Name: Yukimi the Ice Goddess.

Title: Lost and Found part 4.

Konnichiwa! This is the fourth part of my fic.

Now on with the story!

Chiharu walked slowly toward a large mountain. She didn't know why, but something was telling her to go towards that mountain. Only half conscious, she walked onward towards the looming rock face. Her vision began to be clouded. She thought she was going blind until she realized that it was fog blocking her sight. She heard footsteps behinds her and turned slowly, almost unaware of what she was doing.

A boy stood there in front of her, wearing a tuxedo. He had short black hair. She couldn't tell what color his eyes were because he kept them closed. He smiled at her. "Why do you go forward, Chiharu?" he asked.

Chiharu replied without realizing it. "I want to climb the mountain." She stepped closer to the boy.

"Do you really want to climb the mountain, Chiharu? Or do you feel that you should because that's what you've been telling yourself all this time?" The boy said, stepping toward her. With one deft movement, he tugged the ribbons from her hair, sending them flying in the wind.

"I want to climb it," Chiharu repeated, standing very close to the boy now.

"Maybe," the boy said, taking her in his arms, "Maybe you should decide for yourself if you're ready to climb it." He leaned close to her face. "I can help you with your decision, Chiharu." His face grew even closer to her.

Chiharu felt happiness brimming up inside her. She closed her eyes...

"Chiharu! School's going to start in half an hour! Do you want to be late again?" Chiharu's mother called.

Chiharu woke up with a start, blushing beet red as she tried to control her breathing. She grabbed hold of her hair self consciously and felt that the ribbons were still there.

"Darn that Yamazaki-kun," Chiharu thought angrily. "Even in my dreams he plagues me..." Slowly the red left her face and her breathing returned to normal. She got out of bed and changed into her school uniform, her thoughts elsewhere.

"What a strange dream," she thought. "What was the mountain there for?" Chiharu decided to ask Naoko about it against her better judgment. She was usually good at deciphering dreams.

"Good Morning, Chiharu-chan," Rika said. Chiharu stared at her friend in amazement. She had curled her hair and put a large bright blue bow in it. Also...

"Are you wearing makeup?" Chiharu said incredulously.

Rika made a face. "You sound just like my mother, Chiharu-chan," she said. She hid her face behind a book.

"So what are you all dolled up for? Are you doing something special after school today?" Chiharu asked curiously.

Even though it was covered by the book, Chiharu could see Rika's face turning red. "In a way...yes..."

Chiharu didn't probe any more. It was obvious that Rika didn't want to talk about it. She picked up a book and started to read but just then, Naoko and Yamazaki came through the room together.

Chiharu's eyes widened. What were they doing? Naoko was laughing at something Yamazaki had said. She then patted his shoulder in what seemed to be a comforting way.

Chiharu's eyes burned with rage. She pretended to be reading the book while staring at the two out of the corner of her vision. Yamazaki at that moment tapped his nose in a secretive way. Just then, Chiharu sneezed.

Naoko turned at the sound. Chiharu rubbed her nose ruefully, cursing inwardly. Her friend smiled, waved at Yamazaki and went to join her.

"Good morning, Chiharu-chan. Do you have a cold?" Naoko said teasingly.

Chiharu glared and shook her head. She had blown her cover. "So, what were you guys talking about?" she asked in what she hoped was an offhand way.

Naoko giggled. "Oh, you'll find out later," she said. "Hey, speaking of which, he wanted to talk to you about something, Chiharu."

Chiharu lost her composure completely. "Really? Why? What does he want?" she demanded, blushing.

Naoko laughed outright at that. "Why don't you ask him yourself? He said he wants you to come over to his house after school. I believe you know where it is."

Chiharu nodded. Why would Yamazaki need to talk to her? And why was he with Naoko?

"Hoeeeeeee!" Sakura's voice echoed down the hall. She burst into the door of the classroom at top speed, tripping at the doorway and collapsing on the ground. She groaned as Chiharu and Naoko helped her up.

"Oh, I'm such an idiot!" she wailed. "Is my hair messed up?" She patted herself down frantically, making sure that she didn't scrape anything. She groaned when she realized that her socks weren't matching. "No! I was in such a rush," she mumbled. "I just threw them on without looking!" She walked over to her desk and sat in it, slumping overwith a depressed look on her face.

"Since when do you care about looks anyways, Sakura-chan? You've come to school with mismatched socks before," Chiharu said pointedly.

Sakura blushed and made eye contact with Syaoran who was sitting next to her. He turned red as well and buried his head in a book that he was holding upside down. "Uh...no special reason," Sakura said. "I just thought I'd like to look nice today..."

Chiharu grumbled all the way to the end of the day. "What is it with everyone today?" she muttered to herself. Just then Sakura and Syaoran passed by her without giving her a look. Chiharu stopped and watched them walk by.

They were holding hands.

"Oh, so that's how it is," she thought crossly. She kept walking. "I just don't understand it at all! What is it with everyone and boys?" she yelled aloud.

"Maybe they're in love," a voice said behind her.

Chiharu jumped and turned around to see Yamazaki standing there. "Wh-what do you want?" she yelped.

Yamazaki shook with silent laughter. "Oh, nothing. But I guess Naoko didn't tell you to meet me at my house today."

Chiharu gasped. She had completely forgotten. "R-right, I was just on my way there," she stammered.

Yamazaki grinned. "Well, you're heading the wrong way. My house is this way, remember?" he said.

Chiharu blushed and followed him. Who was she to be criticizing her friends when she herself melted like butter whenever Yamazaki showed his face?

When they arrived at his house, Yamazaki unlocked the door and held it open. "After you," he said to Chiharu. She huffed and strode through. He grinned and closed the door behind them.

"Hey, how come nobody's here?" Chiharu asked. "My dad doesn't get home until half an hour from now. That's why I wanted you to come now," Yamazaki said.

Chiharu shuddered and turned red. They were alone in the house.

Yamazaki laughed. "Don't worry! I just wanted to show you something." He walked over to the kitchen and motioned for her to follow him. Reluctantly, Chiharu did.

"First off, I..." Yamazaki blushed slightly, scratching his head. "I wanted to thank you."

Chiharu blinked, confused. "Thank me for what?"

Yamazaki chuckled slightly. "For telling me your feelings. It makes me feel better knowing why you hate men so much." He smiled and tapped her nose. "But, that doesn't mean that I'm not going to try and change your mind. I'm still going to try and win you over, Chiharu."

Chiharu growled. "And I'm still going to refuse. You've thrown nearly every trick at me. What else do you have?"

Yamazaki laughed. "Well, not every trick. I've got something for that stubbornness of yours." He went over to a small cupboard and opened it up. "You remember Puchiko, don't you?" he said.

Chiharu's eyes widened in delight at what Yamazaki was showing her. There was a mother cat and six kittens in that cupboard. She could easily distinguish Puchiko because he was the one that was trying to escape his mother's hold and leave the place. Yamazaki selected a snow white kitten with one yellow mark on its forehead and held it.

"You know how cats were worshipped in ancient Egypt, right?" he asked.

Chiharu nodded, her eyes glued to the kitten.

"Well," Yamazaki continued, "that's not the case in other countries. Did you know that in a small city in the middle of the Sahara desert, there was one cat that got too close to the dog shelter and was chased through the marketplace? It wrecked nearly every stand there! Ever since then, cats were banned from marketplaces."

Chiharu nodded before realizing what he was doing. "You're lying again, Yamazaki-kun. Aren't you?"

Yamazaki nodded. He winced as Chiharu punched him in the arm.

"Hey, it could be true. Who knows? I've never been to the Sahara desert." he said, rubbing his arm.He handed her the cat. "That cat was a black one by the way. You know those have always been considered bad luck."

The kitten nuzzled Chiharu, causing her to go into ecstasies. "It's so cute!" she cried.

Yamazaki smiled. "I'm glad you think so. She's yours."

Chiharu stared at Yamazaki. "What?" she managed to say.

"Dad says we can't keep these kittens. We're keeping Puchiko and his mother, but we have to get rid of the rest." He smiled. "I know you'll give her a good home."

Chiharu felt her face turn red as she looked back at the kitten. Mom WAS thinking about getting one. There was no reason why she couldn't take it.

"Are you sure?" she asked. She couldn't accept this. It would mean that Yamazaki could win her over. But it was such a kind gesture; it would be rude to refuse. And this kitten seemed to love her already.

"I'm positive," Yamazaki said. "She's practically begging," he prodded.

Chiharu sighed. "What's her name?" she said quietly.

"Ami," he said.

Chiharu hugged the kitten close to her. "I'll take her," she said.

Yamazaki sighed. "I was hoping you would say that," he confessed.

"However," Chiharu continued, a dangerous look coming into her eyes, "This is the last thing you are going to do."

Yamazaki laughed. "What are you going to do, kill me?" he joked.

Chiharu shook her head. "No, I won't kill you. Listen to me. You will stop trying to make me fall in love with you. I will make your life miserable for you if you do. Do not send me flowers, do not write me poems, and do not tell me stories. Am I making this clear?"

Yamazaki's face grew serious. "If that's how you feel, then you win. I'll stop," he said after a moment.

"You promise?"

He smiled. "I can't promise you. However, you'll have to trust me that I won't make you unhappy." His face grew sad. "Why do you do this, Chiharu-chan?"

Chiharu was surprised at the question. She thought it was obvious. "It's because I hate men."

Yamazaki shook his head. "Do you really? Or do you think you should because that's what you keep telling yourself?"

Unknowingly, Yamazaki had struck a cord. Chiharu recognized that same phrase from the dream she had the night before. "I do...I hate them..." she floundered, refusing to look at him. Although his eyes were closed, she could feel his gaze.

"I really hope you change your mind, Chiharu-chan," Yamazaki muttered, shifting his weight so he could be close to her. He reached his hand around her shoulders and tugged the ribbons from her hair.

Suddenly Chiharu felt as though this conversation had gone on enough. "I-I have to go! Sorry, and thank you for the cat," she stammered, gathering the kitten in her arms. She snatched the ribbons from Yamazaki's hands and stalked out of the room.

"Wait, Chiharu-chan, where are you going?" he called after her.

"I have to talk to Naoko!" she replied hastily and ran out of the house. "Goodbye," she called back before running away.

Yamazaki stood at the door watching her leave.

"Why do you still do this...Chiharu-chan?"