a dog, which's blood tainted the pure milk-coloured carpet. "Yuuki, don't stand there, call the ambulance, hurry," Zero instructed.

Slightly overwhelmed by the scene she be held before her, Yuuki ran out the room, trying to press the numbers, 999, into her mobile, which from her shaking, proved difficult. After explaining the situation over the phone, she took deep breaths; inhale then exhale; inhale then exhale. Working up some courage, Yuuki slowly re-entered the room.

"Have you calmed down a little?" Zero said in a gentle voice.

She wanted to answer but couldn't; the stench of blood causing Yuuki to be nauseated, with a strong urge to throw up. Despite her strong personality, it was her first time dealing with such a morbid scene. In her mind she repeated the phrase, I am not scared, I am not scared, but deep down she was, if even a little. She felt as though she was going to cry.

Sensing her unease, Zero ran towards Yuuki and took her into his arms. "Everything's fine. Don't be scared. I'm here."

Yuuki's mind went blank, away from the sinister room, away from the corpse of the dog and the bruised girl. She could sense nothing more but Zero's warmth, his familiar scent and could hear nothing more than his voice, a voice so strong and powerful that it reassured her of everything. Her tears seemed to have evaporated; she was not going to cry this time round; all because this man was here with her. She gripped onto him in this heart-warming embrace, thinking she'd calm down but strangely, her heart began to beat faster, but not of fear or shock, rather in a way that Yuuki didn't recognise. What is this sudden feeling?

"Yuuki," Zero quietly said, "That girl is alive."

Yuuki pulled away from Zero exclaiming, "She's alive!"

Zero nodded. "Yuuki, please wait here, I'm going to ring a few staff to help us out."

Yuuki nodded in response, watching him leave the room.

What is that feeling? What did I just feel?

Xx X xX

"Kaien Cross!" Yagari shouted, "Give me the map this very instant."

Kaien turned to stare at his friend with puppy eyes, "but you promised I could navigate."

"Navigate." Yagari repeated. "Navigate? We're in the middle of the jungle because you shamefully got lost, because you couldn't read the map. Now hand it over!"

Seeing the killing aura float from Yagari, Kaien gave in and handed him the map. He whispered, "maybe you shouldn't do business in such a place to begin with."

"What about you?" Yagari questioned, annoyed at Kaien's attitude, "we're going to return soon after sorting out a few other stuff. Are you planning to take Yuuki back or…"

Kaien sighed, "after these few jobs, I'd be free of debt wouldn't I? I've successfully repaid all the money I owe the Kiryuu family."

"Don't twist the topic," Yagari said, "you're a sly and horrible father. First you give Yuuki to Zero as a guarantee and hostage, to buy you time and…"

"THAT WASN'T MY INTENTION," Kaien suddenly shouted. He stopped abruptly, looking away, "there is something I want to confirm. Besides something inside me tells me that Zero Kiryuu is the only one in this world who'd cherish my Yuuki."

Yagari started to read the map, "I see a confirmation."

Xx X xX

"Everything's going to be fine brother, you should rest, don't worry about it," Zero reassured Ichiru. He switched the lights off, for his sickly but slowly recovering brother; closing the doors, he made his way back to his room. As Zero placed his hand on the handle, he paused, suddenly seeing the flash-back to Yuuki's stricken face that same afternoon. He backed away from the door. "You'll need rest too, my princess," he whispered as he entered the room opposite.

Inside the room, Yuuki leaned against the door, paying close attention to the slightest sound made. She felt a jolt of uneasiness as she heard the door clicking in the opposite room. Unconsciously she opened her own door, her legs carrying her a few steps to the room opposite, where she knew Zero decided to stay for the night. She gently placed a hand on the door and slowly leaned on it, pressing her ear against the wood. It was so still and silent. You silly thing, Yuuki thought inaudibly to herself, aren't you the one that's the most tired, ever since that incident this afternoon. It's unbelievable that something like that could've ever happened here but… Yuuki smiled thinking; Zero, you're surprisingly very considerate and…

She pushed the handle down with care, opening the door, creeping in like a caterpillar. She stopped, kneeling down a few inches away from the silently sleeping Zero. Yuuki's gaze became transfixed upon him, finding pleasure in watching his every little movement… and the night went by unnoticed.

It was morning now; the sun weakly lighting up the room. Yuuki stirred, rolling from one side to the other. Something made her feel very uncomfortable, but she was very sleepy. She stopped rolling about as the sun shone on her eyes, waking her a little. She opened her eyes and had to close them quickly again as something soft, warm and wet swept across them. What the hell was that? Yuuki remained motionless, feeling whatever it was that made her feel uncomfortable. "NO WAY!" she screamed out loud, pushing what she knew was Zero away from her. Fully awake now, Yuuki took a good look at a smiling Zero before her, who she now glared at. "What were you doing? Why were you licking my face like a dog?"

"Because I was fascinated by your sleeping face, like you were with mine," Zero smirked.

Yuuki felt her skin get warmer from blushing, or embarrassment. "I-I don't know what you mean."

"You were staring at my sleeping face and then fell asleep next to me last night," Zero reminded her, "I'm happy, it's the first time you wanted to sleep with me."

Yuuki got up from the floor, "don't mistake a friends worry for something evil."

"Evil?"

"Yep, it's a crime like a murder…" Yuuki stopped talking and looked at Zero whose smile disappeared at the mention of murder. "How are things?"

Zero took a hold of Yuuki's hand, "I want an answer to what happened here yesterday afternoon. Yuuki will you investigate with me?"

Yuuki nodded, "I will but don't take advantage of the situation and hold my hands."

Zero ignored that comment, dragging her along with him. "I received a call from the hospital this morning. The girl is awake now; we can go and see her."

Yuuki followed behind Zero, her, that bruised girl.