Kazuha kicked a pebble aside vindictively as she wandered down the streets of Kyoto. Of all the stereotypical class trip destinations her senior year had to choose from, they'd chosen Kyoto?

She was half-heartedly looking for Heiji. He'd wandered off on his own a while ago, and Kazuha knew where he'd gone. He'd probably gone to the shrine where he'd seen his first love. He always did whenever he was in Kyoto, probably hoping she'd return. Kazuha snorted, kicking another pebble. Well, he could drop the romantic delusions. If he didn't get back soon, sensei was gonna be pissed. Not that she cared, anyway. Let the baka get reamed out for chasing some other girl. She didn't care. She didn't.

She paused as a few sakura petals floated past her. She looked around, and realized that she was standing next to the open gate into the courtyard of some temple.

"Hey... this is the temple I used to play in when I was little, wasn't it?" she remembered, wandering over to the huge old Sakura tree, running her hands over its worn old bark. It was like an old friend to her...

"Marutake Ebisu Ni Ochi Oike..." she sang softly, remembering the song that her cousins had taught her.

"I knew ya'd be back someday."

Kazuha squeaked a little in surprise as she whipped around, wondering how Heiji had crept up without her noticing him. He was standing not far away, hands in pockets, wearing the gentlest smile she'd seen on him in a long time.

"H-Heiji?" she stammered. "Whaddya mean?"

"Didn't I ever tell ya exactly what happened that day?" Heiji asked, slowly walking over to her. "It was at this temple I saw her. She was wearin' a little red kimono, an' she was all dressed up, hair done up, makeup an' all... I thought she musta been older..."

"What?" Kazuha asked, stepping backwards as Heiji continued towards her, backing up against the tree.

"An' she sang that song," Heiji continued, still walking towards her. "Only she sang it wrong, sayin' "ane-san" instead a' "yome-san"... just like you. An' when ya told me that story about when we were kids, when ya got all dressed up an' came lookin' fer me, I realized..."

"Heiji..." Kazuha began, but her voice died as Heiji reached out, placing his hands either side of her on the thick tree trunk, trapping her there as he leaned over her, his eyes sparkling emeralds.

"The little girl that day... she was you," he said quietly. "I thought she'd got away from me... but here ya were, all this time. Right under my nose. An' I never even realized..."

"It was... me...?" Kazuha whispered. Somehow, she couldn't look away from Heiji, even though the look in his eyes made her knees weak...

"I think it is you," Heiji said, "An' if it is, there's somethin' I've been wantin' ta give you..." Before Kazuha had time to think, he'd leaned down and kissed her.

She couldn't think what to do. The warm press of his lips on hers was almost too much. She reached up, clinging to him for support, inadvertently deepening the kiss- something which didn't really feel like a problem to her, and if the way he kissed her back was any indication, he felt the same way.

He leaned against her, pressing her against the tree trunk, the warm weight of his body a far too pleasant sensation; his hands sliding down to wrap around her, fingers running down her back, trailing shivers down her spine…

"Kazuha-chaaaaan!"

"Hattoriiii!"

"Where the hell are they?"

"I think Kazuha-chan went this way looking for him…"

Heiji broke away, glancing around, but the low-hanging sheet of sakura petals had them mostly covered… still, their feet were visible…

"I forgot," Kazuha groaned, thumping her head back against the worn old tree trunk. "I was lookin' for ya 'cause sensei was tryin' ta round everyone up…"

"Well, sensei can wait a bit," Heiji said, reaching up and grabbing one of the lower branches, hauling himself up. He reached down, taking her hand to pull her up.

"C'mon," he said. "Ya know I won't drop ya."

"Yeah," Kazuha said with a little smile, feeling the strength in his dark arms as he pulled her up next to him. They didn't have to go far to be completely out of sight, hidden behind the pink blossoms. Surrounded by a thick layer of the flowers, their sweet scent filling her nostrils, she felt a little light-headed, as if…

" 'S like a dream, ain't it?" Heiji said, putting an arm around her shoulders and watching the flowers flutter in the breeze. "Like then… the best moments never really feel real."

"Well, if it's a dream…" Kazuha said softly, craning around to look at him, "I'm happy not ta wake up fer a bit." A part of her was already stocking up for an argument about not telling her, letting her feel jealous of the geisha girl, all the little frustrations which the two of them so loved fighting over; but for now, she was content to rest in the peace and happiness of the moment.

That, and he kissed her again, and she'd have to stop to shout at him. And somehow, she just couldn't bring herself to.

15/09/09- For Pretztailfan95, who is a Heiji fangirl. Happy Birthday Pretz-chan!