Merry Christmas everyone!

Your reviews for the last chapter left me laughing a lot. Thanks. I was evil wasn't I? To let Shizuru be kidnapped like that on her birthday. xD

I've done some simple drawings for this story, if you're interested in seeing them, I posted the links on my profile. They're just drawings of the characters. If you do take a look, thanks, I appreciate it. :)

During the night and into the early hours of the morning, the rain continued to shower vigorously outside my window. I had woken up in the middle of it feeling restless and worried. Feelings that had just suddenly come to me amidst my dreamless sleep. My heart had begun thundering upon my chest almost painfully and I wondered why it was acting like that as I had gone to sleep calm and happy. The events that had happened earlier today had been pushed to the furthest recesses of my mind and even right now I am not thinking about it as I had given myself not a single opportunity to ponder upon it for fear of ruining the vacation.

*Flashback*

"Come on, mama!"

She ran towards the lake, unable to stop her excitement. It has been awhile since her family came here and she could not wait to explore the grounds once more.

"Do you think Duran is here?"

She turned towards her mother once more who was walking towards her calmly, taking her time.

"You mean Duran the puppy? Isn't he in your backpack?" Natsuki teased, pointing towards the purple bag her daughter was holding; smiling as her daughter gave her a pout.

"Ikezu! You know what I mean," she admonished, her hands resting upon her hips in mock irritation, causing her mother to let out a chuckle.

"He should be here; this is his home after all. Every time we come, he's never failed to meet with us," she replied, ruffling her daughter's hair.

Two eyes watched them from behind some bushes; its colour, yellow like the moon under the night sky. It waited for the right moment to pounce on the unsuspecting individuals; bending its hind legs, it got ready to jump. And pounce it did, directly on the taller of the two, burying its fur onto her body. With a lick on her nose, the win was his.

"Duran!" Natsuki shouted after being pummeled to the ground.

"You've grown so much. Is it me or has your tummy gotten bigger?" she joked, stroking his fur. He growled at her before turning around and swishing his tail in her face. Feeling satisfied when she cried "Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I was just joking you fur ball," he directed his attention to Shizuka who had chosen to watch him intently with sparkling eyes.

"Jeez, I didn't know wolves were sensitive about their weight," Natsuki uttered quietly. If he did hear it, he chose to ignore it, choosing instead to nudge his nose on Shizuka's cheek.

"Hello, little one," he seemed to silently say, his eyes enunciating them perfectly.

Shizuka has only seen the wolf once before. She was about two years old when her parents last took her to their lakeside vacation spot. Kaya, whose condition had gotten worse the past years made them unable to make the trip here again. There was never a time where they had thought to leave her behind and visit themselves.

His fur was grey and white and soft to the touch. Standing regally like royalty before her, his dignified presence astounded her. She was enthralled by his rough beauty once more; he looked exactly like he did two years ago and her hand reached towards him to make her memory tangible. She traced her hands all over his face and he let her, not uttering a sound. Natsuki by then had already left, giving them the time to reacquaint themselves.

His big exterior allowed him to support her weight without straining a muscle. Shizuka, who did not know this, was quite hesitant when he nudged her to do so. But with a reassuring lick to her cheek, she was unable to protest. So there she sat on the back of this large magnificent creature, overlooking the valley below on the cliff he took her to not too far away. And once again, she found herself speechless of the beauty displayed before her. She took her time taking it bit by bit as Duran waited silently for her.

The Sun setting made the view all the more ethereal as the orange hues graced the vast land before them. But the distancing Sun also meant that they should be heading back for she was expected to be home before nightfall or her mother might worry. She didn't need to say anything to let Duran know of her need to return. Probably, he already knew it, having turned around when he noticed she was looking down at him. She felt like they had a silent understanding between each other; knowing what the other felt without the need of words and she noticed it was like this with Duran and her mothers as well, recalling the times where her parents would do things with the majestic wolf.

The smell of dinner wafted from the kitchen, tickling both their noses and causing a grumble from the child's stomach. She had forgotten how hungry she was; the little sightseeing she had kept her entranced the whole time. They both walked towards Natsuki who had her back towards them, reading a book on the couch. Dinner was already done fifteen minutes ago and she had opted to read, not knowing when the two would be back.

"Had fun, angel?" she inquired, raising her head towards them.

The question brought a smile to her face and she nodded her head energetically.

"It was beautiful, mama!"

Getting up from the couch, she ruffled both their hair with her hands before leading the both of them to the kitchen.

"Now that your little adventure is over for today, let's see to it that your stomachs are filled. And yes, Duran I have something for you as well."

Biting down on his steak, Duran gave a howl of approval from his position not far from the dining table.

"I am glad you are pleased with your slab of meat, Duran. I brought it especially for you."

He looked up at her for a minute in what would seem as a thanks in his eyes before going back to masticating his meat.

"So where did you go?" she asked Shizuka.

She could tell the girl was bubbling with excitement to tell her. Especially since her tea was left untouched. Odd, for it was a habit of hers to drink tea all the time; one she could have gotten from her mother. Smiling as wide as she could, Shizuka happily recounted every single detail she experienced with Duran.

*End Flashback*

After hours of trying to go back to sleep and failing miserably, I settled to go down and have a cup of tea. The rain had slowed to a mild drizzle by now and was showing signs of stopping soon. That was good since if it had continued on, Shizuka and I would have to stay indoors even though we had come all the way here to enjoy the great outdoors.

As the house was unequipped with modern entertainment such as a television and any game console, I was stuck with reading a book as a way to pass the time. This house was the home away from electronics and the place to be surrounded by nature so it was stripped to the barest of forms and the only things that used electricity were the lights and heater.

The pit of my stomach was still feeling uneasy as I turned from page to page; the words barely registering in my mind. It was hard to concentrate with my heart beating restlessly, the tempo far above normal.

So…warm….I wonder what it is? I can feel the coldness fading as if it were never there. I try to open my eyes but they were so heavy. My hands and legs were uncooperative as well, choosing to stay where they were. Before long, I felt my consciousness slipping once again as I snuggled into the warmth beside me.

Duran's howls thundered through the house, his nails could be heard scratching upon the door. Immediately I jumped to my feet, racing towards him to find out what was causing him distress.

He held his gaze upon me, bright and bold. There could have been traces of tears but before I could linger upon the thought he nudged me, asking me to follow him.

"What's wrong?"

His cries earlier were loud enough to awake my daughter, who, like me, reacted at once and came down to see what was the problem.

"I'm going to go and see. You stay here and sure all the door and windows are locked okay Shizuka? Don't go out and don't let any strangers in."

When I got a nod from her, Duran raced off into the forest, not wasting a minute.

"I'll be back."

He had waited for the rain to stop and the Sun to rise before he came to me. The urgency in his eyes stated how dangerous the situation was and that time was crucial. My feet pounded against the wet ground, a contrast to his flitting feet which made little noise despite his fast movements. We passed countless number of trees, all green and fresh with dew. The air was still misty, feeling chilly against my skin. The further we got, the harder my heart pounded in my ears. Was this what I was anxious about?

Lub-dub.

Lub-dub. Lub-dub.

And then he turned his eyes upon me once more, signaling to our arrival. A small cave hidden away deep in the heart of the forest. Wasting not a second, I ran inside, Duran right beside me.

Not long after, my eyes fell upon a body and from where I stood I could see familiar brown tresses peeking out. I gasped at the sight, reigning in whatever emotion that was ready to burst out. Now was not the time.

I held onto her hand and it felt very cold to the touch. Her skin was pale and her breathing seemed laboured. Grabbing a hold onto her without thinking, I carried her on my back. Almost immediately the scent of lavender invaded my senses and I trembled. Frowning at my pathetic state, I forced my thoughts away and tried to only focus on my will to save this woman. Duran's howls for me to hurry up had helped me in that endeavor as I raced back homewards with him leading the way so I wouldn't get lost.

The familiar scent of the ocean is surrounding me. It feels like I am floating in the air, suspended from the ground. But something is covering me, I can feel it wrapped around me like a spring roll. I turn to my side and it follows me, continuing to keep its hold on me. And when I attempted to push it aside, the cold air swoops in and I shiver against it. The next thing I know a voice speaks out and the cover is placed back, wrapping me with warmth once again.

"Baka, do you want to freeze yourself to death again?"

That voice is familiar too. It was like music in my ears. Beautiful. I find myself craving to hear more of it, moving my hands to push the covers again.

"Stop doing that."

A hand grabs hold of both of mine and I don't fight against it. I feel like my strength has depleted, the cold grip on mine the only thing holding them up. Why do I feel so weak? Covering me once again, the hand releases mine, burying them beneath the layer as well. That same hand again appears on my forehead, pushing aside the hairs upon my head. It was cold, causing me to let a whimper escape my lips.

"Crap."

All of a sudden the hand leaves me, the presence beside me disappearing with it. I frown, upset at the lost of contact; I was beginning to like it. Then I hear a rush of footsteps and the sway of water, whispers of curses following after. It came nearer and nearer before it stopped just a few steps away. A rush of water sounded beside me and immediately after that something wet and warm swept across my face, the sweat that had begun to gather, wiped away, the wet trail feeling cool as air rushed in, covering my skin with goose bumps. A sigh of content leaves my lips as the uneasiness in my chest starts to fade away.

It's been a few hours since I brought her back here and still her fever seems to not want to relinquish its hold on her. She hasn't woken up from her fever induced slumber. Her arms felt weak against my hold which meant that her strength had not returned yet.

When I came home, Shizuka had thrown a minor hissy fit. It was a rare sight indeed for she does not act like this often. She didn't like the idea of this woman being in our home despite the obvious signs of ailment upon her features. No words had left her mouth but the look on her face was not hidden. She was clearly upset and the pout upon her face showed her displeasure. Stamping her foot once, she narrowed her eyes at me before leaving with Duran out the front door. I sent her off to play with Duran seeing as she didn't like the presence of the Fujino president. She'll come back when she has cooled off and accepted the idea that this woman was going no where at the moment.

I was shocked at how red Fujino looked when I first laid her on the bed and it pained me to see it because it reminded me of how Kaya would look when she fell ill. The similarities between the two were uncanny from the line of the brow to the curve of the chin. How could they look so much alike?

She had sighed when I wiped her face clean of sweat, her features contorting into a peaceful smile. She seemed to be feeling better. That was good. Deeming it safe to leave her side at the moment, I left for the kitchen. I needed to make some breakfast and some food for her.

Shizuka was already seated at the table when I stepped inside; in her hands, a cup of tea. Duran was lying at her feet with his eyes closed and ears in a relaxed position, probably sleeping. She looked up at me, a smile on her lips as if the irritated state she was in earlier was only my imagination

"Would you like a cup of tea? I just made some," she spoke, her finger circling the clay cup.

"Yes, please," I answered. A cup of tea sounds nice right now. I was feeling quite thirsty.

Her small feet stepped upon the wooden stool as she poured some tea for me from a teapot, careful to not spill a drop as I took my seat across from her own at the table. She clutched the cup protectively between her fingers as she made her way from the kitchen counter to my seat and laid it down gently before me. Taking a sip of the fragrant green liquid, I closed my eyes when I felt the warmth spread through my body. It was very calming to say the least.

The egg fizzled on the pan, bubbles popping here and there. The spatula in my hand slid beneath it, taking a hold of it as I lifted the spatula to the plate sitting readily on my other hand. With two already done, I placed the plate onto the table. I put Shizuka in charge of the toast which she duly fulfilled, buttering them after they popped out of the toaster.

Together we ate in silence, the chirping of birds filling our lack of conversation. Duran continued to sleep under the table, his nose whistling as he breathed. It made me chuckle, my daughter raising an eyebrow at my sudden mirth.

"He's snoring," I said, pointing downwards and she giggled, looking at me.

When the dishes were washed, I started on making some porridge for the bed ridden brunette. Making porridge was simple enough, a dish I have made quite often due to the numerous occasions where my beloved had fallen ill. Watching the fire, I waited for it to boil before I lowered down the heat to a simmer. Stirring occasionally, I added bits and pieces of chicken and vegetables here and there and some spices to give it some flavour.

By the time I got back to the room, my charge had already sat up on the bed, wondering where the hell she was for the look in her eyes before she noticed me was one of lost and confusion. And when she did see me, she became even more confused and not to mention, guarded as well.

"I found you in the woods this morning."

She tried to say something but when she opened her mouth, all that came out was a series of coughs. Her throat must have been dry. Holding a cup of water before her, she readily took it from my hands and drank it.

"How do you feel?"

She didn't respond to my question so I took it upon myself to check by placing a hand on her forehead. Her skin felt hot upon my palm but it was much better than earlier.

"Its still warm but I think after eating some medicine and getting some more rest you should feel better. But first you have to eat."

She watched me as I brought a tray towards her and when she went to take the clay pot; I swatted her hands away which made her look at me questioningly.

"I'll feed you. You haven't gotten your strength back, right?"

Her eyes had turned cheery for a second and it looked like she was about to say something but it never came and the look disappeared. I was tempted to ask her about it but since she had a pleasant smile on her face, I didn't linger upon my curiosity.

"That is nice of you Kuga-san," she said after awhile, folding her hands on her lap. Her voice sounded raspy; her usually smooth Kyoto accent hoarse and throaty yet she still managed to maintain her grace, her whole body exuding elegance and etiquette by just a simple posture.

She ate each and every bite I gave quietly and somewhat reserved. I don't know why but it felt like she was holding back on something. Maybe she was just feeling uncomfortable being in an unfamiliar environment.

Shizuru was indeed feeling uncomfortable but it wasn't what Natsuki was thinking. She felt like she was surrounded by broken glass; any wrong step would mean horrible consequences. In the presence of Natsuki, she was afraid of upsetting her. She never really cared for other people's feelings before except for her parents but for some strange reason she felt horrible with what had happened before.

She was sorely tempted to tease and the blue haired woman only made it worse by leaving so many opportunities. It was torturous but she managed to stop herself, biting her lips when she couldn't hold it in. Most of the time she just smiled at her and kept her mouth busy by eating.

It was hard to swallow with her throat feeling scratchy but it was necessary to eat when one was sick. Her body needed the nutrients and the medicine could not be taken on an empty stomach. Luckily, the food was at least tasty so it made the experience a lot less horrible.

After taking the medicine, Natsuki made Shizuru lie back down on the bed, ordering her to get some rest. She took a seat at the chair beside the bed, deciding to accompany the brunette until she fell asleep. Her sights were met with Shizuru's back when the brunette turned her body to the side and unconsciously she frowned.

"Were you taking care of me this whole time?" Shizuru's voice penetrated the silence they were enveloped in. It sounded soft and meek, so very unlike her usual persona.

"Uh, yeah," Natsuki answered simply, taken aback.

"Thank you."

Her cheeks felt warm. Is she blushing? Was it from the fever or could it be that she was embarrassed? Shizuru hoped it was the former as she touched her cheeks with her hands.

Natsuki too was blushing herself; surprised at the sudden express of gratitude from her charge. Shizuru was acting differently than how she when she first met her. And she smiled, feeling a sudden rush of happiness.

"You're welcome."

She had wanted to ask her what she was doing in the forest in the rain but missed her chance when she heard the rhythmic breathing coming from the mysterious woman. Shizuru had already fallen asleep.

Before she knew it, she was looking at the serene face, a hand stroking the soft cheek lovingly. When she realized the way she was acting, she quickly pulled her hand away, eyes wide in bewilderment. She ran out of the room, blushing furiously and shaking her head vigorously.

"What were you doing Natsuki!" she whispered harshly to herself.

Leaning her head against the wall, she closed her eyes and sighed.