Authors Note: Thank you to everyone reading this. A special thank you to the lovely BanchouTheWise for the first review and for following this story for what i believe is a second time. I will apologise now that I haven't really proof read this. I'm having an awful week and I just wanted to post something.

The two seniors sat silently at the dining table and as Mitsuru's eyes remained steadfast on Akihiko he found his cast anywhere but on the woman in front of him.

"Akihiko-" She began, voice calm, "We have rules." His cheeks dusted pink, he owed to tell her the truth, but the thought of Mitsuru hearing that they'd been sneaking out to Tartarus, about Hamuko being injured while they were there, he didn't want to imagine the pain she would inflict on him. On the other hand, he thought, a boy being on the girls floor, in one of the rooms, broke the dorm rules which would also result in Mitsuru inflicting grievous pain. It was only when she spoke that Akihiko broke from his thoughts,

"I understand if you want to date one of the juniors, there are no rules forbidding that." She sighed, "But the rules on floor restrictions are there for a reason and as a senior you should be setting an example. Whatever.." Mitsuru gave a light cough, delicately choosing her next words, "debaucheries you engage in." She hadn't meant to use that choice of wording, Akihiko could tell by the look of mild shock on her face and by her cheeks that now flushed pink.

"Mitsuru." He cut in, not wanting that sentence to continue, "It was nothing like that. Ham- Hamuko wasn't feeling well when I bumped into her last night." His brain raced to piece together a believable story, "I heard someone stumbling around down here so I came to check it out. She had a little bit of a temperature and some dizziness so I took her to her room. I only stayed to keep an eye on her." Raising an eyebrow Mitsuru did not look so convinced.

"She seemed fine this morning."

"Oh," He began to fluster once more, "She must have fought it off." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

Relief brushed over Akihiko as Mitsuru stood quickly turning to the staircase, her attention no longer on him.

"Iori.. You had better not be eavesdropping."

Carefully perched atop the stairs, Yukari's hands firmly clasped over Junpei's mouth as they manoeuvred steadily back to ensure they kept out of Mitsuru's line of sight.

"If it's all the same to you, I think I'll go for a run." Using the distraction the juniors scurried up the stirs out of sight. Mitsuru turned back to him and with a silent nod of acknowledgement, Akihiko took to his room to change and hastily took off.

Hamuko could feel the cold wind blow against her face, even with the cold wind and the light rain, there was a distinct beauty about autumn. The colours and the smells joined to make a picturesque scene. The autumn breeze tousled Hamuko's hair and pinked her cheeks.

Naganaki Shrine was beautiful all year round, but more so in autumn, the trees were skirted by pools of autumn gold and rust coloured leaves. It was peaceful and the brunette found herself here more often than most to take in the quiet. Only today she could not enjoy the quiet, her teeth grazed her lip before biting anxiously. Her heart ached for poor Ken. She loved him, that much was true, but not in the way he wanted. She had always harboured a motherly nurturing side when it came to children, always assuming it had bore from her parents death so many year ago. So when her young teammate had joined SEES. She had began to look out for him and care for him almost on impulse.

She sat for a while in silence, trying to relax. The wind would occasionally blow the trees causing a few more leaves to drift down around her.

It was only when she heard the crisp, crunching of the fallen leaves being crushed that she exited her thoughts and turned to look toward the disturbance.

Akihiko stood there at the top of the steps that led into the shrine, his skin coated in a glossy shine, hair slick to his forehead, he steadily regained his breath. Eyes on the apple cheeked junior.

"Figured," he panted, "I'd find you here." His hand brushed over his forehead, "Where's Ken?" Her eyes darted away from him,

"I don't know." She hesitated, "Said he had somewhere to be.."

It was a well known fact Akihiko Sanada could be dense, especially when it came to recognising women's emotions, but when it came to her, he knew.

"What is it?" He walked over to where she sat, stopping in front of her and crouching down to her height, "Did he upset you?" He questioned a little harshly.

"Ken knew we went to Tartarus." His eyes widened slightly, not expecting her words,

"Oh?" She nodded.

"He knows I got hurt while we were fighting- and he looked so-" Hamuko couldn't find the right words, "He was upset, said that he wouldn't let something like that happen if he had been there." At her admission Akihiko's eyes shot open, before his features steadily morphed into a jealous scowl.

"That little-" His scowl softened when he noticed the girls face looking sad, almost guilt ridden,

"I don't want Ken-kun to be angry with me."

His arms enveloped her smaller frame.

"He's young, he has a little crush. He'll get over it." He tried to comfort her.

"I'm not perfect," He began, "But I'd follow you into hell if that's what it took to keep you safe. I am your protector as you are mine, one to shield the other. After keeping children safe, like Ken, as all adults should, not a single soul comes before you. So I'll stay with you as you stay with me, trust in you as you trust in me, and together we'll ride through every storm" Hamuko's eyes were glazed, shining with the tears that now threatened to fall. She knew she was in love with Akihiko, but hearing those words gave her a startling tremor at just how much she loved him. His eyes landed on her quivering lower lip, then his lips found hers, a brave move from the usually shy and reserved senior.

As he kissed her the world fell away. It was slow and soft, comforting in ways that words would never be. His hand rested below her ear, his thumb caressing her cheek as their breaths mingled. Unexpectedly, his hand slowly drifted to her hip, It settled there and pulled her closer and she inhaled sharply. She was against his warm chest, chiselled to perfection. Must he be so perfect? She splayed her hand against it, intending to push him away, but instead she left it there. His breathing quickened as did hers. Hamuko had been completely unprepared. You would think that after all the hours she had spent with Akihiko - watching him talk, laugh and frown - that she would know all there was to know about his lips. But she couldn't imagine how warm they would feel pressed up against her own.

He sits frozen from their first kiss, both fear and excitement running through his veins. She leans in, resting her forehead against his, her eyes closed.

"Thank you," she spoke, barely more than a whisper.

Akihiko stood, taking her hand in his,

"Come on, let's stop for some food before we head back."

Hamuko followed him, relishing the feel of her hand enveloped by his, a soft smile painting her lips all the way to the Iwatodai Strip Mall.