• Act XVI- Consequences.


    Why does one thing seem to be perfect but really it was a stab in the back? I don’t get it either…sigh.

    {Zero’s Perspective}


    Damn, those Scrapers are hideous. Well, at least we got rid of it. I was kind of disappointed I didn’t get as much of a chance with Yukiru but, I was going to live. I wasn’t really listening to anyone’s conversations when I tapped the Scraper’s body with my foot. I still don’t know exactly why I did that but, it just seemed funny to see it’s head flop around.

    I wrapped one arm around Yukiru’s waist and then what felt a small stinging come from my right side. By the time I looked down to see what it was, my entire right side was on fire. I caught a blurred glance at the Scraper who had shot something into me with a dart gun.

    I remember Yukiru trying to ask me what was wrong and if I was ok…I blacked out after that. But, I don’t think I remember hitting the ground.

    {End of Perspective}


    It wasn’t real. This has to be some bad dream. But, the sting of Zero’s blow rang on my face. I just dumbfounded, why would he do something like that? No one spoke for an excruciating 36 seconds. Hotaka slowly helped me to my feet and I cautiously made my way see Zero’s face. His eyes were still bright red and he looked like some kind of monster. I glanced down at his hands, which were curled up fists in the dirt, and his palms were bleeding from his nails being pushed slowly through his skin.

    I pushed his hands to the side in an attempt to make him stop hurting himself, “Zero, stop!” I commanded with a stern voice. I didn’t know why I acted so bravely. In truth, I was scared out of my mind.

    “Don’t TOUCH me!” Zero howled back. But, his voice was kind of distorted. It was deeper and it had a small slur to it. He went to scratch my arm with his huge and pointed nails but something stopped him, “…Hotaka…” I whispered in awe.

    He had used his shoulder as a shield, taking Zero’s hit instead of me. Zero’s nails had penetrated his skin, deeply, and even his thick scarf and shirt couldn’t stop his attack. After a few pained groans, Hotaka shoved Zero away from him and I.

    “Kumori! You better tell us what’s going on and NOW!” snapped Hotaka. I had never seen him angry with her before, not once. He was always treating her like she was the Queen of the world. But, when your best friend suddenly goes completely mental and hurts you AND another you care for, some lines will be crossed.

    Kumori quickly searched the ground for something and once she discovered what she looked for, a puddle, she used her Special Power and hit Zero exactly where his side was inflamed and starting to get kind of a pale blue color. As soon as she hit that mark, Zero passed out and his head made a deep thud against the ground. Kumori let out a sigh and then began to pace as if she was contemplating an equation.

    I could see images out of the corner of my peripherals but my eyes never left Zero’s unmoving body. Only after about 5 seconds did I realize that his shoulders weren’t moving, indicating that his chest wasn’t expanding, meaning he wasn’t breathing. I stood up and managed to make my way to Zero. He was lying on his side so; it took me a while to find a heartbeat. He was breathing although it was quite silent and shaky.

    We didn’t move from that spot. We didn’t train, we didn’t run, we hardly went far to get food. I never left Zero as he lay there, barely technically alive. Night started to fall and I was exhausted, hungry, and with the occasional wind gust, cold. Even though I made a small vow to not sleep until Zero awoke, I could resist the luxury of slumber.

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    “Ugh…. damn. My head,” I muttered as I rose up from the very uncomfortable ground. I sat up and I could just feel the sticks and leaves in my disheveled hair. I rotated my head to the right then to the left. As usual, it took me a while to realize where I was and why I was—“ZERO!” I hollered.

    I realized that there was no one around me and I began to panic. I became my powerful canine form and sniffed the air for anyone’s scent. Even Kumori would be a pleasant odor to smell. Everyone’s trademark scent was still strong so, they couldn’t have left too long ago. Yet, none of them were in sight.

    But, Ichio’s scent was the strongest, “Ichio? ICHIO!” I heard the patter of paws against dead leaves and sticks. When I turned around, I saw Ichio in his wolf form standing there. His face seemed a little confused, “What is it, Yukiru? Are you ok?”

    “Wh-where is everyone else?” I asked bluntly.

    “Oh,” he began, “Kumori found a river not too far from here. Everyone’s there taking baths and playing. You should see it, Yukiru! This river is hu—” I didn’t let Ichio finish before I zoomed past him, up a large hill blanketed in lush, green grass and there it was. The biggest river I had ever seen. Hotaka was washing his scarf and shirt (so he was shirtless and that made me get a little red-faced), Sparks seemed to be sunbathing and Kumori was practicing her Water Technique. I searched frantically for Zero. Once I did, I felt like burying my head into the dirt. He was awake…and waist deep in the glass like, calm, crystal clear river…completely shirtless!

    The sunlight reflecting off of the water illuminated every sweat bead, every droplet of water on his bare torso. He was flawless. Like he was made of diamonds. My whole wolf body turned the tint of blush and I felt steam explode into steam. Apparently, he was washing his shirt in the water…but he could’ve left his undershirt on!

    Joy and glee leapt into my heart. I jumped up in the air and sprinted into the water to the man who was not just awake, but up and walking and laughing with Hotaka. He seemed perfect. I had never run in water as a wolf nor human, but it’s quite difficult. I was making a lot of racket and splashing tons of water everywhere with my spastic running and Zero turned to look at me. I fell, muzzle first into the water out of the startle from his sudden look. I blinked human and jumped at him for an embrace.

    I saw him smile just as widely as I did; he lightly tossed his shirt away and caught me with warm arms around my waist. My arms coiled around his neck as he spun me around slowly before dropping me in the water in front of him. I was slightly jealous at how much taller he was than me. The water was about 6 inches from my bust while Zero’s naval barely grazed the water.

    I felt him tense up for a short second and then relax. “Are you alright?” I asked scanning his torso for injury. I was baffled to see that where the Scraper shot him was completely healed, it was only slightly red and swollen.

    “Just a little sore from yesterday,” he said in a chuckle. He rubbed the back of his head for a bit before becoming very serious, “Hotaka told me everything that happened yesterday as well…”

    There was a short pause. I didn’t want to remember what had happened but now I was forced to recall. I lightly touched my cheek with my fingertips and Zero’s hand cupped my hand and cheek. I looked up at him; guilt and the slight pull of fear plagued his face.

    “I don’t remember doing it but I know that I hurt you and terrified you. And, for that, I’m sorry.”

    I let out a light laugh, “Don’t be so guilty towards me. Hotaka got the worst of it.”

    We both looked over Zero’s shoulder to see Hotaka washing his bloody shirt and scarf in the water and some crude bandages on his shoulder.

    “I already talked to him,” Zero said abruptly, “He’s a baby anyways.”

    “I HEARD THAT!” Hotaka commented loudly and attempted to splash us but he was about 35 feet away from us so we got a little wet. I coiled my arms around myself because it now sunk in that the water was freezing and I was in a tank top. Since I had run out to Zero when I was a wolf, from my neck down was soaked.

    I learned something right then, if you get a white shirt wet, you can see everything underneath it. And guess what? My bra was in complete shambles because of what I do on a daily bases so I wasn’t wearing it. I kept my arms where they were because they were just in the right place so that the sacredness of my body remained unseen.

    “U-uhm…Zero” I managed to say quietly. When he turned his head, he saw that I was blushing, shivering, and exposed. Not a moment later, Zero’s nose erupted in blood and he fell into the water where he floated on his back for a while.

    “Ho-Hotaka! I need a new shirt! This one is, well, ineffective.”

    Of course, he looked up, saw me and immediately turned his back; “Kumori should be finishing it now.”

    Finishing it? Wait, she was making me a new camisole? I jogged out of the water, never letting my arms leave my torso, to wards Kumori who was sitting with her legs crossed and holding a dark green piece of fabric.

    “Here,” she called as she through a forest green top at me. It was very professionally done. “Oh, and I have a spare bra in my pack,” she said again.

    After dressing my self in my new clothes, I realized at how torn up my last garments were. My earlier tank top could have been a loincloth. It had so many holes and tears.

    I decided to stay out of the water for a bit and talk to Ichio and Sparks about just little things. But, Kumori had other plans; training. “Let’s start with the Water attacks!” she ordered with a low roar.

    Everyone groaned and swayed from side to side in unwillingness.

    “Do we gotta?” Hotaka whined as he put on his clean clothes.

    “It’s that or we run for about 6 hours. It’s your choice,” she hissed with a snarky attitude. So, we ran. I hated training. Especially with someone like Kumori being my teacher. Then, I have to actually listen to what she tells me. Why not shove bamboo slivers under my fingernails?

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    Laying down after a marathon such as that brought back some quick, happy memories a couple of months ago when we were looking for the Lillies. Sparks had started a fire, Hotaka and Ichio went out hunting and Kumori was tinkering with my gun some more about 15 feet away from me. Her back was turned and I wanted to ask her what was so secret about my gun. I never got the will power to, though.

    Zero sat next to me in front of the fore and rested his head on my shoulder. He allowed a slow, deep sigh. His breath went down my shirt for some reason, which made my whole body tense and my hairs in the back of my neck stand straight up. I heard Zero chuckle and that only sent more hot air down my chest. My instincts told me to push Zero off but I just couldn’t. Not after what happened last night.


    “You feeling ok?” he broke the silence.

    “Huh? Me? I’m fine, why wouldn’t I be?”

    “Just wondering, I guess,” his voice seemed to get quieter and quieter, as if he was falling asleep. I looked over to see if he was actually sleeping but, the second I did I regretted ever turning my head towards him.

    It was just like last night, his eyes were bright read with eye achingly small cat-like pupils. His hair was standing on end and his nails were growing longer and longer. I quickly crawled away from him but something grabbed my ankle, something sharp. All five of his nails sank into my leg, just above my ankle joint. And, such bloodthirsty growling leaked out of his teeth like some kind of ooze.

    I wanted, needed to scream in fear of my life. Zero just used my leg like a climbing rope as set after set of nails impaled my leg. “Ku-KUMORI!” I knew that I couldn’t say anything after that. A mix of fear, pain and sorrow acted like some kind of blanket constricting my head. I almost couldn’t breath. It didn’t take more than a few seconds for the entire ordeal to be over. As my leg bled and Zero lay unconscious at my feet, the embarrassing jolt of tears hit my eyes. Hotaka and Ichio returned with a female deer and seemed pretty proud of them but everything was put on hold because of what happened.

    Hotaka bandaged my leg, painfully, and Kumori finally decided to tell us why Zero had been acting so insanely. Round the fire once again, Zero was still passed out behind Hotaka and diagonal from me, Kumori twiddled with some beads that hung from her top before speaking, “Zero is turning into a Scraper.”

    I could feel every breath inside of my lugs just disappear.

    “When he was shot with that dart, it contained a serum that can turn any Halfling into a Scraper. Zero got a huge dose and now, he is going to be having these spontaneous episodes where he can’t control his slowly growing Scraper side.” Kumori tried her best to explain in a calm tone but she was obviously really panicked.

    “His attacks are going to grow closer together until, he can’t snap out of it and—”

    “He’s completely transformed…” I painfully concluded.

    Kumori nodded, “But that ain’t the half of it. If we are with in even a 100-foot radius of Zero when he transforms…worse case scenario…we die.” A pause deafened us all around the violently dancing flame. “After we’re dead, Zero will go to Scraper leader and become part of their society. And, just like any other Scraper, he will infect another Halfling. It’s a disgusting and painful cycle that will never end.”

    I looked over at Zero. He was sleeping. Not making a sound. Not hurting anyone. There is no way he could—I refused to believe what Kumori said. Zero, ZiZi, will never become a monster such as a Scraper. He’s too precious to me to let that happen.

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    Weeks passed and there was still no sign of the Scrapers or their leader. Zero continued to have his Scraper phases and I was always the one who got hurt. I didn’t care. Flesh wounds heal. What Zero was sucked into, he can never get out of. We had to explain to him what was happening and why. After he knew, and he realized why I had so many bandages, scabs and scars…he never got near me again.

    Except for one night…

    {Zero’s Perspective}


    It was about midnight. I hadn’t had an episode in about two days so I knew that one would sneak up and hurt Yukiru somehow. How could I succumb to such so stupid? I’m slowly killing Yukiru and I can’t do anything about it! She says she’s fine but there it’s only a matter of time before I never see her again. I need to do something so she knows I’m still myself. So she knows I’m never going to leave her. Right then I knew the exact thing but, how will she react?

    {End of Perspective}


    Another day went by and Zero hadn’t changed. I was incredibly paranoid as I went down to a nearby waterfall for my shower. I only bathed when I was positive everyone was asleep. I gathered up some berries Hotaka left me for some makeshift shampoo and quietly jogged down a couple of hills around a few trees and to the water’s edge. I stripped down and lightly placed myself, waist deep into the water.

    I carried my clothes to somewhere I could see them incase any animal tries to make off with them. I walked under the pounding water to wash my hair and body. Even under the roaring liquid of the falls, I could hear something stir in the brush near me. By the sound of the footsteps, it was a large animal, probably a bear. I ran through the waterfall and into the small area behind it. It was about the size of a large bedroom and the water seemed to be so calm. It was also a warmer temperature.

    After the footsteps faded I sunk down to my chin in water and rose up again to just soak for a bit.

    “Why did it have to be you, Zero?” I asked myself out loud. “I couldn’t have been Kumori, or even Hotaka. Sometimes I wish it were I who had to go through your pain. I love you too much to just sit here and watch you suffer.”

    “You’ve suffered enough,” a voice echoed in the small area where I was. I quickly submerged myself to that only my eyes were visible above the water. “I’ll be alright. I’m always alright when it comes to this type of thing,” the voice said again.

    “Wh-who’s there?” I asked with a shaky voice. After no response, I stood up once more and faced that back of the water filled cave. I pressed one hand on the wall and allowed two, maybe three tears escape.

    A warm hand caressed my shoulder, “I’m sorry, KiKi. I never meant for this to happen.”

    I didn’t need to turn my head to see who was there; Zero. My whole body began to shake and almost immediately Zero’s arms coiled around my shoulders and his chin rested on my shoulder. I could feel his bare torso against my naked back. His bare waist and legs…wait…he wasn’t wearing a damn thing! “I need you to know that I will never leave you. That I am permanently yours.”

    His breath again…on my chest. I turned around quickly with tightly closed eyes and pressed my hands onto his chest. “You n-need to go…Zero.”

    I can’t do this. I’m not in any condition, nor place to mate with Zero. Well, not mate, that implies in creating offspring, “make love” I believe is the correct term.

    I couldn’t do anything to resist as Zero lightly pressed his lips against mine. I didn’t react the way I thought; rejection. I actually kissed him back. I didn’t know when he was going to transform again and I didn’t know when I was going to loose him forever. I needed this moment. My heart began freaking out as I felt my back against the rough stonewall behind me. He was compressing his body against mine.

    “Nnn—” I whimpered as Zero licked my throat. I wasn’t scared of what he was doing I was just unprepared. I unconsciously lifted my leg around Zero’s waist and he more than happily raised the other to a comfortable coil on his hips. Things were most definitely picking up. Kisses were more violent and, well, messy. Moans and whispers of ecstasy spoke out of both of us. Zero’s hands harshly pressed against my hips and lowered my down slightly. Just maybe three inches and he gazed at me for about 4 seconds, rested his forehead against mine then with one, single, almost meaningless movement…I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breath, I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t feel anything but him. He was in a place with me that only lovers dared to go.

    I could feel tears brimming my eyes for some reason and I let out a loud gasp at what had just happened and what was happening. Zero only smiled and kissed me passionately. My arms finally regained feeling and my nails somehow dug into his shoulders. I didn’t break the skin but, it was squeezing so hard, I was surprised that I hadn’t

    “I’m…never…leaving you, Yukiru,” his hot, lustful breath seemed to entice me. I didn’t want to think. I didn’t want to talk. I only wanted to act. And act lovingly with such passion I could barely stand it. I pressed my lips so harshly against Zero’s that he seemed shocked from the sheer urgency. His hand came up from my waist and into my hair. Instead of grabbing or pulling it, he lightly stroked my deep black locks slowly.

    I, apparently, wasn’t so gentle. I grasped the back of Zero’s bright white hair and clenched my left fist. He didn’t even flinch. He only increased the severity of our kissing. Hot finger danced only my back and neck. Tongues wrestled and moans echoed. There was nothing on this planet that could have made this a greater time. For three grueling weeks I didn’t even touch Zero and now, well, we were making love in water filled cave mere minutes from the rest of our pack.

    Zero held both hands on my cheeks and separated out lips. Our eyes searched the others. It was like the passion could be seen. I let my legs falls back t the ground. My fingers ran over Zero’s chest until I felt his pounding heartbeat. He laughed out loud for a brief second. Apparently that tickled.

    As we both cause our breath, I lightly touched Zero’s bottom lip with my index finger, “You know you have to buy me dinner now, right?”

    He laughed and picked me up by my waist. I laughed a little and rested my hands on his shoulders. “I think we’ve passed the ‘eating-out-as-just-friends’ phase in our relationship, KiKi.”

    I started to laugh again but I was interrupted by the sensation of Zero’s lips against my stomach then slowly upwards to my diaphragm. He lowered me down and continued to kiss my torso every so softly. It was quite sensual I must admit but I thought my head was going to explode from the sheer magnitude of blush. He skipped a few inches and rested his lips in the top left of my chest. I knew he could hear my heartbeat because he smiled and gave me a devious smile.

    “You’re such a wimp…” he purred before kissing my heck and jaw line.

    I flinched at his comment, “Sh-shut up,” I breathed.

    Zero brought his face back to mine, but he didn’t kiss me. He even leaned in to kiss me but he never made contact. “I still stand my what I said.”

    His sudden voice startled me slightly. He was talking about when he said he was never going to leave me. I knew deep down that we were going to be separated eventually. I just didn’t know when. I also knew that he was going to kill me. And it not him, then the sheer agony of not having him with me will. I didn’t want him to go. I didn’t want him to transform. I wanted to stay with him for all time. But, that would have to want because, of course, I fell asleep leaned up against Zero.

    I had a dream where Zero went on a complete rampage and killed everyone. Only I was a live and I was supposed to kill Zero in order to stop the Scraper leader. But, when I opened my eyes the next morning…I was completely unaware of how accurate that nightmare would be.

    End of Act XVI