"Yumi? You OK?"

That voice, it sounded so familiar, like an unseen light in the darkness. Yumi groaned and opened her eyes just a little to see a blurring image of a brown haired man leaning over her placing a wet cloth on her forehead.

"Ugh...Sano...ugh." Then everything became dark again and Yumi passed into a deep sleep.

She was on Mt. Hiei lying on the ground flames slowly growing all around her. She couldn't move and the unbearable heat was pressing upon her. The roar of the fire was growing when there was an explosion and the ground underneath her fell through.

"Noooooooo!" she yelled out into the dark abyss falling into nothingness.

Then it felt like she was about to die from the sheer terror that she felt when a warm sensation came over her. The fear was replaced by security and love and everything felt like it was going to be OK. She stopped falling and was held in the arms of a strong, warm entity. Yumi looked up but saw nothing but a dark figure at first when slowly color emerged on his face and body.

She felt so happy in his arms and thought it could only be one man in this world who could ever make her so happy, "Shishio?"

But as the dark stranger became more visible Yumi eyes widened in surprise and her cheeks became hot with embarrassment. The man holding her was tall with brown spiky rooster hair, with his tan muscular body draped in a white and black outfit. He looked down at Yumi with tenderness in his eyes and in a dreamy fashion lifted Yumi's body up and let their lips find each other for while. During this embrace Yumi still was wide-eyed, until the warmth was too much and the shock and embarrassment fluttered away and she closed her eyes letting herself be consumed by his warmth.

Back in the conscience world Sanosuke was looking at Yumi with concern all over his face. That morning he found her surrounded by a crowd and after her recognized it was her he scooped her up and was now tending to her on his futon.

"Sanosuke..."Yumi whispered in her sleep.

Sano looked over to her wondering what the heck he was doing in her dream, "Yumi? You OK?" He leaned over her. She was mouthing something from her sleep again and Sano put his face close to hers trying to make out what she was saying.

Yumi's eyes started to flutter and she breathed in deep and whispered thinking she was still dreaming, "Sano...don't go...stay..."

Sano stood over her in awe at this and saw her eyes finally opened to find the real Sano looking back at her so close she jumped up in surprised and both of them flung back with shock.

They were both looking at something else not wanting to make eye contact when Sano spoke first, "So you're doing OK now? I umm... found you outside on the street, it looked like you fell and passed out so I brought you back here and umm...you fell asleep and you look like your doing ok now."

Yumi took all this in remembering last night, "Umm...Thanks a lot Sagara I guess I owe you now." She looked to him to find his chocolate eyes looking back at her.

"Yeah I guess you do," said Sano with a laugh as the tension disappeared. "So what were you doing outside in the middle of the night like that?" He knew she had clients at night but didn't mention anything.

Yumi sighed and got up from the futon and walked around a little bit, "I...you see... Ugh what the hell Sagara you were right. After Mt. Hiei I couldn't go back to being an orian like I used to. I...I got my stuff together last night and just started walking hoping to find someplace to stay for a while." No part of this confession came easy for Yumi; she wasn't one to admit mistakes.

"So you just happened to find yourself on my street in front of my apartment in the middle of the night. Jeez Yumi I'd say you weren't just looking for somewhere maybe for someone too?" said Sano jokingly.

Yumi gave a sarcastic laugh, "It was dark and late and I tripped that's all. It was just coincidence that I was here that's all."

Sano gave an unbelieving smirk at her, which Yumi tried her best not to fall for but started giggling with him, "I'm serious Sano!"

"Yeah, yeah OK. So I guess you'll be bunking here for a while, I'll put up curtain for you privacy my Highness and I'll sleep on the other side."

"Wait. What? Just because you saved me doesn't mean I'll be staying with you!" Yumi protested.

"Look Yumi the way I see it you don't have much of a choice. When the doctor came over he said you were in no condition to be under any stress, we can't leave you alone in case you pass out again, and all your stuff got stole while you were on the street so you have no money. I don't know what other option you got," lectured Sano with a serious tone.

"But...I..."unfortunately Yumi could think of nothing to say in her defense, Sano knew he'd won.

"Oh by the way what were you dreaming about just now?" he asked purposely not letting off he'd heard his name.

Yumi went scarlet fearing she might have said something hinting about her dream, "Umm...I was... it was dark and..."

Sano only smiled at her and Yumi knew instantly he knew something and if it was possible she went even redder and quickly turned her back to him.

Sano chuckled a little but spared Yumi the embarrassment, "Well hurry up and wash up, we're going out for dinner at the Akabeko."

Yumi looked around at him, "Dinner? Together?"

"Its not like a date or anything just dinner, relax," said Sano as he walked into the other room to wash up and get some clean clothes.

As he slid the door shut behind him she caught sight of Yumi who looked genuinely surprised at his graciousness and he knew it.

"Good," he thought. "Maybe I'll get her to come around sooner than I hoped...."