Through the mist of his dreams, Sasayun heard something buzzing, something ringing, something playing the Death Note theme. He opened his eyes and blinked as his mind registered that his phone was ringing. Why was his phone ringing? He snatched it off it's charger on the night stand and stared at the blurry screen.

Natsume calling...

4:37 AM

"What the hell?" Sasayun was tempted to let it go to his voice mail and deal with it in the morning. Natsume really tried his patience sometimes. She didn't want to go out with him but she wanted to be able to call him at four in the morning. Even Sasayun had his limits when it came to being nice. Despite this logic, he answered the phone. It was Natsume after all. What else could he do?

"Sasayun?" Even over the phone, her voice was muffled. She was probably still half asleep. He couldn't help but smile as he imagined her sleepy appearance.

"What's up, Natsume?"

"I'm scared."

Those words made Sasayun's eyes widen. He knew he shouldn't get worried. With Natsume it would probably be something stupid. So he replied casually. "What's going on?"

"I'm scared," she repeated and this time he could hear the tears in her voice.

Sasayun didn't hide his worry as he asked again, "What's going on, Natsume? What's the matter?"

"There's a guy. He's been standing out there for two hours. I'm getting worried."

"What are you talking about? Where are you?" Sasayun was already pulling on his shoes and sliding on a hoodie. He didn't care how loud he was being, even if his room mates were all sitting up in bed staring at him. He paid them no mind. All that matter was getting to Natsume. "Natsume, explain to me what's going on?"

"Mya-san brought home a guy and asked if she have the apartment for herself tonight. I left them alone and decided to study for my test all night instead. A guy came up and talked to me for a bit, but I thought he left. I accidentally fell asleep and when I woke up he's still here. He's been sitting outside in the same spot for an hour. I'm scared." He could hear the tears rolling down her cheeks as she started to cry even harder.

"Where are you?"

"Th-the library near the fifth-th campus," she managed to get out between sobs.

"I'll be right there." He was already heading out the door and storming down the dormitory hallway. It would take fifteen minutes to get to Natsume's school and the library she was at was the small one near the main entrance. No wonder she was worried. All that was around there were the school offices which were all shut down at night. Most of the students who spent all night studying would be at the main library. She was probably the only one there with that creep and a librarian or two who weren't doing their job.

"I kept calling Mitty but she wouldn't answer and neither Mya-san." She was getting herself worked up.

"Calm down, Natsume, I'm on my way right now. Just hold on." He was racing across a traffic crossing, as fast as he could. "Just hold on."

Just as he was about to hang up, he heard Natsume's pathetic voice call out, "Please don't hang up."

Heart thumping and feet pounding, all he could manage between breaths was "Okay."

He didn't slow down or hang up until he reached the library. By that point Natsume had calmed down some and was muttering incoherent sentences about how much she hated Mya-san. Sasayun clicked the "End Call" button and slid his phone into his pocket as he approached the building.

There was a man standing just inside the entrance. He wasn't exactly what Sasayun had expected. He looked like some athletic, college guy. The popular type that usually hit on Natsume. Which didn't make much of a difference to Natsume. She didn't trust guys. And when that guy was twice your size and loitering around an almost abandoned library, Sasayun could see why.

He shot the man an sideways glance as he walked into the main building. He could have sworn the man's eyes narrowed.

The front desks was abandoned and a few students had lamps lit at the desk in the back of the room. One student was actually passed out on one of the couches. Sasayun scanned the room for a sign of Natsume.

"Psst."

He looked up to the small loft which overlooked most of the library. Natsume peered at him over the railing. Her brown hair was in perfectly disarrayed curls and her makeup was smudged from tears. Despite her distressed look, she managed to give him a smile.

Sasayun pretended he wasn't blushing as he bounded up the steps to her side. She had a whole little camp set up in this loft, with her books spread out on a blanket and her laptop opened on one of the low sitting tables. From where she was sitting, she had the perfect vantage point of the guy in the front entrance. And it must have been vice versa. Sasayun could feel the man's stare barring into them.

"He came up and talked to me earlier. He was such a creep." Even though no one was within earshot, Natsume still whispered.

Sasayun helped pick up her text books and flash cards and packed them into her book bag. He grabbed it for her and draped the blanket over Natsume. "Come on, let's go."

As they descended the stairs, he took her hand. Sasayun's eyes darted to Natsume's as she tightened the grip on his hand. He had to look away. Whenever he was in these situations, he always had to look away. Because Natsume only wanted him as a friend.

Natsume let out an audible sigh of relief once they had exited the library and turned down the sidewalk. "I'm so glad that's over." She still didn't loosen her grip, though.

Sasayun managed to delicately pry his fingers from hers before he turned to look at her. "Since we're already up, want to get something for breakfast?"

"Nothing good is opened at five thirty."

"There's the coffee shop down the street and I want caffeine."

They walked along down the side walk, past a bunch of small shops that weren't open yet. The only sound was the faint brushing noise of Natsume's blanket as it dragged behind her. While it wasn't an uncomfortable silence, Sasayun was racking his brain to find something to lighten her mood.

"Hey, Natsume-"

"Thank you."

He stopped and looked at her, staring at him with tears swelling in her eyes. "Eh?"

"Thank you, Sasayun."

"It's nothing. What else are friends for?"

"I always have to go running to friends for help. I almost don't go anywhere on campus without a girl with me and I call Mitty for advice all the time even though she's far away at school."

"I'm in the same town, why don't you call me?" Sasayun felt slightly offended that he was Natsume's third choice.

"I'd hate to bother the extremely busy Sasayun."

He laughed and bent over her, his smiling face just inches from her pouting one. "Let me rephrase that. I don't want you to turn to anyone else but me. Rely on me. Only me."

Their faces were just inches apart. Natsume was staring at him casually, her guard completely down. He could kiss her. He could very easily just kiss her and she wouldn't be able to stop him. He moved in closer, his spiky hair touching hers now. He could kiss her.

"All right." Natsume was smiling and waltzing down the sidewalk before Sasayun knew what had happened. "Maybe I'll bug you all the time about every single little problem I have. If it would make you happy."

Sasayun smiled ruefully. "Right. Sure."

Natsume was a few steps ahead of him now. He stared at her back and she pulled the blanket around her tighter against the chilly morning air. It was still dark, but it felt like morning. Quiet except for the few chirps of birds and the lone car passing by.

"Natsume!"

She turned and looked at him with that stare that caught him by surprise and made him fall in love every time. The serious intensity of her gaze was so rare, that it never failed to take his breath away. It commanded him to back away while challenging him to step further. Sasayun caught his breath and took a step closer.

"Natsume, you know I like you right?"

She continued to stare at him. A look that lasted so long, Sasayun was sure his heart would burst. He was frozen by that stare. And then she smiled. So wonderfully that Sasayun didn't know whether he was disappointed or encouraged.

"I wonder." And suddenly her face was somber and her voice quiet. "That's probably what this is."

That really didn't answer any of Sasayun's questions and he was just about to rebuke her usual arbitrary answer when she abruptly turned on her heels and sped down the path. "I thought we were going to get coffee."

"Right." He stared after her for a moment, not sure if she was comprehending the situation accurately. "Right," he said again as he allowed whatever this feeling was to whelm up in his chest. She was almost out of his earshot now. He shook his head, refocused on reality, and chased after her.

Well, here's my attempt at writing for one of my favorite manga couples. I swear they've ruined my life. They are so canon. I hit the publish button at like four in the morning so please excuse any mistakes and such... Anyways, I'm thinking this is going to at least be a three shot, maybe a four shot. I've never written a fanfic longer than a one shot, so please support me. Reviews welcomed, as always :)

~panic