702: Don't Die...

Don't Die...

Zeke almost lost his nerves in frenzy and dismay. His teeth started to chatter, yet he was uncertain whether it was due to the chilly air or the possibility that the man in front of him might close himself off to the world. Right now, he could not afford to care where this sinking dread came from, nor how it was possible for someone like him to feel like this. His mind went utterly blank, only his gaze was transfixed on those silver eyes that were as bottomless as the abyss itself.1

In that split second, he completely gave up on logical analysis and acted purely on instinct. He crouched himself low, took aim and abruptly pounced on the assassin! 

Zeke initially planned to latch himself on the man's neck as he wanted to use the sense of touch and sensation to wake him up from whatever trance he was in. However, the kitten's body had stopped breathing for hours and its limbs had almost gone stiff. As a result, Zeke totally missed and his claws desperately clung onto the man's shirt. 

It was only then that he could properly judge how serious the man's condition was. If it was the usual him, he would at least lend a hand when he saw Zeke scrambling to grab a firm hold of his shirt. But now, he only stared at Zeke blankly. This man totally believed that everything was only a hallucination… Zeke's heart dropped to the pit of his stomach when the notion entered his mind.

Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to climb. Hurry… he had to hurry! If there was a trait he could be proud of himself, then it would be his stubbornness and tenacity. Just like the time when he dragged the kitten's weak and frozen body to the Imperial Palace, Zeke also mustered the same – if not more – intense determination to reach his goal, his golden eyes were blazing in flames. 

With his hind legs slipping on the drenched shirt again and again, he scrambled to push himself up, one step after another, as he fully utilized his sharp claws to get to the crook of the man's neck. When he finally perceived the coldness and dampness of the assassin's skin, Zeke was so relieved that he almost burst out into genuine tears for the first time in his life.

"Miw miw!" It's me, stupid assassin! Don't you believe it now?!

Zeke butted his head against the man's chin as the tip of his sharp claws sank into the flesh of his neck, drawing a few droplets of blood. He heard the man sucked in sharp breath above him, whether due to the prickling pain or the abrupt realization or both, and his eyes lit up in renewed hope. He almost succeeded! A little bit more… just a little bit more! Zeke cared no longer of his pride and dignity as he opened his mouth wide and chomped on the man's chin, nibbling and licking like a little desperate puppy. 

All the while, he let out little whimpers from his throat, and if not for this body's inconvenience, he was certain that he would have wailed out loud.

You stupid, stupid man! How can you fall into such a low state? You fucking scared me to death!

The assassin's blank pupils trembled and a flicker of light seemed to flash within. As the warmth and softness of the kitten's body seeped into his cold skin, his body instantly went stiff and even the trembles on his fingers subsided. Then, with an excruciatingly slow movement, he lifted his hand, hovering around the kitten's body, not daring to touch for fear that everything would crumble to dust in front of his eyes.

He had witnessed its death, had held its limp and lifeless body in his hands, had sensed the warmth left its body bit by bit, so… how could this be reality?

However, everything was so real. The kitten's barbed tongue and ticklish nibbles on his chin, its sharp claws which clung onto him for dear life, and its warmth… In this place so cold that it could freeze someone's blood, he felt the kitten's body warmth around his neck, so tangible and vivid, as it slowly spread to every inch of his body. Dispersing the chill that had draped onto him since its departure.

He finally ceased to hesitate and placed his trembling hand on the kitten's body. As he registered the familiar soft fur and powerful heartbeat, his wet lashes quivered and his entire body went slack. Like a puppet whose string was abruptly cut off, he collapsed onto the land of snow. Yet in the middle, he twisted his stiff body so that he was laying on his back, with his palm cupped protectively over the kitten's body.

Unable to react in time, Zeke was sprayed with a mouthful of snow cloud. He shook the snowflakes off his body before propping his body up to stare at the assassin. "Miw miw?!" What's wrong?! Are you okay?!

Their gazes collided in midair, and Zeke watched as life slowly returned to those hollow silver eyes. These were the familiar eyes he had grown familiar with… Even though the man uttered nothing, Zeke could tell that the most dangerous period had already passed. 

A surge of powerful feeling burst out of his chest and he had no idea how to express it other than pouncing on the man and licking the melted snow on his cheeks and eyelids, his long tail hooking around the man's neck like a small furry scarf.

"Miw miw…!" Have you sobered up now?! Great, that's very great…!

The man still had his hand on the kitten's body and now, he slowly moved to stroke and smoothen the wet fur. The slight movement of his throat bobbing was perceived by Zeke's tail. Then, the man whispered in a voice so small that only the both of them could hear, barely audible amidst the whistling wind. "Don't die…" he said with nary a fluctuation in his tone, yet it still managed to send a zing of hotness to Zeke's heart as if someone had pressed a burning iron mark there. "Don't die on me again…" 

Breath choking on his throat, Zeke nodded his head desperately. "Miw!" I won't… this time, I won't leave again!

Relieved, the man closed his eyes and let his tense nerves uncoil bit by bit. His exposed skin was slowly turning red due to the extreme cold and thick mist floated out of his mouth every time he breathed. His body was continuously sending danger signals by the increasing soreness of his joints and the stiffness of his limbs. 

Yet at the moment, he did not feel the cold. At all.

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