"I hope the rain stops soon," Shihna said to herself, looking out her window. The rain pounded on her roof, mercilessly. She sipped her tea boredly. "I wonder what everybody else is doing right now..."

Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud thump that came from outside. "Huh?" She stood up and pulled out one of her cards. She cautiously walked towards the front door. What could be on her doorstep in this weather? She slid open the door and gasped. "Zelos!"

There he was, the idiotic, red-headed Chosen. He was laying on her doorstep, drenched with both rain and his own blood. "H-hey..." he stammered weakly.

Shihna rushed forward and kneeled down next to him. "Don't say that as if everything's fine!" she said, panic taking over her. She struggled to lift him up. "What happened to you?" she asked.

"I was supposed to deliver something to you, but it started raining and monsters attacked me," he explained with difficulty. "And then I managed to get here somehow..."

"You idiot!" Shihna exclaimed.

"I wanted to see you...no matter what..."

"Don't say such stupid things!" she said, pulling him inside.

"It's the truth..." Zelos managed to say before he passed out.

Shihna's eyes widened. "Zelos?!" She shook him lightly. "Wake up!" Tears started to form in her eyes. "Zelos!"

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Shihna sighed softly, sitting next to Zelos, who was still unconcious in her futon. "You idiot..." She had somehow managed to drag him into her living room and take off his soggy clothes and bandaged his wounds. She had also taken a short shower and changed out of her clothes, which had also gotten soaked in the rain. "You're always giving me trouble, you know that?" she said to him softly, not caring if he heard her or not.

"Nnnh?" Zelos' eyes fluttered open. He scanned the room, stopping when he noticed his lack of clothing. "I see that you took off my clothes," he said cheerfully.

Shihna's face flushed. "I-I had to! You would have frozen to death! Besides, your underwear is still on!" she exclaimed.

Zelos chuckled softly. "You got a nice look at me, didn't you?"

"I would never look at you like that!"

"You had fun with me, eh?"

"I wouldn't do a thing like that with you!"

"I would love to take off your clothes and have fun with you," Zelos murmured seductively.

"Eugh! Why do you still have to be so annoying and perverted when you're injured?!" Shihna demanded. She stood up quickly. "I'm going to get a towel!" She ran out of the room.

Zelos sighed. "Sorry for causing you all this trouble," he mumbled softly.

"It's not really your fault," Shihna said, coming back with a damp towel in her hands. She kneeled down and placed it on Zelos' forehead.

"Thanks," he mumbled. "I wish you could take care of me forever..."

"I don't want to be annoyed by you for the rest of my life," Shihna said, brushing strands of hair away from Zelos' face. "I'll make something for you to eat, okay?"

"Hurry back."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

"So what did the king want you to deliver?" Shihna asked, placing a plate of rice balls on the table.

"Dunno. He told me not to open it," he said, "But it's all ruined now."

"Can you sit up?" Shihna asked, ignoring the sad look on his face.

"If you help me, I can."

Shihna sighed and pulled him up. "You're heavy," she muttered.

"You're warm," he answered cheerfully, leaning against her.

"I'll drop you," Shihna growled threateningly.

"Don't be so mean," Zelos whined.

"Just be quiet!" Shihna held a rice ball up to his face.

Zelos took a bite from the rice ball. "It'd be nice if I stayed sick for a long time. You could cook for me and take care of me..."

"You would ruin my life!" Shihna exclaimed.

"But I'd be happy," he whined softly, taking another bite.

"I don't care about your happiness," Shihna muttered.

"Aww...don't say that," Zelos said, rubbing against her.

"S-Stop that!" Shihna's face reddened. "Just hurry up and eat! You're wasting my time!"

"Then why'd you bother with saving me? That wasted your time too."

"There's no way I would let you die here! You're the Chosen! Everybody would be chasing after me thinking I killed you," she said.

"You don't want to?" Zelos asked, finishing the rice ball.

"Sometimes I do," she said, starting to pull away her hand.

"Wait," he said, reaching up and grabbing her wrist.

"What?" Shihna demanded, trying to pull her arm away.

"You've got rice on your finger," he said cheerfully. He licked it away.

"Y-You!" Shihna yanked her arm away from him. "You idiot!" The only response she got from Zelos was his laughter. "Eugh!" She let him fall back onto the futon.

"Ow! I'm injured you know!" he whined.

"You deserved it," Shihna pouted angrily.

"Did I?" Zelos asked, looking up at her innocently.

"Yes," she huffed.

"I'm sorry," he said softly.

Shihna's back stiffened. Zelos had apologized to her? No way. She looked down at him. He was smiling softly as if he was an angel. Eugh. Zelos? Angelic? No way. "I-It's fine. Go to sleep, okay? I'll be right here if you need me."

"Okay," he mumbled, closing his eyes. "Nee...Shihna?"

"What?"

"...Thanks."

"You said that earlier."

"Well, I'm thanking you again..."

"Idiot," Shihna muttered, tucking him in.

"You'd make a good mom," Zelos said, opening his eyes momentarily.

"I told you to sleep."

"If I get better, maybe we can get married and have a kid," he continued cheerfully.

"Sleep!" Shihna commanded.

Zelos stayed silent after that.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Shihna sighed. "When am I ever going to finish this sewing?" She turned to look at Zelos, who had fallen asleep a few hours ago. Her eyes widened. "Zelos?" She moved towards him. "Are you okay?" Her heart beat faster and faster.

Zelos opened his eyes wearily. "I feel sick," he whined softly.

He was drenched in sweat and his face was pale. Shihna placed her hand on his forehead. "You have a fever," she said. "I'll be right back."

"Please hurry..."

Shihna held back her tears when she saw the look in Zelos' eyes. "I..will." She ran out of the room and returned a few minutes later with a basket.

"...I...love you, Shihna," Zelos mumbled.

"Don't say stupid things like that," Shihna replied, unwrapping the bandage around his waist.

"I'm just telling you the truth so I don't regret it when I die," he said.

"You're not going to die!" she exclaimed, trying to convince them both that everything would be okay. "You're not!"

Zelos flinched as Shihna rubbed ointment on his wounds. "And how do you know that?..."

"Listen! I'm not going to accept that stupid love confession of yours unless if you get better!"

"So you're going to accept if I live?"

"I'll consider it at least."

"I promise to live then."

"You better."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

"Agh. So bright." Zelos covered his face. He blinked rapidly, adjusting to the sunlight streaming through the window. He looked around. Where was he? Oh...right. He remembered now. "Shihna?" he wondered out loud, searching the room for the person who had saved his life. He chuckled softly when he spotted her. She had fallen asleep while sitting at the table. Did she stay up all night? He noticed his clothes, folded up neatly right next to him. Ah. She had stayed up all night, washing and sewing his clothes back together.

Shihna suddenly sat up and turned around. She sighed with relief when she saw Zelos. "You're okay..."

"Yeah," Zelos answered, struggling to sit up. "And it's all thanks to you."

"I couldn't let you die."

"I know," Zelos said, noticing the dark circles under her eyes. "Sorry for troubling you. I'll leave after breakfast."

"You don't have to leave that fast." Shihna covered her mouth in surprise. How did that manage to slip out?

"Oh...so you don't want me to leave. All right. The great Zelos will stay here and keep you company for a little long-"

"Never mind! You can leave after breakfast!"

He laughed. "Don't worry. I will."

"Good."

Zelos surveyed her closely. "Remember what you said last night?"

"What?"

"That you would consider accepting my love if I lived."

"Ask me again when you're all better," Shihna muttered. "I'm not in the mood to deal with you and your "confessions". You could've been saying that for no reason anyways."

"Fine," he said. It'd be cruel if I caused her more trouble now... "Hey...can you help me get up?"

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

"Be careful," Shihna said softly, walking him to the entrance of Mizuho.

"I will, my beautiful hunny," he answered, kissing her on the forehead.

"G-gah! What are you doing?!" Shihna's hand reached up to the place where Zelos had kissed her.

"It's my token of thanks," Zelos said. "See ya!" He climbed onto his rheaird.

"I hope you don't come back!" Shihna yelled at him.

Zelos laughed and flew away.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Shihna looked up from the book she was reading. Was that a knock on her door or was she just hallucinating? She heard it again. "Who would be knocking on my door at this hour?" She stood up reluctantly, and headed towards the door. She opened the door, gasping when she saw who it was. "Zelos?!"

"The one and only," he said, snickering.

"I thought I told you not to come back," Shihna growled.

"You said you hoped I wouldn't, which means that you were secretly wishing that I would."

"Eugh!" She rolled her eyes in disgust.

"Come on, now. Don't act as if you don't care. A few days ago you took off my clothes and-"

"That was because you would have frozen to death! And I didn't take off all of your-"

"Same thing," he interrupted. "Anyways, I came here to tell you something."

"What is it?" she demanded.

Zelos leaned forward and kissed her on the lips. Shihna's eyes widened. What is he doing?! She tried to pull away, but he wrapped his arms around her waist. "Nnh!"

Zelos finally pulled away. "I love you, Shihna."

"What?"

"You told me that you would consider my feelings when I got better, so here I am."

Shihna looked at the floor. Oh, why had she said that? "Zelos," she paused to catch her breath. "I..."

SakuMeiMei Says: For some reason this one got really screwed up. DX I was having trouble writing it, so I'm sorry. And I'm sorry for the rushed ending. I'm a little pressed for time, but I really wanted to update. It seems to have been such a long time since the last time I did.

The next one will be better. I promise. XD