Yahiko opened his eyes and blinked. He rubbed the sleep from them to look around. He was with Tsubame at the sun goddess shrine. It was dark, the only light made by a small fire he supposed Tsubame had made. Unfortunately, the fire made the darkness outside the ring of light seem darker. He looked at Tsubame and found she was shivering as she slept. He pulled her close to his body and started stripping off her wet outer garments. He went no further when he saw her flannel shirt and pants. Even though it would be more convenient for her if their skin was touching, he knew if he went any further, she would skin him alive. Truth be told, she would probably skin him alive for going as far as he had. He moved her body so that their curves melted into the other's. Then he pulled the blanket over them and was pleased when her shivering immediately stopped.

His nose was near her hair and he took in its fragrance. Lavender. He smiled as he listened to her breathing. Without knowing it, his breathing synchronized with Tsubame's. They would set out for home when the rain had subsided to a mist. A few minutes later he was asleep, feeling more at peace than he ever had.

Near midnight, Tsubame started to feel uncomfortably hot, and her body was shaking. She turned around to see Yahiko right beside her and blushed in the darkness. But why was she so hot? On a motherly impulse, she put her palm on his forehead. She took it off quickly, startled that she had burnt her hand.

Her ears pricked at a noise in the distance.It sounded like Miss Kaoru and Kenshin. They were calling her name, along with Yahiko's. She gave a quick prayer to the sun goddess and prodded the smoldering embers to reheat the fire. She added the kindling she had brought with her, just in case she couldn't find her way back to the shrine. She put on her over clothes and ran out into the fierce rain. When he was well she would skin him alive.

Tsubame ran blindly out into the night, batting at the rain to make it easier to see. She wished she had brought a lantern, or at least an umbrella. The trees around her were dark and ominous. They loomed over her like the jaws of a menacing creature. Everything looked the same and she thought she was running in circles. Tears ran down her cheeks, but whether they were her own tears of desperation or the rain that hurled down at her she couldn't say (and neither can I so stop asking!).

She ran towards the voices hoping that she would find the callers. Finally she heard Kenshin saying, "Look, there she is!"

Tsubame turned towards the voice but tripped over a root. Right before she hit the ground Kenshin caught her, but the blow was harder than it would've been if she had fallen on the ground.

Kenshin helped Tsubame to her feet, and let her lean on a nearby tree, the breath knocked out of her. She stuttered, "A-Yahiko! Yahiko-he's hot-so cold. Have to help- at shrine." Small red and black dots crowded at the outside of her vision.

"Oh no! Catch her," shouted Miss Kaoru, who had caught up to Kenshin.

Those were the last words Tsubame heard as the ground rushed up to meet her.

Back at the shrine, Yahiko's breathing became shallow. His eyes opened, but he saw nothing but darkness. He thrashed under the blanket and suddenly stilled. His head fell back onto the floor as he fell into a tormented sleep.