La de da, still don't own YYH. Nyeh.

So I'm getting pretty far along with the writing, thus you guys get a second short chapter for the day =D

I feel like more happens in this story, but it's slower to write. I'm so used to Sagaku that it's hard to switch tracks LoL.

Coincidence?

Sunlight filtered weakly through the empty branches, doing nothing to warm her. It was outside her house that she was sitting, tracing a design in the snow with her numb fingers. Uncle Riley was leaning against the window, frowning thoughtfully as he watched her. When a leaf, so brightly green that it stood out like a beacon, floated to the ground beside her, his look turned to one of pure, unadulterated hatred. He stomped to the door, flinging it open heavily, as he stalked outside in her direction. Dayne looked around in confusion, trying to find what he was so furious at. There was nothing around her.

It was after her Culture's exam, but Dayne hadn't wanted to go home. She wasn't really angry at Jonathan anymore, since she was sure to get a hundred on that particular exam, but she wasn't looking forward to sitting between him and Benjamin at the dinner table again. He was purposely trying to get under her skin, worse than he used to when they were little. It was like a stupid game of his, to see how long she could keep her temper under check. The only time she had really exploded on him was when he let her little kitten outside. The little kitten never made it back inside, and she had screamed at him, tears streaming down her face as he looked stricken. He had come to her the next day, with a new kitten, but she had refused it. She wasn't going to replace Wolf, her kitten, that quickly.

Now, it seemed that Jonathan was up to his old games. It was aggravating. She just wanted to focus on her studies – it was only for another two days. All she had left was her Aviary Biology exam, and her Organic Chemistry exam. Neither one would be fun.

"Excuse me," a voice said from above her, "do you mind if I have a seat?"

"Sure, I'm sorry." She said, apologizing automatically for taking up too much of the bench. She scooted to the side, and the person sat down.

"I'm Shuichi. May I ask your name?" The voice asked pleasantly. Dayne turned, surprised. She hadn't been aware he actually wanted to converse with her, she just thought he wanted to sit.

"My name is Dayne. Dayne Ippin." She took the hand he offered and shook it politely before letting go. His eyes were as bright green as the leaves she kept dreaming about, although they didn't seem to hold the same symbolic meaning. His hair was thick and red, falling all about his simple black jacket. He had a light, curious smile on his lips.

"Dayne." He tried out her name. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"You too." She mumbled politely, but she was already beginning to lose interest in talking to the polite stranger, her gaze wandering to the tree. Sure enough, a dream was beginning to overtake her and then –

"So what do you study here?" He interrupted the flow of her subconscious, his face a pleasant mask.

"Ornithology, with a minor in Cultural Anthropology." Dayne answered, and then stood up. "If you'll excuse me…"

"Shuichi." He supplied for her again, standing up as well.

"If you'll excuse me Shuichi, I really should be heading home." With a bland, well-practiced smile, the blue-eyed girl dodged away as she strode for the nearest parking lot. Kurama shook his head, wishing Hiei were here with his Jagan eye. There was something in that girl's head, almost tangible…but he didn't know what it was. It was going to drive him nuts. Unfortunately, with Sagaku seven months pregnant, Hiei had shifted his priorities. Well, unfortunate for Kurama's curiosity, anyways.

His eyes followed her, watching her sleek, perfectly parted black hair tug gently in the wind and the bright scarf around her neck twisted playfully. Her back faded quickly, though, and he soon found himself alone in his thoughts, wondering what it was about her that was digging at him so fiercely.

Dayne walked out of her last exam of the semester, breathing a sigh of relief. Organic Chemistry had not been a joke class by any means. The redheaded boy was waiting, standing by the bench for her as he had been the day before.

"How was your last exam?" He asked pleasantly. Inside, Dayne rolled her eyes. He was too polite, and she knew it was a mask for something – after all, she played the same game. She kept her cool and stayed as polite as she possibly could, hiding that sometimes she just wanted to slap people and their silly ideas and thoughtless actions.

"It went well. Yours?" She answered, mildly.

"It went well as well. Would you like to go celebrate the end of the semester?" He asked her, leaning forward.

"No thank you. I have guests to entertain at home." And with that, she smiled meaninglessly at him, and walked away. Kurama leaned back against the tree, smiling. He was getting nowhere with her. She was as helplessly polite as he was.

"Come on, pip, let's go." Jonathan demanded, standing in front of her bedroom. She sighed, and ran the comb through her hair one more time. He was adamant on going to the park, despite the cold weather. Benjamin was opting out, in favor of going to the movies with their dads.

"Alright, I'm coming." Dayne stepped out of the room, tugging her jacket more firmly around her. Stepping outside was going to be like stepping into an icicle. It had snowed again, right after she got back from her exams.

Jonathan blathered as they walked slowly through the park. Dayne paid him no heed. Her mind was elsewhere.

Shuichi walked next to Dayne, his usually mildly interested eyes darting around alertly. Dayne ignored his tension, stopping to fix her jacket. Jonathan was standing there, in front of her, and he reached forward to help. Shuichi said something angry, something she didn't quite check, and Jonathan met his gaze, baring his teeth. They shone white in his tan face. Dayne didn't bother listening to them, bending down to pet a small, silver fox instead. Oddly, it had two tails.

"So that's what I plan on doing. One more year with dad, and then I'm going to get my own property. No more farming the land for me." Jonathan finished what he was saying, grinning broadly at Dayne as she focused back on the real world. Her dreams had gotten strange, lately.

"I'm sure it will all work out very well for you." She said politely to hide the fact that she hadn't really been listening.

"Yeah, but you have to be there when I get my own place! I want you to see it!" He swung his arm around shoulder, laughing good-naturedly as she peeled it off and let it drop to his side. Her boundaries were as stiff as ever. He heard someone talking, and peered forward. Dayne heard the person as well, but she didn't look around. For one thing, she was pretty sure she recognized the polite tone, and for another thing, staring was rude.

"Dayne!" The person said, startled when he came across the two of them. Dayne raised her intense blue eyes, meeting the green eyes of Shuichi.

"Shuichi, it's a pleasant surprise to meet you out here. This is my cousin, Jonathan." She greeted him and introduced Jonathan who started at her words. He had been busy eying the redhead.

"I'm not really her cousin." He declared, stepping closer to her. She kept her face passive. "Who were you talking to, anyways?" Jonathan asked, craning his neck as he looked around.

"My mother," Kurama answered, holding up his cell phone, "I call her every day to see how she is doing, if I am able." Jonathan snorted, as if calling a mother was a silly thing to do. His parents were divorced, and as far as he was concerned, his mother was a useless twit. Dayne's face merely formed a politely interested mask. "Where are you guys off to?" The redhead asked.

"We're just walking around the park." Dayne answered. Now she did step away from Jonathan, as he tried to inch even closer.

"Do you mind if I join you?" He asked.

"Actually – "

"It would be lovely." Dayne interrupted Jonathan's answer. She certainly didn't want to be stuck alone with him, not when he was acting as he was.