Yuzu looked up at the sky watching the storm clouds raining heavily over the city. Strange. The weather this morning was so bright and sunny the last thing anyone anticipated would be a chance of unexpected showers.

She pushed her blonde bangs aside now wet and stringy from the rainwater and sighed. This was not her day. She made it to her apartment before the storm had gotten much worse, but it didn't mean she left unscathed.

A nice warm bath would be the first thing she'd do once she got in. Yuzu dropped a hand in her bag and tried to fish out her keys. She searched a little longer, her fingers desperate to find the pair she was looking for.

"Come on," she muttered under her breath. Searching one last time she doubled back on the bag, only to come up with the same unfortunate conclusion. Her eyes widened slowly. "No, no, no!This can't be happening..."

Yuzu ran a hand through her hair. Did she seriously lose her keys today of all days? She pressed her sodden back against the door, her mind calculating on what to do next.

She considered staying at her best friend's for the night but Harumin's place was too far. And with the rain beating down like there was no tomorrow she'd never make the trip without catching a serious cold.

Yuzu sighed heavily and rubbed her forehead.

"What to do now?" she asked no one in particular taking a glance to her side. The apartments she currently lived in were housed to the students in the university, but she barely knew her neighbor.

Besides, taking in a stranger for the night would be a bit odd. Wouldn't it?

Yuzu shouldered her bag and pushed off the door. By then her clothes clung to her skin in a way that made her feel both uncomfortable and very cold. She didn't really have much of a choice in the matter. Asking seemed to be the only best option.

When Yuzu arrived at the next door she stared at the numbers which read 301. There was no way she could forget the resident who lived right next to her. She'd seen her a couple of times usually before or after school, though those encounters were often shared with very few words.

Yuzu tentatively gave the door several knocks, crossed her arms over her chest, and waited. She was exhausted and bedraggled with her blonde hair, shirt and jeans drenched in rainwater. She hoped Mei was home. If this wasn't going to work, she wouldn't know where to go next.

In the next five seconds a girl of shocking beauty opened the door. Yuzu was reminded of how beautiful her neighbor truly was. Dark long hair, matching eyes, and bright pink lips. Yuzu took a whole minute to admire every part of Mei before closing her eyes and shutting off her wandering thoughts.

"Yuzu?" Mei asked, barring the entrance with her slight body.

"Um...h-hey," Yuzu stuttered. Her mind was still reeling from the sight of Mei in her pajamas. "I mean you can. It would be great if you could. You see...I live right beside you and I seem to have lost my keys for the night."

Mei stepped forward and flashed her eyes at Yuzu. She said nothing for a while, quietly summing up the sorry condition she was in.

Yuzu blushed. "The rain came out of nowhere today. I didn't have an umbrella or a sweater so..."

As Yuzu continued with her sob story Mei tuned her out and stared at her. Blonde hair, green eyes, full dark lashes, and slightly rosied lips. There was no doubt in her mind she found her neighbor highly attractive. Mei's eyes drifted downwards to the girl's chest revealing a small glimpse of her light blue brassiere. Slowly she eased away from the door and held her hand up, stopping Yuzu from speaking midway.

"Come in. You'll catch a cold if you stay outside."

"R-Really?" Yuzu asked skeptically. Mei nodded her head. "I mean, thanks."

"I'll get you a towel and some change of clothes. You can take a bath and stay for the night," Mei said while keeping her voice leveled. She disappeared into the hall and left Yuzu by the entrance, her footsteps leaving a faint echo followed by a calm silence.

Yuzu shifted nervously on her feet. She'd only been to Harumin's and a few close friends. To her it felt a little strange being in someone's home, someone she hardly considered an acquaintance.

Mei's place was about the same as hers with white walls, a small kitchen, and enough space for one to live comfortably on their own. Her eyes wandered up the ceiling and came to rest at the most notable thing in the room. Across from her stood an impressive collection of books on a shelf, stacked row afted row and case after case. They occupied the entire wall, dressing the room with a bit of color.

Interesting. She didn't know Mei was a bookworm.

Mei walked out with the towels she promised and handed it to Yuzu who thanked her a second time. With careful eyes she watched the girl dry herself off as best she could. Yuzu removed the ties on her hair and combed them through with her fingers. Mei fairly flushed and felt a soft insistent force in her stomach.

"Thanks a lot Mei," Yuzu said with a smile. "I mean, I know this is a huge favor and all."

Mei only looked at her a moment before turning away. Three minutes had passed and she still couldn't shake the unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"Anyways...do you think I can take that bath now? I'd really like to get out of this," Yuzu said pinching the side of her shirt gingerly. She slipped off her shoes and stepped onto the hardwood flood, her feet clumsily shuffling towards Mei.

Mei steadied her by the arms and felt her palms sticking onto Yuzu's wet shirt.

"Sorry," Yuzu immediately apologized.

"It's fine. The bathroom's down the hall, first door on your left." Mei's eyes drifted to Yuzu's full rosy lips. In her mind raced a few daring thoughts. Her heart tugged with a burning desire, a desire that she might act on if she didn't keep herself in check for the night. She remembered why Yuzu was here and quickly broke contact. If she'd stared a second longer who knows what she would've done to the poor girl.

"Thanks." Yuzu walked towards the bathroom hurriedly and closed the door shut. She leaned back and pressed a hand to her chest right where her heart was. Her heartbeat was racing and her skin was burning.

"Why do I feel this way?" Yuzu asked no one in particular. She did admit to having minor crush on Mei since they met when she first moved in. But this feeling made her question if it may have been more than that.

She turned to the side and looked at herself in the mirror. Her usual perfectly styled curls were now a damp, sad mess and her makeup was slightly smeared. As she shrugged off her shirt a single thought washed over her mind.

Boy did she pick the wrong day to wear fleece.

After a nice warm bath Yuzu walked out feeling better than ever. Mei never gave her a change of clothes, but there was a bathrobe for her to borrow. She fastened the towel over her head and pushed back a stray hair behind her ear while nearing the end of the hallway. The entire room was dark save for a small lamp right by couch and bookshelf. It didn't take her by surprise to find Mei reading quietly with a book in her hand.

"Hey," Yuzu said finally breaking the silence.

Mei closed the book in her hand. "How was the bath?"

"It was perfect."

"Good."

"What are you reading?" Yuzu asked from a distance.

"Would you like to know?"

"Yes."

"Then come sit with me." Mei waited for Yuzu to join her on the couch. When she did, she sensed a mix of hesitation and nervousness in the girl. Having nothing on but a bathrobe may have been the most probable cause. Perfect. Just what she was aiming for.

In Mei's hand lay a book with a brown leather bound cover, the words written in a foreign language. "It's not in Japanese."

Mei gave Yuzu the book for further inspection. "It's German, actually."

"You can read German?" Yuzu asked in awe.

Mei grinned. "There wouldn't be a point in reading if I didn't understand a word of it, would there?"

"Right," Yuzu agreed while running her fingers absently on the front cover. She read the title, Grimm Brothers Fairy Tales and looked up at Mei. "You read bedtime stories before going to sleep?"

"That's one way to put it."

"Cute," Yuzu commented with a smirk. With the small rays of light from the lamp Mei watched her open the book slowly, carefully.

"Would you like me to read you one?" she offered. "I can translate it for you."

Yuzu pursed her lips. Mei's hand lay right on top of hers over the book. Her fingers felt warm under her touch, her palm just as inviting as it was soothing. She had a strange urge to link their fingers together, maybe even kiss them and...

"Yuzu," Mei began and ran her index finger along the girl's wrist. At that Yuzu's eyes went wide. Mei took back her book and opened them without waiting for a reply. She paused and read the words, the light from the lamp flashing in her dark eyes.

"Once there was a girl. A beautiful girl with long blonde hair, mesmerizing green eyes, and a smile worth more than what the world could offer..."

Yuzu suddenly had a little trouble breathing. Mei's eyes drifted back to her. Some part of her knew that wasn't what was written on the pages.

"She lived next to another girl whom she rarely spoke to. For months they'd gone by each other as mere strangers, passing through with only an occasional hello or goodbye..."

Every nerve in Yuzu's body tingled. If she had any doubts before they disappeared. She was certain now. This wasn't a story in the book.

"...They casted as many curious glances at each other." Mei breathed the words into Yuzu's ear. She unwrapped the towel on the girl's head, her blonde hair falling down her neck, brushing the edge of her nose. "And while they did, they indulged the deepest, darkest fantasies of their minds."

Yuzu took a deep breath.

Mei dropped the book on the ground, its fall resounding against the maple wood floor. She pushed Yuzu down on the couch roughly. She was done waiting. Yuzu was in the bathroom for almost an hour giving her more than enough time to lose herself in her thoughts.

"M-Mei?" Yuzu stuttered out.

"Do you not like the story?" Mei asked and leaned closer.

Yuzu's chest rose and fell. She could hear every beat of her thundering heart in her ears. Mei slipped one of her hands around Yuzu's neck forcing their lower lips to brush against each other. Her advances never faltered and all of her actions were insistent, purposeful. Something about the way she carried herself tonight had Yuzu captivated. She looked up at her eyes, dark irises piercing right through her. Then she realized it, Mei wanted her just as badly as she did.

Yuzu shook her head.

If Mei was pleased by her response, her face didn't show it. Her expression was inscrutable.

Yuzu inhaled as Mei laid a hand on the side of her face. Her thumb caressed her cheek. She stopped and took another breath. Mei's hand was on her neck now, kneading her skin in a way that made her stomach knot up and the flesh between her thighs damp. What was she doing to her? Why did the slightest touch feel this good? Those were the questions that were spiraling in Yuzu's mind before they finally kissed.

Mei pressed her lips, leaning into Yuzu again and again until they were gasping for air. She dug her fingernails into the nape of Yuzu's neck bringing her close, leaving no room for respite. Desperate to hold onto something, Yuzu tugged on her shirt and loosened one of the buttons there.

"So," Yuzu began quietly. "H-How does the story end?" she asked with trembling lips.

Mei reached down, parting Yuzu's bathrobe underneath. Her eyes momentarily brightened with anticipation. Yuzu blushed again, but this time because of her own blatant need for her.

"Why don't we find out."