Prologue

The rain poured heavily as she ran to seek the nearest shelter. "Damn," she cursed, "I should have brought my umbrella!" The nearest shelter – a bus stop – stood a distance away. "I had better hurry," she muttered, "I'll miss the last bus if I don't." A lone ranger, communicating on his mobile, stood at the very same bus stop Makino Tsukushi was running towards.

"I've gotten the materials from the library," he said, unaware of her intrusion, "I'll call you later when I get back." Placing his mobile back into his pocket, Doumyoji Tsukasa returned his attention to the book he was reading. Tsukushi sneezed, startling him. "Excuse me," she muttered, reaching into her bag for a piece of tissue. Tsukasa took a sideway glance before returning to his book.

"Ah-choo!" sneezed Tsukushi a second time and then, a third. Tsukasa shook his head but made no comment. "Excuse me," she muttered, this time noticing Tsukasa's glance. "I can't be irritating him, right?" she questioned quietly, placing her hands together to warm them. At the corner of his eyes, he noticed her attempt at keeping warm and smirked at the silliness.

The familiar shape of a Jaguar Daimler appeared. He closed his book and stood up as the limousine pulled to a halt. A black suited man got out with an umbrella in hand and rushed over to Tsukasa's side. "Sorry to have kept you waiting, young master," he apologised. Tsukasa brushed it off. "Shall we, young master?" asked the chauffeur as he opened the door. Tsukasa passed her to get into the car just as she sneezed again. Without a word, Tsukasa removed his jacket and threw it to her. "Take it," he said, boarding the limousine.

Tsukushi stared gab smacked at it and then, at the car that has just pulled away with the owner in it.