Limdo set Takiko down gently, her feet lightly brushing the floor as he swiped her legs down. It was an oddly reassuring feeling, being in his arms, she almost told him to stop and keep holding her. Then she remembered how intimate a contact it was and shut her mouth.

Once she was on the floor she looked around her, she hadn't noticed before but they were in front of her apartment, the door still hanging open. She pushed Limdo inside and looked around, embarrassed by what her neighbors might think of her in the arms of a strange man. Once they were safely inside she turned to him.

"What do you think you were doing?" She asked, she was still unnerved by her vision, the uncanny resemblance of Limdo to the girl she had seen, the fire that had almost killed her. She couldn't really confront him about it, I have these weird visions where I saw you, but it wasn't you, it was some girl that looked like you. She might as well just be asking for him to send her to a psychiatrist. Instead she had said the first thing that came to mind.

"You passed out, apparently for no reason. I was taking you to the hospital." He looked her up and down; still concerned that she could drop again at any moment.

"People suddenly passing out is no reason to take them to the hospital."As the words came out her mouth Takiko realized how stupid she sounded.

Limdo's face contorted and Takiko thought he was about to yell at her. Instead he doubled over laughing.

"You may not be her, but you sure do act like her." Takiko scowled at this, she did not like being compared to some mysterious girl that she had never met.

"Well I'm glad I could offer you amusement. Now, I'd like to get some sleep so could you please leave?" Takiko knew she was being rude but she had other things to do that did not include him.

"Limdo ducked his head in farewell and walked toward the door. Takiko was surprised, he had offered no protests to her rather offhanded remark.

"Wait" She called after him. "Um…I appreciate your help today with the whole rushing to take me to the hospital, and I know it was hard for you to share your personal information with me on such a touchy subject." She blushed crimson and looked at the floor, "What I mean to say is…Thanks, for all your kindness. I hope we can work well together in the future." Takiko walked up to the him, her head angled up to look him in the face.

Limdo's face stretched into a warm smile. He reached up his hand tentatively and brushed her cheek lightly with his fingers. Before Takiko could react he was gone, out the door and down the hallway. She blinked a few times, cleared her head, and let a long breathe.

"I truly cannot figure that man out," She grinned, "But I do like a good challenge."

Takiko walked back to her room, turning lights off as she went. When she was in her room she reached back trying to get at the zipper of her dress.

"Why do they have to make it so hard to get these things off!" She twisted and turned trying to catch on to the little zipper. She faced her window, her back to her mirror, but before she turned to look in the mirror something caught her eye. "What the-" A large gust of frozen air hit her, she covered her face as particles of ice hit it, each like the sting of the needle on her bare skin.

The wind stopped just as suddenly as it had started. She walked to the window and reached down to pick up what lay on the ledge. A single red rose with a heart pendant wrapped around the stem. Takiko picked it up, careful of the thorns. The pendant looked like an antique and as she looked at it closely she saw a little latch on the side. Gently, she pried the locket open. One side was mirrored, the other had a slip of paper tucked into it.

Takiko took the paper out and set the locket and the rose down on her bed. Written on it in an elegant script were just a few words.

Memories are Precious, the Past Shapes the Future.

I Will Never Forget

Takiko ran to the window and looked out but there was nothing but snow.

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Hisashiburi desu ne! It's finally here, the 10th chapter! HUZZAH! oh, don't complain, i know it's short, but guess what? I've already started the next one and since it's winter break i can actually write! I couldn't bring myself to attach more to this chapter, it was just such an elegant ending point to end it...Anyway! Heh heh, what do you think? Did you like it? Tell me if you did and tell me if you didn't, i just want feedback so REVIEW! Next chapter, the big three Ss: Scripts, Shrines, and School.

Happy New Year to All!

Ari