I hope you enjoy it, it's AU.

Disclaimer: I don't own Kannazuki no Miko or its characters.

Like no other

chapter one: no rain can reach

That one day, rainy and spelling 'gloomy' all over the skies, dampened her spirits for teaching, so she then called the school for 'sick' day, hence the reason why her time was free that Tuesday. Though, she supposed, it could be worse, those second years were evil-incarnate, she grimaced at the thought of their defying acts not to study.

After heading out with a trench coat, thinking that it was enough to keep her from shivering at the cold precipitation, Chikane—locking the door to her apartment—gave a steady breath before stealthily walking past her land-lord's door. The muffled screaming was enough to make her shiver and stiffen, her mind raced at the possibilities of her getting discovered; at the rush of adrenaline, she quickened her pace and met the staircases.

The sole-based shoes, worn and dirty, never made much noise, even for the carpet of the floors in the hallways, there were no thuds with her light, graceful steps. Her amiable body was clothed warmly, under the long coat, she wore a casual piece, a blouse, and black slacks. The clothing she had then was in the process of being washed before she locked the door and slipped down the hallway with graceful footsteps.

Her nose was soon assaulted by a fetid smell, like a body rotting or meat spoiled with hints of dung; Chikane shook her head, she had food to get. Pocketing her ice-chilled hands, the Himemiya silently moved on, sporting the sixth sense that something bad was about to happen, or, at least, something that would add on her list.

Out the doors of the apartment building, the smoggy air and the fresh smell of rain greeted her nose, sharp eyes outlooked the crowded streets with a lightly-sparked hesitant expression. She turned to her side, the right breast pocket of her rouge coat was soaked through; her only expensive pen was probably wet and damaged from the rain.

The ink must have melted along with the rain, Chikane surmised; ink was like water, except permanently colored. The new pen wouldn't mean as much, though. But, a new pen would do her good, she guessed this was cycle of the market, old replaced with new, or else they wouldn't be making money. Now her coat was ruined, maybe she put the cap on incorrectly… she mused.

The corner store wasn't far either, and it meant drying off, but… Chikane pocketed her hand, groping for any loose change, surprisingly, she found a few good thousand yen. From Kaa-san and Tou-san, for once, I'll use it, but I'm paying them back… The tall woman nodded in satisfaction and counted it, a bit much, but she could leave the rest and begin to divide her income so she could but her own food and pay for bills. Along with that thought, she could settle rent, and hopefully, she could find a job that would help with getting another place. It was her independent spirit that refused to accept her parents' money.

With a light step on the concrete ground, and side-stepping the puddles forming before her, her eyes were curious when she arrived at the corner store. The people, as usual, littered the aisles, mouths opening, rapidly speaking; her mind wondered what was the commotion when there were a circle of people surrounding something. She shook her head. Chikane moved on the raised ground of the store, hands moving to open the ajar clear-paned door.

As she did, her sensitive ears were ringing from the angry yelling, Chikane tensed, the curiosity surged in her before she walked up to the circled crowd and pushed past the strangers that rubbed against her like bees. Her eyes instantly went along the line of other peoples attention and found herself dazed, momentarily, flashes of what she believed, changed.

A young woman, not a day over twenty, was flushed with embarrassment on the floor, her eyes showed shame; Chikane walked forward silently, ignoring the crowds' stares on her back and held out a hand to the blonde woman on the floor. This woman did no wrong. … It's a good deed, Mama always told me it's a chivalrous act of helping. Like a knight to a damsel in distress; except there's no dragons. Her mind reminisced lightly before focusing at amethyst eyes bewitched by the taller woman. Chikane smiled, her fingers twitched as one slender hands grasped at her own.

With a firm grip, the Himemiya easily pulled up the woman, who mumbled her gratefulness before depositing the strewn products from the floor.

She nodded before by-passing the blonde stranger, but… not with looking at the golden tag of one Kurusugawa. H. Chikane, still with a smile, went to the back of the store to review what they had. Though, she guessed, the store uniform was very fitting before she shook her head. She's younger than you, but that didn't stop the welling of attraction she felt thrumming in her chest with potent heartbeats. But aren't you a bit… old for her? Her smile died, it has been four years since her last surprise date that her childish parents tricked her to attend.

The aisles were neat, packed with many materials an office might want, but not what she wanted.

Her eyes flickered to the body crouching, on her knees and hair sliding over those dainty shoulders. The dark uniform the petite blonde wore contrasted deeply with her luminescent golden hair, and pale skin. She probably haves a boyfriend, Himemiya, don't have hopes that you can… Chikane's heart fluttered when the clerk, Kurusugawa, stood up and hugged the market productions to her chest to settle them on a table.

Chikane was utmost glad the crowd scattered from the incident, though, she didn't know what happened exclusively she deduced her urge to stay was because of worry. Food, I need to get food. She decided to distract herself, but it was harder than it seemed when your own mind knew what it was doing. And she wondered, what about the blonde that had such an impact on her soul. There was no answer; as she expected, all will come when the time is right, she guessed.

She purchased many items, carrying them in the embrace of her arms before walking to where the Kurusugawa blonde was, behind the counter, unaware of her sure approach; Chikane supposedly acted casual when inside, she was regarding the female with a piqued interest, as though she were a species unheard of.

It was… unusual for Asian to have such characteristics as Kurusugawa did, long, well-taken care of blonde hair that scented of cinnamon, and twin tunnels of amethyst; they drew her in like no other and they could have been contacts except that they seemed as natural as the beauty she viewed from afar.

But how does that make her different from others; from the people I met before and realized they only lusted, and went after my name? The question was her moments that she found people to hide– underneath, they could be monsters, but she didn't know them enough to judge their every shift of expression. On the outside they could very well be generous but have no reason to except for recognition of helping– when they were greedy for more, they would lie and disregard the truth as though it wasn't alive.

Rarely, did she find anyone with natural beauty as Kurusugawa, or a soul that seemed so strong that she wondered what she thought of life. Besides those precious gems, Chikane noted her aura, it was relaxed, fragile, innocent. It comforted her that none tainted her, why; she didn't know. She continued her observation, of small stature wasn't unheard of, her body fit and– if Chikane could say analogically; this female in front of her was bloomed as a young rose. She was a diamond in the rough, the Himemiya focused her attention at hand. It would be suspicious if she kept to her daze.

Head tilted to the side, she waited for the blonde to continue her venture, whom after laid her boredom down and went straight to the job. Not that she was in any hurry to leave, Chikane curled her lips into a smile– I can't believe I'm bold enough to do this… – she didn't even know if it would work; the other side of her that dealt with relationships was a mere door that blocked her way from any experience. She kissed before, but felt nothing, she never did try to label herself; it seemed self-demeaning. She tended to categorize her actions with what the thought was.

The continuous beeps of the machine checking each item stopped after her ears were greeted with a chime, signalling the total. Maybe it was the stirring of panic and desire meshed, when she lost her mind long ago in comfort of taking a chance, for a stranger. But Kurusugawa didn't feel like a stranger, her eyes darkened, thinking it through. Her mothers' voice echoed in her mind, 'a purpose is your chance, your reason will be your answer.' Perhaps there was answer, buried under the memoirs of her life; surviving on her own, just to take a glimpse of the real world that lay under the clouds.

Her palms laid on the plain counter, the rustles of plastic bags caged her panic; she regarded Kurusugawa with curious eyes.

"Done," the mystery 'H' looked up, and Chikane swore she gulped. "T-That'll be–" It felt like an hour reduced to a minute.

It was her chance! Chikane stood taller, and she inhaled, "Ah, that is no problem, here." She held out the yen bills, wanting Himeko to take her bait; she trembled, really. "I… was wondering… " She was taking the risk, any other day, if someone told her that she would be attracted to a female worker like a magnet, she would wonder if they took well of themselves before looking at the heavens; for she hoped not to run into any lunatics.

To be continued…

What is Chikane up to?

I hope you enjoyed it, well, sorry if it isn't that lengthy.