Chapter 2

Here were some personal facts about Nobuyuki Taman: he enjoyed most sports, and was an avid fan of historical non-fiction. He had a weakness for good cheese, smooth jazz and busty brunettes. He was the youngest of four children to a Japanese mother and an American father. He had two sisters and a brother who was the eldest, none of which he particularly got along with because they often teased him during his childhood about his odd little habit: since the age of four he'd been prone to uncommonly frequent night terrors.

One night, when he'd been eight years old, he'd woken up screaming and drenched in sweat. It had taken his mother hours to calm her babbling and sobbing young son. Hours. His siblings had had no idea what he'd been saying. When asked what Nobuyuki had dreamed of, all he could remember was a pair of 'green eyes.'

When he was sixteen years old, camping on a school trip in Japan, he'd experienced something that he could never really describe accurately to anyone - Nobuyuki had always refused to sleep in tents, he preferred being outside, watching the constellations as they traversed across the abyss. That particular night the sky had been so clear and beautiful, it had seemed unreal… sometimes he wonders if it had been. With years of hindsight, he thinks he should have known something unnatural was going to happen. It had been little too peaceful, not even the crickets had been chirping. What had occurred was no natural phenomenon: a crack of thunder and lightning had deafened his every sense, tingled every fibre of his being in alertness. The sky had been clear yet the thunder had roared again - there'd been a screaming whistle in the trees, but no wind to cause it. And then suddenly a jolt seared through his body, and he immediately felt lighter and freer than he'd ever been. But it frightened him, more than anything it terrified him down to his very core. Why did he suddenly feel so free when he'd never felt trapped before in his life?

At eighteen he came out of school with high grades, with a predilection from STEM and a particular passion for space. He'd taken a gap year between high school and university, and was currently doing very well in his second year of astrophysics and history at K.O University.

Today, though, Nobuyuki was on vacation, wandering through the streets of China - something had drawn him here. Something even as a scientist he could not fathom.

At the hotel

Upon checking in with Haruka and Michiru, Makoto was surprised to find they were in they were staying in the penthouse suite, though after a moment's thought she realised it shouldn't have been, considering the income of the power-couple she was staying with.

When she got into her room, after saying goodnight to Haruka and Michiru, she flopped like a fish onto the king-sized bed, and when she was done giggling she looked out of the window and smiled. The stars seemed brighter than usual. She had a feeling that this was going to be a good trip.

The next morning

Makoto woke up after having the best night's sleep she'd in forever. She sat up in bed and took in her surroundings and smiled. When she eventually got out of bed she got washed and dressed and then went downstairs to find Haruka and Michiru already at the breakfast bar having hot drinks (Haruka, a coffee of course and Michiru, tea). That amused her a lot -some things never changed.

Haruka grinned when she saw Makoto "Morning, you sleep well?"

Makoto nodded. "Best sleep I've had in a long time," she responded with a smile and set herself down at the bar. Michiru passed her a coffee and Makoto took it gratefully.

"So we don't have to be at the theatre until six thirty tonight," Haruka said, "it's your choice Makoto, what would you like to do?"

"I've always wanted to just wander around Hong Kong. It seems like such a cool city!."

"Exploring it is then," Michiru said kindly.

They'd barely left the hotel, however, when Makoto felt a strange shaking sensation in her chest. Without even pausing to think why, she made a beeline for the park across the street.

"Makoto?" Haruka called. When she received no response, she and Michiru chased after her.

Nobuyuki was currently sat by the pond at the park, the smell of roses surrounding him. He liked it, it made him feel at peace.

Makoto felt lighter and calmer the closer she seemed to get to the pond. She didn't understand it, but something was there. She need to be there, to be with it, to see it. Nothing else mattered, not the other two still on her trail, not the people who were forced to get out of the way, not even the cars that honked at her as she crossed the street to get to the part.

She didn't hear the clip clop of hooves, or Haruka screaming her name. She did feel a large body shove her to the ground, strong arms around her waist as she looked up into brown eyes she recognised. Before she could say anything, her world went black.

When Makoto opened her eyes she found herself looking at the white ceiling tiles she didn't recognise. Her whole body hurt and she turned her head to see that it was dark outside "Haruka?" she called weakly, "Michiru?"

"They have a performance at the theatre so I volunteered to look after you while you were asleep. They said they'd be back as soon as they're done. Try not to move so much, you've got a badly sprained ankle and a mild concussion," a masculine voice explained.

Through the fog of semi-consciousness, a name floated through. "Nephrite," she murmured. That sounded just like him

He leaned closer, so she could see him. "Hi," he said, brown eyes sparkling with happiness.