"You truly are a strange person." My best friend Mitsuru was looking at me, half smiling, half raising her eyes skeptically. "You must be the only living person who likes snow", she noted. I laughed, as I started to dance under the snowflakes. "Be careful or you'll slip, Kari-chan!", Mitsuru warned me. "The way is completely icy."

I turned to her, rolling my eyes. "I know Mit-chan, but it is fun", I told her and grinned. "You should try that too", I mocked her. "It would distract you from your troubles with this writer you always tell me about … What was his name …?"

Mitsuru's face went bright red. "Shigure Soma", she answered with a high-pitched voice and a terrified glow in her eyes. "He's horrible!", she squeaked. "He tortures me, just because he is bored or he thinks it's fun! Shigure purposely never finishes his manuscripts on time, or at least he tells me he hasn't finished them, and when he has to hand them in, he just leaves the city and disappears!" She sniffed desperately. "Believe me, Shigure Soma is pure evil!"

"But you are his editor!", I reminded her, half laughing, half being serious. "Why don't you just tell him to behave decently or to find himself a new editor?" "I can't", Mitsuru sighed. "But he mustn't torment you like this!", I argued, concerned for my best friend. "This is not healthy! And he isn't even your boyfriend!" "I know", Mitsuru answered. She shook her head. "And to think I found he was cute …", she mumbled.

"This is what I like about books", I thought to myself. "They never hurt or disappoint you …"

"Anyway", Mitsuru finally said. "I have to go now." She rolled her eyes. "Work." Her lunch break was always earlier than mine so that we could only meet for fifteen minutes in the park near the bookstore. Usually, Mitsuru just complained about Shigure Sohma before she had to go again. "Well then", I said, as I began to dance again under the snowflakes. "See you tomorrow!" Mitsuru giggled, as she watched me. "You should really try to act like a grown-up", she told me seriously. "But that wouldn't be fun!", I joked. Mitsuru had a look on her face that clearly said she thought I was nuts.

"Be careful that you don't catch a cold", she cautioned me. "I will", I answered as I closed my eyes, enjoying the feeling of the snowflakes on my skin. Okay, maybe I was a

bit crazy … Anyway.

Mitsuru left again (not without taking a deep breath, because she might have to face Shigure Soma again), I continued dancing. Only very few people came here at this time of day so that I didn't feel as if I would embarrass myself. I had no idea, someone was watching me, until I heard a soft voice. "Ahem."

I immediately turned around. And then I saw him … A young man, probably in his mid-twenties, was standing in front of me. Somehow, I had the strange feeling that he had been standing there for quite some time. Maybe because he was looking so surprised. And, because he was looking at me.

"Oh." I had stopped dancing by now. "I am sorry." I laughed nervously. The man was still staring at me, not saying a word. I could imagine, that he was trying to figure out if I was mental and he should call the police, or if I was just a strange, little girl.

"It is snowing", I tried to explain, knowing perfectly well how stupid I must be sounding to him. "I just wanted to …" "To dance?", the man finished my sentence. "Yes.", I replied, suddenly self-conscious, now that he had spoken to me. "In the snow", he added, in a tone that said, that no one in their right mind would do such a thing. "Well, as a matter of fact …" The man raised an eyebrow. "It is cold", he said, as if he would explain to a six-year old that one and one makes two. "And wet."

I shook my head, now smiling. "You shouldn't think of snow like that", I replied softly. "When it snows, the whole world becomes a magical place. Everything is so quiet and peaceful. It is like in a dream …" I let some snowflakes fall onto my hand. "Anything is possible …"

I looked up and for the first time, I could see directly into his eyes. They were beautiful … a piercing blue like I had never seen it before … Eyes that seem to knew everything …

He was smiling too. "I never thought of it that way …", he said, his voice far away, as if he was lost in thoughts. We both looked at the snow, falling down, in silence.

Finally, I worked up the courage, to introduce myself: "My name is Hikari Aino", I said and bowed politely. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

The man, who had been quiet until now, pulled himself together. I don't know why, but for some strange reason, he reminded me of someone who had just awakened from a dream. "Hello", he replied friendly and tilted his head. "I am Hatori Soma. It is … (he seemed to search for the right word) … interesting to meet you." Was that a compliment, or -?

I laughed. "If this makes you feel better, normally I do not dance around in parks." A small grin appeared on Hatori's handsome face. "Then it's okay."

An awkward silence followed his words, none of us knowing what to say. Shily, I looked more closely at Hatori. He was tall and slim, with black hair and beautiful hands with long and slender fingers. He wore a black coat, black trousers, a white shirt and a black tie. I knew instantly, that Hatori was the most handsome man I had ever met. Especially those eyes …

But one thing was strange: Hatori seemed sad. I could see it in his eyes. He was beautiful, but he didn't look happy. As if he would be in pain, like an animal that had lived in a cage for too long. He barely smiled and even when he did, the smile vanished as quickly as it had come. Like a dim ray of sunlight on a rainy and cold autumn day …

Hatori cleared his throat, bringing me back to reality. "I, I should go now", he said shily. "Okay." I nodded, being once more at a loss for words.

"Bye then." I wanted to shake his hand and went forward, as exactly the thing happened, that Mitsuru had warned me about: I slipped and twisted my ankle. "Ouch!" I nearly fell down, had not Hatori grabbed me at my hand in time to catch me. "Watch out!", he said anxiously, holding me tightly. "Is everything alright?" "I think so." I tried not to think about how close we were, so that I wouldn't blush too hard. Our faces nearly touched … I had never been so close to someone …

As he realised I wasn't going to break down, Hatori slowly let go of me again. "Thank you", I managed to say, my voice shaking. "It's okay." I reached out for my purse, which had fallen on the ground. "As you can see, I am really good at making a fool out of myself", I tried to joke. "I am deeply sorry, really." Hatori chuckled. A nice, happy sound … It gave me the bad feeling that he didn't laugh very often.

"Don't worry", he said. He leaned forward to help me get my purse. And then, all out of a sudden, completely unintentionally, our hands touched … My heart did a somersault. Hatori's finger trembled shortly. We both held my bag, not moving, not daring to look at each other. Something was happening … Just a few seconds, one touch … It made all the difference …

The noise of a book, falling on the ground pulled Hatori and me back into reality. He immediately let go of my purse, as if he would have done something he wasn't supposed to do. "Wait." He took my book. "Here." He gave it to me, as his eyes fell on the title.

"The Tiger and the story of the Chinese zodiacs?", he read, surprised. "Yes", I nodded, regaining my composure again. "A friend of mine gave it to me as a birthday present", I told him. Hatori seemed interested. "She gave you a book about the Chinese zodiacs for your birthday?", he asked, but not in a derisive sort of way. He really wanted to know more.

"I like the Chinese zodiacs and their story, since my mother has told me about them when I was a little child", I explained. "And you are a tiger", Hatori realised and smiled shortly. "That is why the title mentions it." I had to laugh. "Yes." He looked down to my purse. "Luckily, you are not a typical tiger", I heard him murmur. "What?", I asked. "Nothing", Hatori replied quickly. Obviously that was something I wasn't supposed to have heard.

Hatori got up again. "I should really go now." He stayed for a moment to say good-bye. "It was nice meeting you, Aino-san", he said friendly. "Yes, you too", I replied, hoping my voice wasn't too high and squeaky. It used to get like that, when I was nervous.

Then I wanted to stand up, when it happened: I felt a sharp pain in my left ankle. "Ouch!" I let out a small scream. Hatori immediately gently grabbed my arm. "Are you alright?", he asked, sounding worried. "I think I twisted my ankle", I answered, trying to be brave. "Let me look …" Hatori put his right hand to my injured foot. I clenched my teeth.

"That doesn't look good …", he said slowly. "You should come to my practice." "What?", I asked, taken aback. Hatori looked up. "I am a doctor", he explained, as he noticed my surprised face. "Oh."

I didn't know what to say to that. If he would have been someone else than Hatori Soma, I might have thought he was only trying to flirt with me. But he was serious. I had just met him and yet, Hatori felt so familiar, like I would have known him for ages. On the other side of course … Would it be really prudent to go with him now?

"I'll be fine", I answered evasively. "Are you sure?", Hatori asked, not convinced. I nodded. "Thank you for your help", I replied politely. But Hatori wasn't easy to be fooled. "You are in pain", he said urgently. "You should have a doctor take a look at your ankle. My practice is right around the corner."

I hesitated for a moment. "It's not that", I tried to explain and laughed self-consciously. "It is a bit embarrassing really." Hatori raised an eyebrow. "I am terribly scared of doctors and medical practices", I confessed. "When I was a little child I was often sick and spent much time at the hospital and I think I have a trauma from that. Everytime I have to go to the dentist for example, I nearly faint." "That sounds awful.", Hatori replied, sympathetically. "It is", I assured him.

I paused. This was the very first time that I had told anyone except my parents about my fear of hospitals. But Hatori understood. "I promise you, it won't hurt", he said as he helped me get up. "And I won't use any needles, if that comforts you." I had to laugh. "No needles sound good", I replied.

And so I went with Hatori Soma … I had no idea that I just did something, that would soon change my entire life … When I look back know, I can say that my first encounter with Hatori Soma happened really quickly and completely by pure chance … In general it wouldn't even have been worth mentioning … It just happened … And it soon would turn my whole world upside down …