Startled, Tsubame woke up, looking into the dreary world of endless rain. She glanced at Kenshin, Miss Megumi and Miss Kaoru's sleeping bodies. They had stayed awake for hours, to no avail. Yahiko started thrashing in his fever induced comatose. The whites of his eyes showed in a blind gaze. Tsubame struggled to pin his flailing limbs and settle Yahiko's body. She looked at Yahiko's feverish form, tears racing down her cheeks. Finally she closed her eyes and told herself, "Do not be afraid." She bent down and pressed her lips to his.
Yahiko's eyes closed and opened once again to see Tsubame kissing him. She broke her kiss and started crying again. Yahiko lifted a finger to her cheek and stopped a tear in its track. Her eyes opened and she gasped. He smiled and pulled her closer to him in another kiss.
Tsubame started to cry in happiness. Out of breath she gasped, "Hello, Sleeping Beauty. I thought I had lost you."
They both giggled and Yahiko kissed her again. Kenshin opened an eye, but decided to go back to sleep rather than disturb the two lovers. As long as it didn't interfere with their training he would let the matter rest. Knowing Tsubame, she could beat Yahiko black-and blue in a match and then kiss him afterwards as if nothing had happened… He looked at Miss Kaoru and wondered whether he would ever kiss her.
Yahiko turned to see the sky and sat up. "Look," he whispered, trying not to shout. "The sun is shining!"
They ran out into the sun and laughed. The trees and grass and everything steamed from the sudden change in temperature. The rain had stopped and the sky was free of clouds. Tsubame's prayers had been answered.
When they had finished kissing once again (cheesy rice! And before they thought the other was just a "friend"), Tsubame reminded Yahiko about last night. He laughed and put his arm around her waist. Tsubame wrapped her arm around his waist and said, "I still have to skin you alive. That won't put a damper on our friendship, will it?"
They grinned at each other and went inside the shrine to wake the others.
