Ukyo made his way down the snow covered sidewalk towards his apartment. His hands were shoved in his pockets, trying to shield them from the growing cold. He was glad he wore his hair up, tucked neatly under his hat. The dryness from a snowfall always made his hair frizzier than he'd like. He smiled softly and paused a moment to take a picture of a couple huddled under a tree in the distance. As he looked at them through the lens he felt a familiar tightness in his chest.

'Why do I always feel that when I see couples?' He pondered as he snapped a few stills of the beautiful scene. He sighed as he put his camera away. He had never fallen in love and had never really met a girl that made him want to. So why did seeing love make his chest feel that way? It was like a black hole opened under his ribs and was trying to pull the whole world into his heart to fill a vast emptiness. He pushed the thoughts from his mind and returned to listening to his boots crunch under the snow.

He shuddered against the icy wind that was picking up, silently scolding himself for not wearing his heavier coat. He never really minded the cold, but he couldn't get sick now, he was leaving for a new job in Europe in a week. Now he really smiled, he was looking forward to getting away for a while. He could focus on his photography and spend some time away from home at the same time. Maybe he would find whatever it was he felt like he was always missing. He stopped at the crosswalk across from his building. Waiting for the light to turn, signaling it was safe to cross, he began to fiddle with his camera bag. Seeing the light change out of the corner of his eye he absentmindedly stepped out into the cross walk.

"Wait!" He heard a girl's voice cry out and felt someone grab his sleeve. He was pulled back, falling backwards into the snow as a truck barreled by inches from him. He sat in the snow in a state of shock. He had almost been killed. His eyes wide he turned to look at his rescuer, she had fallen to the ground beside him, on her hands and knees.

"Are…" She stammered. "Are you okay?"

He nodded, pushing himself up from the ground; he reached down a hand, helping her up. "Thanks to you." He smiled at her. Once she was standing he was able to get a better look at the small girl. Her white boots led up to red and black argyle tights that were ripped at the knees and there was blood soaking through the thin fabric as it traveled down her shins, staining the snow.

"You're hurt!" He reached for her wrists, wanting to check the palms of her hands.

She pulled her hands towards herself, holding them, balled up, over her mouth. "I am just glad you are okay…" She breathed, tears streaming down her face and falling on her mint green dress.

"Do I need to take you to a hospital?" He gasped. "You seem like you're in pain."

"No…" She stammered again. "No hospital." Her bangs were obscuring her eyes, so he couldn't tell how serious she was.

"Are you sure?" He again reached for her, to make sure she wasn't in shock.

This time instead of pulling away she reached for his face and lifted her face to meet his. As soon as her green eyes met with his he felt his heart stop. For a brief moment her fingertips grazed his cheeks and he knew, absolutely knew, he had been looking for something and he had just forgotten. The moment passed and she pulled her hands back to her face, leaving him standing in a confused daze.

"I…" She looked away, breaking his trance. "I am sorry."

He shook his head. "At least come in and let me bandage your wounds." He smiled again. "It's the least I can do."

He took her arm in his and helped her across the street and up the steps to his small apartment. He grimaced when he noticed she was limping. Once they were inside he led her to a chair and had her sit down.

"I am going to go get some ointment and bandages." He stopped in the doorway that separated the hall from the main living area. He turned to look at her. "I am sorry to ask this, but you're going to have to remove your tights so I can properly clean and bandage your knees. I don't want them to get infected and that could be a real risk if you leave them on."

She nodded, blush covering her cheeks. The color made him smile, she was adorable.

"I will be in the other room. Let me know when it is alright for me to return." He flashed her a reassuring smile and disappeared down the hall.

He paused before digging through the closet for his medical supplies. He felt as though he knew this girl. Nothing about her face seemed familiar, it was her eyes. He knew her eyes from somewhere. He rubbed his chin and tried to remember. There was a flash in his memory of fire and he felt an intense stabbing pain slice through his head. Covering his eyes and willing the pain to leave he had to stifle the urge to laugh. Laugh. Why did he want to laugh? Slowly the pain faded and he decided that he must have over exerted himself walking home in the cold and with all the stress from almost being hit by a truck. He just needed rest. He nodded to himself. 'Rest.'

"Um…" He heard her soft voice call to him. "I'm ready."

He pulled out the bandages, some cotton and ointment. As a last minute thought he grabbed some pain killers, for both of them.

When he returned to the small room she was sitting in the chair he had placed her in earlier, the only difference was that she didn't have her tights on. They were neatly folded and laying on her white purse. He took the opportunity to glance at her bare feet and smiled. There was something about them he liked.

He placed the supplies on the small table next to the chair. "I am going to get you some water to drink and alcohol to clean your wounds." He gave her a small smile. She nodded.

Upon returning he knelt before her and poured some of the alcohol on a piece of the cotton. "This might sting." He gave her a sympathetic look. "I am sorry."

"It's okay." She said softly holding her fists to her chest.

She winced at the pain when he began to clean the first wound. He glanced up to her face only to see fresh tears forming in her eyes.

"We haven't had a proper introduction yet." He began, trying to take her mind off the pain. "My name is Ukyo." He smiled up at her. "Thank you for saving my life."

"My…" She winced as he began to clean the wound on her other knee. "My name is Hanako."

"Ah!" He placed the dirtied cotton on the table and began to apply ointment to her knees. "Like a flower! How appropriate." Her cheeks flushed again, but this time they were accompanied by a small smile.

"I need you to extend your legs so I can wrap them properly." He pulled an additional chair over and helped her set her heels on the edge. He placed fresh cotton against the still bleeding wounds and wrapped them with bandages around her small knees. "Let's see if you can walk alright with those wrapped so tightly." He took her hands, taking the chance to inspect them. They were red and a little raw, but no cuts or punctures to the skin, all her weight must have been on her knees. He let go of her hands and watched her wobble around the room.

"I…" She made her way back to him. "I think I am…" Her face panicked as she began to pitch forward. He reached out and caught her in his long arms. She clung to his brown shirt with one hand while the other was wrapped around his black tie. "That wasn't because of my knees. I am just clumsy, like the Pauli Effect." She muttered, obviously embarrassed.

"Now where did you learn about something like the Pauli Effect?" He raised an eyebrow at her and helped her steady herself again.

"Someone told me about it after I broke a glass." She blushed again.

"How cruel." He sighed. "It's alright for a woman to be a little clumsy. It gives her man more chances to save her."

She smiled at his words and hobbled back to the chair and sat down. "I should get going." She began to gather her things. "It's getting dark."

He glanced at the window. It was almost dark already. It would be even colder than it had been when they were outside earlier. "Would you like me to walk you home?" He offered. "I want to make sure you get there okay."

"No, I am okay." She replied quickly. "I don't live far and I would feel bad if you had to get out in the cold again."

He scrunched his face up. He didn't like the idea of her walking home alone, not after she just fell in his living room, but she had insisted and he didn't want to press the matter. Some girls didn't like men knowing where they live and he understood that. "Well," He sighed, grabbing a piece of paper and a pen. "Here is my number. Please call me if you need help."

Gingerly she took the small paper from him. "Thank you." She pulled on her boots.

He pulled the door open for her and gave her a small bow. "Have a good evening and again, thank you."

She returned his small bow. "Thank you and good evening."

He leaned out the doorway and watched her make her way down the hall to the stair well. As soon as she was out of sight he closed the door. Leaning against it he felt it click into place under his weight. Sighing he pulled his hat off and undid his hair, letting it fall down around him. "Hanako." He whispered. "Please be safe."

He was trapped in a burning building. The smoke stung his eyes and choked him. He knew he had to get to her.

"Ukyo!" She screamed for him.

"I am here!" He called. "I am coming to get you!"

He heard her scream as some more of the ceiling caved in. For a second he could see her, crouched on the stairs above and across from where he was. Her clothes were covered in soot and she looked like she was about to pass out from the heat and lack of oxygen. It was only a moment that their eyes met before more burning debris fell from above her, no doubt burying her.

"No!" He reached for her across the opening between the staircases. "Hanako!"

Ukyo sat up straight in his bed, sweat making his sheets stick to his skin. His breathing was heavy and he felt like his heart would burst from his chest. He rubbed his palms over his face and sighed. That was the most realistic nightmare he had ever had. Swinging his legs over the side of his bed he rested his elbows on his knees, waiting to regain his breath. Before he even knew what was happening he had begun to laugh. Soon he was laughing so hard he had to hold his sides. What was wrong with him? Why was he laughing? He shook his head to clear it. He really needed a break.

Ukyo did a quick self-check before pulling on his boots. He had his heavier coat on today, his camera bag, his hair was up and under his hat again. Nodding each item off his list he pulled on his boots and left his apartment. Making his way down the stairs he paused when the front entrance came into view. Sitting there in the corner of the entry way, balled up to stay warm was Hanako. She was sleeping with her coat draped over herself. She had pulled her tights back on over her bandages, but the bloody cotton could be seen through the rips in the argyle.

He tightened his jaw in irritation. He knew he should have walked her home. 'Ukyo.' He scolded himself. 'When will you learn to treat women properly?' He made his way over to her.

"Hanako?" He called softly to her, but she didn't wake up. His brow furrowed in concern. Crouching down in front of her he saw that her face was flushed and her breathing was labored. He reached his fingers out and touched her forehead. "Fever." He muttered. He stood and shifted his camera bag from hanging on one shoulder to the other so the strap was crossed over his torso. Bending back down he lifted her up and carried her back to his apartment. He didn't know where she lived, so he couldn't take her home and he knew she was adamant about not going to a hospital the night before.

He laid her on his bed. She was definitely hot, he could feel her increased body heat against this chest through her clothes and his. He removed her hat and boots and placed her purse and coat on the small table in the living room. He returned to his room and tucked her under the blankets, she had begun to shiver. He brushed her hair out of her face and noticed for the first time that she had a small braid to the side of her face. Pulling his hat off and undoing his hair so it fell naturally he ran his fingers along his braid, on the opposite side as hers. He smiled. He couldn't remember when he started putting that braid in his hair, just that he always had.

He set a glass of water on the nightstand in his room just in case she woke up.

"O…" She was talking in her sleep. She seemed upset. "Orion?" Her eyes opened, half lidded.

"No." He bent down so he was nearer to her. "It's Ukyo."

She seemed confused. "You have a fever." He continued. "You need to sleep."

"I…" Her voice cracked. "I need to remember." She murmured before falling back asleep.

"Remember?" He frowned. 'What does she need to remember?' Quietly he got up and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Remember.

He felt like he needed to remember something too. But what? He had felt strange since he met her the night before, as if everything he had been living in was a dream and he was beginning to wake up. His thoughts fluttered back to his nightmare from the night before. That sharp pain in his head returned and again he felt himself double over, fighting laughter. He covered his mouth. He needed to be quiet, he didn't want to risk waking up Hanako. He slowly walked to the kitchen and drank a glass of water.

"Why do I feel like I know her?" He sighed. "What's wrong with me?"

I know in the game Heroine is actually named Lynn and in the Anime she doesn't have a name, but I decided I wanted to give her a name for this story. Hope that doesn't bother too many readers. :)