One-Two Millennia Isn't Very Different than Before

Chapter 36: Closer and Closer

Jessica's POV

I know I should be worried for Jae-ha, I really should, but I'm a little bit worried for my well being as well. Now, like I said before, Zeno has taken care of me in a situation similar to this before. It's just that he scares me a little bit each time it happens.

Let me clear something up before we go on, so you're not confused. 1) I'm immortal. 2) I rarely get sick. Before you bite my head off at #2, let me explain. Unlike Zeno, I do get sick. It doesn't happen very often, but it does happen, usually after I've been soaked to the bone. That's my primary source for getting sick.

Okay. So, Zeno scares me a little bit. Out of the two of us, I'm better with medicine. Zeno, bless his ever-living soul, has almost accidentally poisoned me today, twice, and Yoon and the others have been gone for a little over thirty minutes.

"Zeno, is that the right," I sneezed mid sentence,". . Ugh. . . plant?" Zeno brought the plant to me for me to analyze. He'd started doing this after almost poisoning me the first time, "Yeah. This one's right."

Zeno gave a sheepish laugh before looking away and preparing the medicine to reduce my fever, "Thank goodness. I got the right one this time." It seemed that he dropped this third-person references while we were alone.

"Mmhm. . ." I said softly, watching him prepare the medicine.

A few hours had passed, and I was asleep for most of it. Now, it was dead silent between my blonde friend and myself.

Remember a while back when I said there was hardly any silence between the two of us? We were definitely quiet. It was awkward, and it was almost the most nerve-racking time I've experienced in my millennials of living.

". . . Are you alright, Ze-" I sneezed rather violently, "-n-no?" He wasn't looking at me.

I slowly sat up, and just as I was about to speak I noticed him slightly shaking. I was now fully awake, and forced myself to crawl over to him. I wrapped my arms around his back, to which he stiffened up, "Je-Jess-chan?"

I was leaning on him, trying to catch my breath, "Don't. . . Cry. . ." I could feel his surprise, and he turned himself to where I was now leaning on his front with my head resting between his neck and collar bone.

Zeno's POV (This'll be interesting, no?)

I was facing away from Jess-chan. I could hardly bear to look at her in such a weak state.

'If only I was better with medicine' I thought as angry and sad tears trailed down my face. 'Then I'd be able to take care of her."

I was pulled from my thoughts when a familiar pair of arms made their way around my torso. I stiffened as I heard the ragged breathing of my most important person, "Je-Jess-chan?"

I could feel her fever through my shirt when she leaned on me, but I just couldn't figure out what to do.

She took a deep, shaky breath and softly said, ". . . Don't. . . Cry. . ."

That, of course, had an adverse effect, seeing as how I started to silently cry more.

I turned myself around in her arms and held her. She had placed her head on my collar bone and I could feel her breath on my neck.

It made me realize how much she was relying on me now. She'd always been the strong one out of the two of us. Always trying to keep everyone happy, but then. . . she broke.

Hiryuu-sama and the others meant the world to her. They brought her out of her shell, and gave her a place to belong. When they died, it did destroy me, but it hurt Jess-chan more.

When we reunited, I was so happy. I could see in her eyes (although she played it off rather well, making it seem like we hadn't seen each other in a month when really it was about 1500-2000 years) that she was happy as well, relieved even.

I had to be strong for Jess-chan during our travels to keep her happy, and now, now I was letting out my grief for everything that's gone on, "It's. . . Okay, Zeno. . . It's okay." A few tears of her own we're making their way down Jess-chan's face and dampening my shirt.

But. . . It was okay. We were there for each other, and neither one of us had to be strong in that moment.

We just needed to be together. We understood each other's pain, and took it full force.

We'd be okay. . . So long as we were together.
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Well. . . This took an unexpected turn.

I wasn't planning this type of chapter, but it shows a little more of how two of our cheerful characters depend upon each other.

I think it is a good addition to the story. They're getting closer 😊!

Okay! Water tribe arc! Let's see if I can get to where the group finds out the truth about who Zeno and Jessica are any time soon!

Probably not. . . .

Summer break starts soon, so hopefully I'll update more.

Thanks for reading,
~Ashley