I wrote this chapter for the two reviewers that wanted to see a little "action" between the couple. It's no night of wild monkey sex but I find it a bit too early in the story to have them go that far yet. More on the Combination Festival in the next chapter. We see just what it is that the schools will be competing for when it comes to Mizuki as the prize...

Chapter Three

Mizuki leaned over her desk, picking up the wall calendar that Julia had sent her from America, it was one that was in English with pictures of track events, a hard type to find…

Turning it over, Mizuki smiled thoughtfully at the note taped to the back.

Dear Mickey,

So, how are things at the school? I imagine they're fine as always since that's what you're telling me in all of your letters but it doesn't hurt to ask when you're worried about your friends right? I miss you and even though it was for the best…I'm kinda starting to regret leaving Japan but there were too many people there at that school hitting on me like that Nanba guy. He gave me chills and not the pleasant ones either…

Speaking of chills, Christmas is coming up and as you've reminded me of several times in the past, Sano's birthday is coming up as well, are you going to get him anything this year or will you finally ask him out? I know, I know, you've got a secret to keep but it's already been a year! Just find a way to find out how he feels about you! Get him drunk; at least you'll get a kiss out of that.

P.S.

Don't worry; I'll take care of things at your house.

Take care!

Love, Julia

"Julia…" Mizuki mumbled, brushing her fingertips over the handwriting.

Oh…Julia had no idea of what kind of mess she was in now…and even though Julia said she left because of all of the guys hitting on her she had left for other reasons, reasons that Mizuki was uncertain about but had no choice but to go with. But if Julia knew about this contest…what would she do about it?

Sighing, Ashiya leaned across the table, flipping over the calendar again and looking at the cover picture of a man positioned to start running, the determination on his face…it made her wonder if he was as determined as she felt when she first came to Japan even though this man's determination was most-likely focused on winning the race rather then shipping himself off to another country to stalk his idol. No…hers was unique and even now she was as close as she could be with Sano in this disguise. He was only behind the bathroom door taking a shower; she could smell the shampoo they both used vaguely since the room was small enough to carry such scents.

"First prize…" she muttered, laying down the collection of months. "They're looking at me as a prize…after the dance…the festival…and now I've got to dress up again!" Digging her hands into her hair she groaned, "I can't do this!"

She spent so much time whining about it to herself she hardly noticed that the bathroom door had opened. Her eyes were closed as she tilted back in her chair and continued to ruffle her hair in her own frustration as images of what was to come flashed through her mind.

Opening her eyes, Mizuki gasped, seeing Sano's face hovering over hers.

"Are you done whining?" he asked, "I could hear you from the bathroom."

She immediately moved to sit up straight and her forehead collided with his.

"YEOW!"

The roommates clung to their throbbing heads, Mizuki bending far over her knees in her hair and Sano straight but rubbing the collision area gingerly. And he had been hoping he could escape any sort of injury tonight…not with Mizuki Ashiya on duty, oh no…

Sano lowered his hand, noticing how Ashiya was still bent over, whimpering while clinging to her head. She bobbed a little, hair sliding down and exposing her neck, the dark strands looking…rather tempting. He moved around the chair, couching down in front of her, pushing urges aside and instead reaching up, coaxing her head up to where he could see it.

Lifting her head, Mizuki looked up at him with teary eyes.

"That hurt…" she mumbled.

"You think?" he smiled, only messing with her. "Here, let me see you forehead…"

He carefully pushed her bangs out of the way to observe the damage, the only difference was that the flesh was pinker then it had been, a little red where she had hit him directly but nothing worth panicking about. The only thing Sano had to worry about was how his eyes were wondering rather then staying on her forehead. Black met brown as he caught her gaze, not noticing how Mizuki's widened briefly but the sudden eye-lock.

Oh God...Sano's eyes…

The high jump star's lips parted a moment but closed again, he thought he was going to create an excuse and move away…but the words failed to act. He wanted to stay there…stay by her side where he could reach her.

Sure…once upon a time he had kissed her but that was to give her water and then there was the time where he believed he had kissed her after drinking a bit too much but she didn't mention it at all. He'd snuck a few in but only managed to brave her cheeks or her forehead but the places he wanted to get to were out of reach.

She had no idea how badly he wished she wasn't trying to keep a secret. At the rate of things…he wasn't sure if self-control would have much of a hold on him anymore.

"Sano?"

He blinked.

"Um…I-I just remembered!" she stood up suddenly, making sure that she didn't collide with him again, "There was some sort of movie on tonight that Noe said I should check out…want to watch it with me?"

"Looking for an excuse to get on my bed?" he asked, forcing himself to stand again.

"N-No! I-I just thought you wanted to—"

Sano smiled at her, covering her mouth with his hand.

"Grab a pillow and the television and we'll watch it."

((Line here))

It was becoming predictable for Mizuki to fall asleep beside him, of course Sano didn't know exactly why at the time but it was because of his warmth. Mizuki loved the feel of his body heat next to hers and it would just lull her asleep like an electric blanket…there were even times when their legs became enfolded in one another while they were sleeping. But those nights were forgotten, they couldn't afford to remember those nights…aloud anyway…

Sano averted his eyes from the television screen, peering down at Mizuki beside him, the rise and fall of her body was enough proof that she was out like a light.

Like clockwork… he thought, reaching over and switching the television off.

As a result, Mizuki mumbled in her sleep, turning over and curling up into Sano's chest since he had been lying on his side. He watched, tense and silent as her fingers found his shirt and they closed tightly on the fabric, her forehead pressing into his collarbone as she curled up closer.

"Sano…" she mumbled.

He was beginning to get used to hearing her mumble his name…the only question was…what was she dreaming of? Was Mizuki the type to have sex dreams? She would talk in her sleep and call him sexy, that would really get him to turn as red as a chili pepper or she once rubbed against him. The result was him sleeping on the floor as would always happen whenever Mizuki's sleep actions would turn him on at the wrong time.

"Mizuki." He whispered, leaning his head down so that his face was in her hair, each breath containing the same shampoo smell as his own but hers was different to him just as their detergent was different to her on him. "I know…"

It was the only time he could tell her that he knew of her secret…the only time he knew she wouldn't panic and try to cover it up again. In her sleep…he could tell her whatever he wanted without having to worry about the outcome…but…could he do what he wanted?

Oh how badly he wanted to test that theory…

His hand found her wrist and he smoothed his palm over it then up her arm. She mumbled again but didn't open her eyes. He continued to run his hand up her arm until he smoothed her shirt over her shoulder blades and ran down the curve of her spine as far as his hand would go. Pleasantly warm to his touch, Sano ran his hand up her arm again…but this time he slipped it beneath the sleeve of her shirt and cupped her shoulder even though he could feel the denim vest beneath her shirt.

She took precaution tonight…that was smart.

Removing his hand, from her sleeve he tried to push himself up so he could move over her and get to the floor or at least reach the floor so he could find a way to keep himself from continuing his sudden desire to touch Mizuki as much as he could since he would have no other chances without telling her that he knew all about her secret.

Almost free of her, Sano froze as Mizuki rolled onto her back, one arm resting over her chest and the other over her head. Heart giving another threatening pound in his chest, Sano moved again but not to climb off the bed, his knees wouldn't let him move another inch away from her. Instead he was poised over her sleeping frame, staring down at her in silence.

"You have no idea what you do…" he whispered, lowering himself and one of his hands closed around her wrist, holding it down as his other hand braced him from suddenly collapsing on top of her.

Sano's lips brushed over her forehead then her cheek, only pausing to check and see that the eyes weren't creeping open. He kissed her jaw very lightly, not daring to wake her by suddenly blocking her mouth with his own and causing her to wake up. That's when he moved down and his mouth felt her neck for the first time, catching the smell of soap mingling with her shampoo. He tasted the warm flesh for a moment and lightly pecked at the base of her neck when she mumbled something, the hand that had been resting on her chest suddenly reaching up and touching Sano's face, more like jabbing it with her finger.

Quickly jerking his head up, Mizuki's hand felt air for a moment before reaching up further and her fingertips found his head, she slid her fingers through his hair, pulling at his head a little. Sano noticed how she was writhing a little beneath him, lips moving to say something but the words were mute.

Am I making her dream that…

Sano's pounding heart skipped a beat.

He released her other hand and climbed off of the bed, nearly hitting his head on the bottom of Ashiya's bed when he straightened up too fast. A safe distance away, he watched her groan softly then turn over onto her side, one hand rubbing her arm up to her shoulder where he had been rubbing it before her hand grew slack and her body still. Only the steady breaths of sleep escaped her.

"Jeez…" Sano ran a hand through his hair, his cheeks were stinging and his pounding heart had his blood singing and his hormones were crying out in anger but he ignored the desperate cries. "I need…I need a drink…"

He strode to his desk, picking up his coat from where it was draped over the back and pulled it on as he strode towards the door.

No…I don't need a drink… he thought but opened the door anyway and stepping out into the hallway after he had his shoes on.

I need Mizuki…

Due to the problems I am having with this story, I apologize for the countless errors in the script so far. My Microsoft Word was deleted when my computer was fixed and I was in such a rush to get it on the site that I didn't proofread it. The only way I could get this stuff up there was by downloading this thing called Microsoft Viewer, where you can LOOK at the stuff you've saved on floppies but you can't edit any of it. But I've got my Word back! hugs monitor

I'll make sure to write the next few chapters much better if I don't forget my plot. Oo