His Only Princess: Chapter 5
Her condition worsened overnight. The nurses had bathed her soon after Zero was, more or less, forcibly removed from her room, redressing her in a soft cotton sleep set, taking her damp uniform to be cleaned. Her tangled hair had been brushed out, no longer resembling a bird's nest. Dr. Tsukishima had been in on a few occasions as the night progressed, checking her vitals and reviewing the reports ran by the nurses. Her fever spiked around midnight, sending them all in a flurry, trying to lower the raging heat storm within her. She had yet to awaken, but thankfully for her, breathing had seemed to become a little easier.
The next morning brought little change. A tad bit of color had returned to her, a lovely peach spreading along her cheeks and nose, and her eyes would flutter when something would touch her, but she still had a high fever.
Once visiting hours rolled around, Zero was the first to show up to see her, to no one's surprise. It was the weekend, so he no longer donned his normal attire, replacing his uniform with dark slacks, a white sweater and a long, white trench coat. His boots clicked softly against the tiled floor of the hospital room, and he took his spot from yesterday, right beside her bed. The first thing he noticed was that she wasn't as messy as she had been yesterday, and that that horrid smell had worn off tremendously, her rosy scent being the dominant one, now.
He had swallowed down half the container of the bitter tablets before leaving his apartment to help.
The curtains of the small window were drawn back, allowing the warm morning sunlight to stream in, casting a gentle gold light across her face. He watched her as she slept, breathing softly through her mouth, and cautiously allowed his fingers to inch closer to her hand. Once his fingertips brushed against her skin, she shifted, causing him to pull his hand back. Thoughts of Takamiya's scent being on her invaded his state of mind, and he begrudgingly wondered if she moved when he touched her.
"Whatever," he growled and crossed his arms, resolute in not coming into contact with her any longer. He was only there on obligation, anyways; that, plus, Chairman Cross was unbelievably swamped with paperwork, both for the school and Association. So, that left only him to really come and check up on her. Him, and that Naomi girl, but he hadn't seen her anywhere near here.
"Sayori-san, are you aw-oh. Hello, Kiryuu-san."
He thought too soon. Lifting his hand, he motioned the girl in with two fingers, not bothering to speak to her. He could hear her nervous heartbeat as she walked in, but it didn't seem to affect him whatsoever. He thought nothing of it, though. She entered his line of vision, oddly dressed in her school uniform, with a large bouquet of white roses in her hands. Placing them on Yori's bedside table, she nodded in approval before facing him and noticing him eyeing her attire curiously. A deep blush spread across her cheeks.
"I forgot to change last night. I was so worried about Sayori-san," she glanced down at Yori. "And I couldn't change this morning, either. Chairman Cross asked me early if I could bring this to her. It was delivered to the Academy for her this morning." He'd learned that he would always hear about things useless to him from this girl the second he actually met her, so he just nodded and lowered his chin to chest, signaling he no longer wished to be spoken to. "I'm just going to stay here for a little while."
"I wouldn't if I were you." Those were the first civil words Zero had spoken towards Naomi, but he didn't look at her. He took microscopic baby steps when dealing with someone new.
"Why not?" she sounded offended, and he could just picture the way her face looked at that moment. He uncrossed his arms and motioned to Yori.
"Supposedly, she's contagious," his gaze flickered up to her face. Baby steps. "You wouldn't want to end up in here like her, would you?"
Naomi stared at him, perplexed.
"But, you're staying here with her," she pointed out, her voice rising a little from her clear frustration with him. "If she's so contagious, then shouldn't you not be with her, either?" She was quite the perceptive one, much like Yori, but she did it in a way that made her seem like she knew it all. Which irked him to no end.
"I've been around her for two days, and nothing's wrong with me. I'm certain if I was going to get sick, I would've by now," he lied smoothly.
"I was in class with her, and I'm still perfectly healthy!" Naomi refused to back down, stomping her foot in defiance. By now, she was yelling. Yori moaned in discontent from her loud voice.
"I think it's best that you leave, Matsuki." Civil manners tossed to the side, Zero clutched his hand around the guard railing of Yori's bed, ready to keep Naomi away from her.
The brunette haired girl huffed, her feathers ruffled, and turned on her heel, stomping out of the room.
"Just because you're in love with her doesn't mean you can keep her all to yourself!" she yelled at him and slammed the door shut.
Naomi pressed her back against the wall, breathing heavily. He had pulled at her nerves to no end; he deserved to be yelled at! But then she thought through their short-lived conversation, and stifled a gasp when it registered with her what her last words were to him.
"Just because you're in love with her doesn't mean you can keep her all to yourself!"
Given, Yori had never spoken of whatever kind of relationship it was that was transpiring between her and Zero, and didn't ever bring it up, so Naomi thought little of it. At least, on her side. But, the few times she had seen Zero around her made her curious. He was always readily holding on to her, or wanting to speak to her, or even just staring at her. Like the other day, when they saw him outside of their classroom. He had hardly even acknowledged her existence, his eyes trained only on Yori. It was obvious that she would have come up with that conclusion, that the mean-spirited guy was in love with her friend. Keeping her proclamation steadfast in her head, she left the hospital.
To say he was shocked was an understatement. Naomi's words left him in a state of awe, dread seeping through his bones as he mentally added another person to the list of "enemies." Just how many people would come up with that ludicrous idea?! While he wasn't the most emotional person, he had always kept those he cared for close. And, up until a year ago, he had only had one friend; Yuuki. And since she was gone, Yori had been her best friend, making her almost seem like a replacement to her. But if he thought that, he considered himself cruel. Yori had been nothing but kind towards him, obviously not wanting to pour her pity on him, instead branching out from her comfort zone and offering him something everyone could use at the moment. Friendship. So no, he did not see her as a replacement. Just not so much a close friend as Yuuki had been yet.
"You're making my life so difficult," he chided her playfully, rising and ruffling her hair, going to look at her present. It was a simple bouquet, tied neatly with a velvet pink ribbon. He plucked a petal from one of the smaller roses and held it between his thumb and forefinger. It was soft, as most all rose petals were, and the color suited her well. Soft, white, simple, pure. So much like her.
A square object underneath the bouquet finally caught his attention, and he pulled it out, turning it over. It was an envelope with Yori's full name signed on it in elegant cursive. He sat it back down, still occupying himself with the petal, and was going to go back to his seat when a thought came to him. Glancing at her, he watched as her chest rose and fell, features still with deep sleep.
"Well, you won't be up for a while," he cleverly excused his actions as he slipped a finger under the seal of the envelope and pulled out the small paper. Whoever wrote it obviously didn't have much to say to her, because the paper was no bigger than an index card. Moving over to the window, he held the sheet in the light directly, scanning over it, finally finding the signature.
Father.
So, it was a letter from her father. Thoroughly interested in what he had to say to her since he couldn't even come visit her while she was sick, he began to read the letter.
[Sayori,
I received word from the Academy that you are ill. I am sorry I could not come to visit you, but you know how busy things can get. Please, get better soon. Here are your favorite flowers to brighten your days. I hope you are staying focused on your studies, and not letting any of those crazy dreams of yours get to your head. Also, do not be fooling around with any of those boys' at school. Remember, you are an engaged woman.]
Zero balked at those words. Not able to think them over properly, he went on to read the end of the letter.
[Which reminds me, your big day is fast approaching. I meant to tell you this sooner, but your fiancé will be presenting himself to you in a few days. I do believe he has already arrived. I know this is not traditional, but you do understand, don't you? I hope you approve of him. Good luck, my dear daughter.
Father]
Engaged? Fiancé? He really couldn't believe the letter was the real deal. He had never heard her or Yuuki mention anything about her being engaged. And while he hadn't been the most interested in Yori's personal affairs before, he did know that Yuuki would have been bursting at the seams from excitement for her friend. But then, the letter also said he would be presenting himself to her in a few days, and that he hoped she approved of him. That meant it was an arranged marriage.
His limbs felt heavy and numb as he put the letter back in the envelope and under the roses once more. He didn't even pay attention to Yori as he vanished out of the room, completely missing her eyes beginning to flutter open.
"Takamiya!"
Takamiya looked up from the tests he was grading-really, he hadn't given these kids' that study session for his benefit-when Zero forced the door shut behind him, advancing menacingly towards him. He tilted his head to the side and smiled a little.
"Can I help you, Zero? Oh, have you checked up on Wakaba today?"
Zero stopped right in front of his desk and slammed his hands down on it.
"I told you to stay away from her," he growled, lavender eyes flashing grey with danger.
Takamiya rose from his seat and placed a firm hand against Zero's chest, pushing him back.
"What a temper you have," he reproached. "You should really keep that in check. It makes you unpleasant," smirking, he added, "you'll never get a girlfriend that way."
It was a repeat of past events as his back met with the chalkboard, his shirt clutched tightly in Zero's white-knuckled hands.
"What was your scent doing on her?" He hadn't been able to unleash his anger until that moment, and he was giving all he had.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Zero pushed Takamiya against the board harder, his forearms pressed against his torso to pin him there.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Kaito. I could smell you all over Yori!" He was too enraged to notice his slip up, but it stunned Takamiya. He wiggled one of his hands to his pocket, pulling out a thin strip of metal.
"I'd watch it if I were you, Kiryuu," he tapped his shin with his foot, drawing his attention down to the object in his hand. A bracelet. "I am a vampire hunter, you know. And, despite your views on it, it doesn't change the fact that you're a vampire."
Zero deliberated for a moment longer before relinquishing his hold on the older hunter. Takamiya straightened his shirt and tie, pocketing his bracelet.
"So, it's Yori now? What happened to Wakaba?"
"Shut it, Takamiya."
"Really though, I'm curious. After all, you were the one who told me I was insane at thinking she was your girlfriend. You're quite the enigma. Unless," he took a seat once more and slung his arm over the back of the chair, amused by his leverage, "maybe I'm not. Maybe I just had the whole situation wrong. I think you've got unrequited feelings for the little angel. And, that's your problem." He grinned like a Cheshire cat who had just caught the canary when he finished.
"You have no idea how wrong you are," Zero snarled.
"Oh, am I? Then please enlighten me, Zero, because the way you're acting right now, anyone would think you're in love with her!"
That was the second time that someone had used the word love when referring to him and Yori. But, they were wrong. He placed his hand over his face, watching Takamiya through his fingers.
"Don't you know, Kaito? She's engaged. Off-limits to everyone, including you. So it'd be in your best interest to end whatever attraction you're harboring towards her. Unless you want her fiancé to beat you up," the words were acrid, but he'd say them just to keep him away from her. He believed he held the upper hand now. He had guessed that Takamiya had been at least a little attracted to her when he said he thought she was cute, and his scent covering her body yesterday proved him to be correct.
He made it halfway to the door when Takamiya spoke once more.
"Well, that does sound like it would hurt, but I honestly think that beating myself wouldn't be too easy. Actually, it would look quite comical," he tugged on his tie and pretended to punch himself in the face, chuckling quietly.
Zero's face went blank and paler than usual, eyes cold and void of all emotion.
"What are you talking about?" he spoke slowly, his stomach twisting in knots as his mind produced the one answer he absolutely did not want to hear.
Takamiya stayed silent for what felt like years. Then a victorious smile took hold of his mouth and he mentally applauded himself with a job well-done.
"Don't you see, Zero? I am Sayori Wakaba's fiancé."
"Oh, look who's awake!"
Chairman Cross raced over to the groggy girl, wrapping her in a tight bear hug.
"Don't ever scare me like that again, Yori-chan!" he wailed, tearing up. She winced slightly from the force of his hug, having just woken up a few hours ago. Her temperature had gone down a stupendous amount, now teetering between normal and barely a fever.
"I'm sorry, Chairman Cross. You must have been worried."
He nodded against her shoulder before holding her at arms length.
"You had us all worried, dear Yori-chan. You even had Zero-kun on edge."
That shocked her, but she was too disoriented to think on it a lot.
"I'm sorry," she apologized once more, wrapping her small hand around his larger one and smiling at him. He poked her nose and turned his head, catching sight of the roses on the table.
"Oh, right, right! These came for you today," he picked them up and thrust them in her shaky hands, the petals tickling her nose and making her sneeze.
"They're beautiful. Who're they from?" she sniffed the roses, smiling fondly at their sweet smell, before breaking out in a small coughing fit.
Chairman Cross patted her back soothingly and scratched his head.
"I don't know," he turned his head side to side, waving his hands around crazily when he spotted the envelope. "Here we go!" He picked it up and handed that to her as well, parking himself on the edge of her bed. He watched as she tried to pry the paper out of the envelope, but the tremors in her fingers made them too weak to manage. "Would you like me to?"
She nodded gratefully, her warm eyes shining with gratitude, and handed him the envelope.
"Alright. Let's see, what do we have here...okay. Sayori," he began to read aloud. At the same moment, another person entered the room. "Hm, I am sorry I could not come visit you...I hope you are staying focused...," he skimmed through it, only reading her bits of it, but she didn't mind. She was tired, her body still drained and sore from fighting such a powerful illness. She looked over towards the door, only to find Zero standing there, staring directly at her. He looked far away, as though he wasn't really there. "...you are an engaged woman. Which reminds me-hold up! Did that say engaged?!" Chairman Cross stuck his nose to the paper, reading over the words several times.
Yori's blood ran cold. No one knew about her engagement, not even Yuuki had, and she had meant for it to stay that way. Her wide eyes were glued to Zero, who seemed unaffected by the words. He just watched her, a cold fury flashing in his darkened eyes. Chairman Cross seemed to finally become aware of the silence and looked up from the letter, finding Zero for himself.
"Zero-kun! Did you know that Yori-chan is engaged?" he questioned, feeling stung from being left out.
Zero didn't answer him, his mind preoccupied with rampant thoughts, replaying several conversations at once.
"Just because you're in love with her doesn't mean you can keep her all to yourself!"
"I think you've got unrequited feelings for the little angel."
"...the way you're acting right now, anyone would think you're in love with her!"
"Don't you see, Zero? I am Sayori Wakaba's fiancé."
Mrs. Sayori Takamiya, he thought bitterly, watching while she turned stark white and stiff. Like hell that'll happen.
...
I don't even know what to say about this chapter. I didn't think too much through it beforehand and just started writing, so I hope it turned out okay. I really am not going to move these two fast, but I had to get it going somewhere, at least. Trust me, I can get super mushy when writing quicky romances (which this obviously is not, hallelujah.)
I just realized I've never described what Takamiya looks like. Ever. Not once. Erm...yeah. About that ." He's attractive (but not as attractive as Zero .-.)
Thank you to my super awesome reviewers.
Anon: Um..surprise! Here's another twist ^_^" Naughty Kaito, I tell you.
HYPERASSGIRL5: I'm glad to see you got an account! I even checked out your story ;) Thank you! I hope this one lives up to last chapter.
Lakemet: Why thank you :) I hope this one fulfills your excitement!
Julianne: Really, I feel honored that you reviewed my story. I couldn't be happier that I've managed to re-spark your love for Zori (you're welcome) and thank you so much! This is me showing a ton of appreciation towards all of your wonderful comments without writing an entire chapter about it ^_^
so...TADA! Here you go! Thank you all for your incredible reviews! :D I would be able to write chapters about how much you all make my day with the things you say. And thank you to all of my readers' as well!
I hope you've enjoyed this fifth chapter.
Until Chapter 6!
-IdleScribe