Izumi tossed in her sleeping bag, the fire was doused and Takuya was snoring peacefully beside her.

"Figures." She shrugged. "I'll just go take a short walk."

Takuya rolled over like a dead log.

"Sleep tight." She stood up and hunted for her shoes, looking around to see if anyone else was awake.

1-2-3-4…wait, who's missing? She silently counted the sleeping bags. She counted them again and got the same result. Takuya, Junpei, Tomoki, Kouichi, Kouji…wait! Where's Kouji?

"Oh, well." She said out loud and set off in the exact same direction Kouji left a few hours ago.

A few minutes later, it started to rain. First, it was just a few refreshing drops, and Izumi didn't even think of turning back, but as she strolled through the bushes and looked up, a shower of rain came pouring down. It went from a normal shower to buckets in seconds and she became instantly blinded.

"Help!" She yelled. "Takuya! Junpei! Tomoki! Kouichi! Somebody!"

She ran blindly in whichever direction seemed at least somewhat less obscure.

"Help me!" She called again, stumbling over something. "Anyone!"

She didn't even know what yelling for help would do. Everyone else would be just as blinded by the rain.

She struggled to her feet, surprised to find a small stream before her, and just a few feet away, she thought she could see a cave entrance.

At a lack of a better plan, she ran straight into the darkness, not even sure if there was something inside already. Instead of more darkness, she ran into light, a fireplace, and there was someone already there.

"Hello," That someone said, "why don't you come in and get dry?"

---In the meantime—

"Takuya! Everyone! Wake up!" Tomoki cried, running around frantically.

"Hm? Tomoki, I'm trying to get some sleep here!" Takuya protested grumpily.

"It's raining!" Tomoki shouted.

"You don't say?" Junpei replied with his eyes still closed. "Pass the salt please."

"Kouichi!" The youngest boy pounced on the last of his sleeping friends. "Where's your brother? And Izumi?"

"Kouji's got a crush on someone." Kouichi muttered with an almost wicked smile on his face. "And I know who it is."

"Huh?" Tomoki looked like he was almost on the verge of tears. "We've got to go!"

Nobody seemed to notice that it was beginning to downpour. In a moment, everyone's sleeping bags were drenched and finally, some of them began to wake up.

"Who's throwing cold water on me?" Takuya yelled, sitting bolt upright. When he realized there were no snickering friends around, he looked around, confused. "Huh?"

"Tomoki! I was having a really nice dream with roast beef, and stuffing, and beautiful women." Junpei complained. "Rain doesn't justify you waking me up from that."

"Kouji? Izumi?" Kouichi's eyes snapped open. "Where are they?"

"Guys! We have to hurry and get out of this rain!" Tomoki interrupted. "All our stuff is getting wet!"

"Okay, guys, you heard the man…err…kid…we gotta get moving!" Takuya shouted.

"Aye, aye, captain." Junpei and Kouichi said simultaneously. They looked at each other, wondering why they were being so ridiculous.

"Ah…" Takuya shook his head as he put on his hat and goggles.

Quickly, though blinded, the group worked together to get all the camping supplies and sleeping bags packed up and under a tree. Then, they themselves piled into the shelter of another tree and watched the never-ending sheets of white fly before them.

"By the way." Kouichi began.

"Where's Izumi!" Takuya yelled.

---

"Wow…" Izumi mused. "You really know how to survive in the wilderness."

"Yeah?" Kouji replied, poking the fire with a stick. He didn't look at her.

"Mmhm." She replied earnestly. "I mean, you knew that the storm was coming and you found a cave to hide in."

"Uh…" He blushed a little and continued to poke the fire. His stick exploded in flame. "Whoa!"

"Just drop it into the fire." Izumi advised when he tried to shake the stick to put out the fire.

Kouji let go of the stick and sat back, panting to catch his breath. He looked over to Izumi. "Thanks."

She smiled. "Don't mention it."

A few moments of silence followed, broken by the sound of Izumi giggling.

"What's so funny?" He demanded, but in seconds was consumed by laughter too.