Chapter One: Sparks Fly

	Kondo Saburo, priest of the Hikawa Shrine, clasped his hands together in 
prayer, the flames of the sacred fire flickering over the still handsome features 
of his face. He was chanting a familiar prayer, as he had done many times before. 
The fire knew and felt everything. He then threw another log on the fire, 
watching the flames flare up in combustive beauty as he fell into a deep 
meditative state.

	His concentration was broken a few minutes later by the sound of 
footsteps, followed by the giggles of two girls arriving at the temple after a 
long day at school. A smile played across Saburo’s lips, despite his annoyance at 
being interrupted during his afternoon meditation.

	“Takara…”

	The priest’s daughter popped her head inside the prayer room, an 
apologetic look on her exquisitely beautiful face. “Sorry, otou-san,” she said, 
kissing him on the top of his gray-streaked black hair. Saburo sighed, knowing 
that he could never stay mad at his only daughter for long. Takara just had this 
aura of love and happiness that was impossible to ignore.

	“Did I hear Miyuki-chan come in with you?” he asked, referring to 
Takara’s best friend.

	“Yes, otou-san. Miyuki-chan offered to help me with my chores today.”

	A pretty blonde wearing the same high school uniform as Takara walked 
into the room and bowed respectfully toward the priest. “Konnichiwa, 
Kondo-sama,” Miyuki said. “I hope you don’t mind if I help Takara-chan.”

	“No, I don’t mind, Miyuki-chan. You’re welcome around here anytime. 
Besides, my daughter can use all the help she can get.” That last part was said 
in a loud whisper which Takara didn’t fail to hear. She rolled her violet eyes.

	“Oh, otou-san, you’re impossible.”

	“That’s why you love me so much,” the priest quipped. “Now why don’t you 
and Miyuki-chan get to work and let an old man get back to his afternoon 
meditation.

	Catching her father’s none too subtle hint, Takara grabbed her friend’s 
arm. “Come on, Miyuki-chan. Let’s go change.”

	Miyuki called out a rushed goodbye to the priest as his daughter pulled 
her toward the bedroom, the two girls giggling loudly. Saburo grinned before 
sitting back down in front of the fire. Ah, to be young again. What he wouldn’t 
give…

					*****

	After changing into the traditional red and white robes of a Shinto miko, 
Takara and Miyuki quietly exited the shrine, careful not to disturb the 
meditating priest. Once outside, Takara immediately ran onto the grass and began 
twirling around in circles as if she were a little girl again.

	“Isn’t it beautiful, Miyuki-chan?” she called out. “I just love the 
springtime. Everything feels so fresh, new and alive.”

	It was early spring and the first signs of life were slowly appearing, 
melting away the final traces of winter snow. The wind blew softly, tossing 
Takara’s long raven hair every which way as the maiden continued running around 
in circles. 

	On the porch, Miyuki sighed, grabbed a broom, and began sweeping. It 
looked like she was going to be stuck with doing all the chores. Again. 
“Takara-chan, quit fooling around. We have a lot of work to do around here.”

	“Oh, you’re no fun,” she pouted, though she did stop her spinning. 
Feeling a little faint, Takara took a few clumsy steps backward before falling on 
the ground. Miyuki dropped her broom and ran over to her friend.

	“Takara-chan, are you okay?”

	Though Miyuki held out her hand to help her up, Takara waved her friend 
away. It was nothing. She was fully capable of standing up by herself. “I’m fine. 
I just got a little dizzy from all that spinning. That’s all.”

	“Are you sure? Maybe you should just go back inside and rest. Don’t worry 
about your chores. I can take care of them. I usually do anyway.”

	The miko had to smile at her friend’s suggestion of her so-called 
“laziness”. It was nice of Miyuki to be so concerned about her, but sometimes she 
wished that everybody would stop treating her like some fragile vase that could 
break at any moment.

	“You sound just like my father. Really, I’m fine. It was just a little 
dizzy spell.”

	Miyuki didn’t seem convinced, but she didn’t push the subject. She knew 
Takara didn’t like to talk about her illness. The miko had been cursed with a 
weak heart, denying her of what most people would consider a normal childhood. 
Her father tried his best to make sure that she didn’t overexert herself, but 
Miyuki knew Takara wished that she could be able to participate in the activities 
other people took for granted, such as running on the track team or riding a 
roller coaster.

	As she watched Takara feed the twenty or so crows that made their home at 
the shrine, Miyuki could feel tears welling up in her eyes. It just wasn’t fair. 
Takara was such a beautiful girl, with an even more beautiful spirit. How could 
the gods be so cruel? If there were some way she could give her heart to Takara, 
she would do it without a second thought, for that was how much she loved her 
dearest and closest friend.

	The blonde was suddenly interrupted from her thoughts when the beautiful 
miko, noticing Miyuki’s pensive gaze, threw a handful of corn at her friend. 
“Miyuki-chan, stop being such a worrywart and get back to work,” Takara teased, 
hands on her hips. “I thought you were supposed to be helping me!” 

	Miyuki grabbed her forgotten broom, discreetly wiping away a tear that 
managed to roll down her cheek. It was just like Takara to jump right back up as 
if nothing ever happened. That was the thing she liked most about Konda Takara, 
her fighting spirit. She was always the eternal optimist. Nothing could bring her 
down for long. Miyuki then began sweeping the porch, a silent prayer for Takara’s 
health on her lips.

					***** 

	Hino Keitaro kicked a rock with the tip of his new shoes as he walked 
along the road heading toward the Hikawa Shrine. This was pointless. He should be 
at the library, studying for the upcoming final exams, but instead, he was forced to 
accompany his best friend Minoru to the shrine to buy some good luck charms. 
Personally, Keitaro thought the whole idea was ridiculous. If Minoru wanted to do 
well on Kinomoto-sensei‘s notorious difficult ethics exam, he should be in his 
room studying instead of relying on some Shinto hocus pocus scam, but as always, 
Minoru didn’t listen to reason.

	Even as they walked, Keitaro was silently reciting the twelve principles 
of modern political thought in his head, the thought of the exams never too far 
from his mind. Some people would describe him as being a bookworm, but Keitaro 
preferred to call himself simply dedicated. He was a hard worker. Everything he 
had was the product of his own sweat and blood, a fact he was proud to admit.

	“This is such a waste of time,” he muttered, kicking another rock.

	Minoru, a tall and lanky man with red hair, rolled his green eyes. “You 
won’t be saying that when you take a look at the old priest’s daughter,” he said, 
poking Keitaro in the ribs.

	It would figure that a girl was the main reason Minoru wanted to visit 
the shrine. He was an incurable flirt. Although, recently, it seemed that 
Minoru’s purpose in life was to find Keitaro a girlfriend, much to his annoyance. 
School and his internship took up enough of his time. The last thing he needed in 
his life was some clingy floozy wanting him to take her dancing or to the movies 
every other night.

	“Don’t tell me that this is another one of your pathetic attempts to set 
me up with a girl, Minoru-kun.”

	“It’s a possibility.”

	Keitaro shook his head in minor annoyance. Minoru was his best friend and 
he loved him, but sometimes he could be the biggest pest in the world. He just 
wasn’t interested in love. Politics was his one and only mistress. Any girl he 
dated would just have to understand that his career always came first. Because of 
that, he doubted that he would ever find a girl to put up with him.

	The men walked through the torii located at the front of the shrine, 
where they found two girls dressed in the robes of a traditional Shinto miko 
working in the garden. The girl with the long raven hair looked up from the plant 
she was watering and seeing Minoru, waved. Waving back, Minoru poked Keitaro in 
the ribs again. So she must be the girl he was talking about.

	Keitaro had to admit that the miko was pretty. In fact, she might have 
been the most beautiful girl he ever met, though he would never admit it. With 
her slender frame and pale complexion, she reminded him of a beautiful porcelain 
doll he once saw in the window of a toy store in Kyoto. Passionate purple eyes 
looked up at them from behind her bangs, contrasting with her otherwise delicate 
features, and when she smiled, it was as if an angel was in their presence.

	“Good afternoon, Uchizawa-san,” she said, bowing to greet the guests. A 
blonde who wore her hair in a braid followed suit. “It’s so wonderful to see you 
again and I see this time you brought a friend.”

	“Yes. This is my friend and fellow classmate, Hino Keitaro-san,” Minoru 
said. “Keitaro-kun, I would like to introduce you to Kondo Takara-san and her 
friend Asaka Miyuki-san.”

	“It’s nice to meet you, Hino-san,” Takara replied, bowing again as a 
faint blush crawled up her cheeks.

	“The pleasure is mine, Kondo-san,” Keitaro said, uncharacteristically 
flustered in the presence of the pretty shrine maiden. “Minoru-kun was just 
telling me how beaut…uh, I mean how nice you are.”

	Takara giggled in mild embarrassment, the sound of her laugh clear as a 
bell in the springtime air and Keitaro couldn’t help but to smile. Beside her, 
Miyuki shot her friend a look.

	“Oh, please forgive my rudeness. Is there something we can do to help 
you?”

	“Keitaro-kun and I are interested in buying some good luck charms,” 
Minoru said, running a hand through his dark red hair. “Final exams are 
approaching soon and we can use all the luck we can get.”

	Keitaro rolled his eyes. “Actually, Minoru-kun is the one who wants to 
buy good luck charms. I don’t believe in all that voodoo mumbo jumbo.” 

	Hurt flashed across the miko’s lovely violet eyes, and Keitaro immediately 
regretted his choice of words. How could he be so insensitive about her religion? 
He bit his bottom lip, unsure of what to say, but luckily Minoru smoothed things 
out.

	“Uh…I think what Keitaro-kun meant to say was that he is Catholic and 
that he doesn’t believe charms can bring good luck.”

	“I see.”

	Takara gave him a forgiving smile, but Keitaro still felt horrible for 
insulting her beliefs like that. He was such an idiot! Miyuki then lead them 
toward the shrine to buy the charms while Minoru attempted to flirt 
(unsuccessfully) with the blonde as he usually did when he visited the shrine. 
Takara and Keitaro lagged behind, an uncomfortable silence between them.

	“I just want to say how terribly sorry I am about what I said back there, 
Kondo-san,” he finally said, breaking the silence. “It was rude and insensitive. 
I acted like a complete jerk. Just because I don’t have the same beliefs as you 
gives me no right to insult your religion like that. I hope you can accept my 
sincerest apologies.”

	“There’s no need to apologize, Hino-san. I know you didn’t mean it. It 
was just a slip of the tongue,” Takara replied with another smile.

	When they finally reached the shrine, the girls went inside and quickly 
came out with a box of charms. Minoru bought five from Miyuki, one for each of 
his classes, while Keitaro quietly waited, occasionally finding himself looking 
over at Takara, who was organizing the box of charms. She really was quite 
beautiful... 

	“Do those things really work?” Keitaro asked, deciding he might as 
well make conversation while Minoru continued flirting with the blonde.

	Takara looked up, surprised. “The charms? Many people believe they do, 
although I can understand why you would be doubtful. After all, to most, they 
appear to be just ordinary pieces of paper, but to those who truly believe, 
wonderful things can, and often do, happen.” Reaching into the box, the miko 
pulled out a charm and held it out to Keitaro, a smile on her face. “Here, take 
one and see for yourself if they really work. It’s my treat.”

	He shook his head. “No, that’s okay, Kondo-san. I doubt it would work for 
me, considering I don’t hold your beliefs.”

	“I insist, Hino-san,” she said. “And it will work, as long as you believe 
in something, whether it’s the Christian God, Buddha, or the Shinto kami. It 
doesn’t really matter what you believe in, only that you believe.”

	Contemplating her words for a second, Keitaro reluctantly took the charm 
Takara offered him, not wanting to seem ungrateful, especially after what he said 
earlier. Who knew? Maybe the charm really would bring him good luck, though 
Keitaro doubted it. Good things rarely happened to him.

	“I thought you said you didn’t believe in good luck charms, Keitaro-kun,” 
Minoru said upon seeing Keitaro staring at the charm in his hand.

	Keitaro shrugged as he placed the charm in his pocket. “I suppose a 
little luck couldn’t hurt.”

	“As if you need it,” Minoru scoffed. He turned to the girls. “This guy is 
an absolute genius. In all the years I’ve known him, Keitaro-kun has always been 
at the top of the class. It annoys the heck out of me.”

	“I’m no genius,” Keitaro replied modestly, pushing his gold rimmed 
glasses back up his nose. “I just work hard and actually study, which is more 
than I can say about a certain business major I happen to know.”

	Minoru feigned shock. “You can’t possibly mean me. I’ll have you know, I 
study very hard whenever I’m not eating or partying or playing video games.”

	“Which would be when? While you sleep?”

	Minoru’s face burned red in embarrassment, the exact same shade as his 
hair, as the girls started giggling. Keitaro slapped his friend on the shoulder. 
“You know I’m just kidding. He actually does study sometimes, but his favorite 
subject seems to be women’s studies.” The girls laughed harder.

	Minoru looked like he wanted to kill Keitaro right then and there, but he 
didn’t care. It served him right for dragging him away from his studies. 
Although, he was secretly grateful. He sometimes got so caught up in his work and 
studies that he forgot what it felt like to actually have fun. It felt nice to be 
able to laugh and relax, even if it was just for a few minutes.

	Miyuki wiped away a tear of laughter as things finally calmed back down. 
“So, what’s you major at the university, Hino-san? Are you studying business with 
Uchizawa-san?”

	“Actually, I am studying political science.”

	His face returning to its natural color, Minoru reached into his pocket 
and pulled out a flyer. “Yeah, Keitaro-kun is going to become the youngest prime 
minister of Japan someday,” he said, handing the yellow paper to Takara. “You 
should hear him speak. There’s going to be a rally in the quad tomorrow for the 
Liberal Democratic Party. Perhaps we’ll see you both there.”

	“I’m not really interested in politics,” Takara admitted, looking down at 
the flyer, “but I’ll try to come. I would very much like to hear Hino-san’s 
speech.”

	“Great!” Minoru discreetly winked at an embarrassed Keitaro. “What about 
you, Asaka-san? Will you come?”

	“I don’t know, Uchizawa-san. I have a lot of homework to do this 
weekend…” Behind the counter, Takara stepped on Miyuki’s foot, causing her to 
squeal in surprise. She shot her friend a look. “On second though, I would love 
to come. After all, a girl can’t study all the time.”

	“A woman after my own heart,” Minoru said, grinning at the blonde. 
“Hopefully we’ll see you there.”

	Keitaro tapped the face of his watch, signaling that it was time to go. 
As much as he would love to stay and talk with the mysterious miko with the 
beautiful amethyst eyes, they both needed to study. The men said goodbye to 
Takara and Miyuki and left.

					*****

	The walk back to campus was relatively quiet until they neared the quad. 
From the look on Keitaro’s face, Minoru could tell his friend was ticked with him 
for some reason, although he really had no idea why. All he did was invite a 
couple of pretty girls to the rally. Was that really such a crime? 

	“Okay, what is it?” the redhead finally asked. “Did I do something wrong 
back there?”

	Keitaro glanced over at his friend, sighing. “Not exactly, but why did 
you have to invite them to the rally?”

	“Come on, Keitaro-kun. I know you like her.”

	Keitaro smiled softly as he wrapped his hand around the charm in his 
pocket. “Kondo-san is very beautiful…”

	Pleased that he was right about Takara, Minoru grinned. He knew those two 
would hit it off. “See? I told you. I am only pointing Cupid in the right 
direction.”

	“How many times do I have to tell you that I have no interest in love, 
Minoru-kun?” Keitaro asked, again resorting to kicking rocks. “It’s just a waste 
of time.”

	“But don’t you ever think about marriage and having kids?”

	The budding politician shrugged his shoulders. “I’m open to the idea of a 
political marriage if the opportunity should arise.”

	Minoru rolled his eyes. He was impossible. “Can’t you have it both? A 
successful career and a loving family?”

	“Governor Negishi-sama married for love the first time around and the 
marriage didn’t work out because he spent too much time at the office. That’s why 
he told me that a politician should never fall in love. He should just find 
himself an attractive wife who doesn’t mind living in her husband’s shadow and 
who will work hard to give him a good image.”

	“That doesn’t sound like a marriage. It sounds more like a business 
arrangement.”

	“That’s basically what it is.”

	“Look, I know the governor is your idol, Keitaro-kun, but just because he 
had one bad marriage doesn’t mean you will too.”

	The blond suddenly stopped in his tracks, turning to face his friend. 
Keitaro rested both his hands on Minoru’s shoulders, looking him straight in the 
eye. “Minoru-kun, listen to me for once, will you?” he said. “I appreciate your 
concern, but for the last time, I don’t need a wife and I don’t want a wife. Love 
causes nothing but heartache and sorrow in the end and it’s about time you 
learned that. Now, will you please just forget about this mission of yours to 
find me a girlfriend? It‘s not going to happen. I’ve got to go.”

	Keitaro let Minoru go and began walking toward the library. However, 
Minoru stayed put, refusing to believe that his friend could be so disenchanted 
with the idea of love. Who didn’t dream of finding that one special someone with 
whom he could spend the rest of his life?

	“This is about your uncle, isn’t it?” Minoru called out, causing Keitaro 
to turn around in shock. At that moment, he knew he had struck a nerve, though 
Keitaro tried to hide it by lowering his saddened gray eyes.

	“My uncle?” the blond asked, visibly swallowing. “Why would he have 
anything to do with my not wanting to marry?”

	Minoru shook his head, walking over to where Keitaro stood. “I don’t 
know. Why don’t you tell me?” he suggested. “All I know is that ever since 
Hino-san died, you have not gone on one single date. In fact, you’ve barely gone 
out at all. You don’t have any friends beside me, you never attend any of the 
parties I invite you to, and, other than the LDP and the honor society, you don’t 
belong to any campus organizations. All you ever do anymore is study and work. 
You used to not be this way, Keitaro-kun. Sure, you studied and worked hard, but 
you knew how to have fun every once in a while.”

	“Can we just drop the subject?” Keitaro asked bluntly, obviously not in 
the mood to hear anymore of what Minoru had to say. He turned and started 
climbing up the steps to the library. “I need to do some studying, so I guess 
I’ll see you later.”

	“Yeah, see you.”

	Minoru watched his best friend enter the library, worried about Keitaro. 
It wasn’t healthy for him to be holding in his emotions like that. Though he 
hadn’t really realized it until now, Keitaro was still grieving, even though his 
uncle had died nearly three years ago of cancer. The two of them had been 
extremely close, almost like father and son, and his death had devastated 
Keitaro. Maybe that was why he was so adamant about never falling in love. 
Keitaro was scared of losing yet another person he loved, so he pushed everyone 
away, even Minoru. It was no secret that they weren’t as close as they used to 
be. But that was no way to live.

	There had to be some way to convince Keitaro that it was okay to open his 
heart again. Minoru was more determined now than ever to find Keitaro a 
girlfriend and he knew just the girl. From the first moment they laid eyes on 
each other, Minoru could see the attraction between his friend and the beautiful 
miko. Now, all he needed was a plan. 

	Keitaro and Takara were meant to be together. They just didn’t know it 
yet.

					*****

	After finishing their chores, the two girls decided to take a break 
underneath the beautiful sakura tree beside the shrine. Miyuki smiled in 
amusement as a magnificent black crow perched itself on her friend’s slender 
shoulder, cawing softly. Only Takara could make friends with a bird most people 
considered a pest. This particular crow was one of the newer arrivals to the 
shrine, but it already seemed to have built a special bond with the raven-haired 
miko.

	“So, what are you going to call this one?” Miyuki asked. Takara liked to 
name each and every crow that made its home at the shrine, although how she 
managed to remember all their names remained a mystery to her.

	“Hmmm…”

	“Takara-chan, are you listening to me?”

	The pretty shrine maiden finally looked up from her corn-filled hand 
which she was feeding to the crow and blushed faintly. Miyuki rolled her dark 
brown eyes, used to her best friend’s occasional visits to fantasyland. “You’re 
thinking about him, aren’t you?” she asked.

	Takara’s blush deepened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, 
Miyuki-chan.”

	“Oh, but I think you do,” the blonde teased, playfully wagging her 
finger. “Ever since Hino Keitaro-san left, you’ve had this silly grin on your 
face that can only mean one thing. You like him, don’t you?”

	Takara leaned back against the trunk of the tree as the crow flew off to 
join her friends. A wistful sigh escaped from her soft pink lips. “Hino-san is 
very handsome…”

	“I knew it, I knew it!” Miyuki exclaimed, clapping her hands together. 
“So, that’s why you gave Hino-san that charm and told Uchizawa-san that you and I 
would go to the rally tomorrow.”

	The miko shrugged, trying to pull it off as no big deal, but it was 
evident the tiny smile that tugged at her lips that Miyuki had guessed correctly. 
“It might be interesting, you know,” Takara said, braiding a strand of her long, 
dark hair. “I’ve never been to a political rally before. I wonder what one should 
wear to this kind of thing.”

	“Your red sundress and those cute little sandals you bought last 
weekend,” Miyuki answered without missing a beat. “Definitely. Hino-san won’t be 
able to resist you.”

	Takara rolled her violet eyes and playfully swatted her friend on the arm 
as her father walked out on the porch, waving. “Takara, dinner’s ready,” he 
shouted.

	“Coming, otou-san!” Takara stood up and brushed the grass off the back of 
her robes. “Would you like to stay for dinner, Miyuki-chan?”

	The blonde looked down at her watch and shook her head. “I’m afraid I 
can’t. I told okaa-san that I would be home by seven to watch my little brother. 
Maybe next time. I‘ve got to go.”

	“Okay. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

	“Sayonara.”

	“Sayonara.”

					*****

	The next morning, Keitaro walked into Minoru’s room without knocking, 
waking his sleepyhead roommate from an apparently very pleasant dream. Minoru 
groaned and rolled over, pulling a pillow over his head. “Shimatta, Keitaro-kun!” 
he cursed. “You have got to have the worst timing ever. Kayama-sensei was just 
about to join me in the hot tub.”

	The future politician rolled his gray eyes at his friend, tightening the 
red silk tie he wore around his neck. He was dressed in an gray three-piece suit 
that was way too formal for Minoru’s taste. The business major sat up and 
wrinkled his nose, expressing his distaste.

	“What?” Keitaro asked. “You don’t like it? This is one of my best suits.”

	“It’s fine if you want to impress my Grandmother Sonomi, but to play to 
the younger generation, you’ve got to be hip and fresh, man.”

	Keitaro raised a slightly skeptical eyebrow at his friend. “Hip” and 
“fresh” were two terms that would never be used to describe the serious young 
man. He was always well-dressed and polite, the type of guy a girl could be proud 
take home to Mom and Dad. The word “casual” wasn’t in his vocabulary. 

	“So, what do you suggest I wear to the rally, mighty Lord of Coolness?”

	Minoru frowned, studying his roommate’s attire with a critical eye. He 
rubbed his chin in thought.  “Lose the tie,” he ordered. “And switch the jacket 
for my blue blazer. You definitely need a bit of color. It probably wouldn’t hurt 
to undo the top two buttons on your shirt, as well, to show off your sexy side. 
The coeds will love that.”

	“I’m trying to win votes for the LDP, not a girl, Minoru-kun,” Keitaro 
pointed out as he loosened his tie and took off the jacket. “Unlike you, I don’t 
mix business with pleasure.”

	“Not even when an incredibly gorgeous Shinto miko promises to attend, 
just to hear your speech?”

	Keitaro coughed into his fist, for once seeming flustered, which Minoru 
took as a good sign. It was rare for a girl to have that kind of effect on Mr. 
Lonelyheart himself. Indeed, in all the years he’d known Keitaro, this was the 
first time he ever saw the beginnings of what could only be called a “crush” in 
his best friend.

	“I’m sure Kondo-san’s reasons to attend the rally are strictly 
educational,” Keitaro insisted. He grabbed the blazer Minoru tossed toward him 
and slipped it on. “She told us herself that she did not know much about 
politics, so what better way to learn than to attend a rally for the Liberal 
Democratic Party?”

	“Right, and I just decided to take International Economics 480 because 
I’m so interested in the economic situation in third-world countries. The fact 
that Kayama-sensei is drop dead gorgeous had absolutely no influence on my 
decision,” Minoru replied, rolling his green eyes. “Get a clue. Kondo-san likes 
you, and as much as you hate to admit it, you like her too.”

	Ignoring his comment, Keitaro turned to face the small mirror hanging on 
the wall while he unconsciously unbuttoned the top of his shirt. It was amazing 
what a difference a few minor changes made. He ran a hand through his hair, 
slightly tousling his wavy blond mane. “How do I look now?”

	“She won’t be able to resist you.”

	He rolled his eyes, but smiled at his reflection as he took one last look 
in the mirror. “Good.”

					*****

	When the two girls arrived at the university that morning, they found the 
quad already filled with people, waiting for the rally to begin. Takara wasn’t 
expecting so many spectators. Most were college students, though she did see a 
couple of reporters milling around, taking pictures and asking questions. She 
also spotted a few prominent members of the government shaking hands with the 
students, no doubt lobbying for votes, but Keitaro was no where in sight.

	Where is he? she asked herself, standing on her tiptoes in an attempt to 
see over the crowd. This was worse than the time she dragged Miyuki to the 
airport just so she could get a glimpse of her favorite idol as he boarded off 
the plane after a nationwide tour. They never even got the chance to see him, the 
mob of screaming fans blocking him from their view.

	“It’s Ono Masanori all over again,” Miyuki muttered under her breath, 
seemingly reading her best friend’s thoughts.

	Takara nodded, taking the blonde’s hand. “Come on, Miyuki-chan. Let’s 
find Uchizawa-san and Hino-san. They have to be around here somewhere.”

	Not giving Miyuki the chance to answer, the miko pulled her inside the 
crowd, the two girls weaving in and out between the spectators. Takara thought 
she saw a flash of Minoru’s red hair over by the podium, but upon closer 
inspection, it was just a tech setting up the microphone. Then Miyuki thought she 
saw Keitaro speaking with one of the reporters. When they finally reached the 
reporter, however, the blond man had already left. Frustrated, the raven-haired 
girl bit the bottom of her lip, thinking that perhaps they should just leave 
since there was absolutely no way they would be able to find either of the boys 
in this mob scene.

	“Kondo-san! Asaka-san! Over here!”

	The girls turned around at the sound of their names, spotting a familiar 
redhead waving his arms high above his head in a bid to get their attention. If 
there was one thing Minoru was, it definitely wasn’t subtle. Takara grabbed 
Miyuki’s hand once again, pushing through the crowds until they met the future 
businessman somewhere in the center of the quad, standing on the edge of a large 
fountain. No wonder he’d been so easy to spot.

	“Hey, you made it!” he exclaimed, jumping from his perch  and landing 
right beside a startled Miyuki. “I thought that maybe you changed your mind.”

	“Isn’t that dangerous, Uchizawa-san?” Miyuki asked, always the mother 
hen.

	He shot the pretty blond a cocky half-grin. “What? Jumping from the 
fountain? Nah, I do it all the time.”

	Miyuki was hardly impressed. She folded her arms across her chest and 
gave him a good scolding. “One of these days, you are going to slip and break 
your neck, pulling stunts like that. Don’t they teach you anything in those 
classes of yours?”

	“Did anybody ever tell you that you need to loosen up, Asaka-san?” he 
countered, rolling his green eyes. “You’re worse than my okaa-san.”

	Annoyance passed across her face at being compared to Minoru’s mother. 
Miyuki let out a long breath, the air blowing the strands of loose hair out of 
her eyes. “You know what, Uchizawa-san? You are positively infuriating.”

	“And *you* are impossible.”

	Letting the two continue their playful bickering without interruption, 
Takara slipped off the pair of high heel sandals she was wearing and carefully 
climbed up on the ledge of the fountain where Minoru stood less than five minutes 
ago. It was indeed very slick, the surface covered with water. She quickly 
grabbed the arm of the partially nude statue to catch her balance, then looked 
up, scanning the area with her violet eyes.

	She could see why Minoru chose the spot to look for them. From the 
vantage point on the fountain, she could easily see almost the entire quad. 
Takara shielded her eyes from the noontime sun with her free hand and searched 
the sea of college students and reporters for a certain handsome young man.

	“Takara-chan!” Miyuki gasped, finally noticing her friend standing on the 
fountain’s edge. The blonde placed her hands on her hips, looking up at the 
miko. “Are you insane? What did I just finish telling Uchizawa-san? Get 
down from there right this instant!”

	Takara shook her head, the soft breeze blowing her long raven tresses 
behind her. “I can’t see anything from down there,” she replied. “Besides, it’s 
not like I’m going to jump or do anything crazy like that. You worry too much, 
Miyuki-chan.”

 	Behind the blonde, Minoru grinned. “See, what did I tell you, Asaka-san? 
Even Kondo-san agrees with me.”

	Hearing his comment, the serious blonde reached back and poked him in the 
ribcage with her elbow, causing him to groan in pain. “You’re not helping,” 
Miyuki said. “Now, make yourself useful and help Takara-chan down from there. Her 
father would have a heart attack if he could see her right now.”

	Miyuki, forever the spoilsport… She never let her have any fun, but 
Takara knew she was only looking out for her well-being. Following orders, Minoru 
stepped in front of the miko and securely placed his hands on her slender waist. 
Takara then slowly let go of her grip on the statue, resting both her hands on 
his shoulders. 

	However, just as Minoru prepared to set her down, her dark violet eyes 
suddenly shut as she felt an attack of dizziness come over her. Not again! She so 
wanted this day to pass without another attack. Alarmed, Miyuki came over to 
help, fear in her chocolate brown eyes.

	“Takara-chan, are you alright?”

	Once the dizzy spell passed, the raven-haired girl nodded and smiled, not 
wanting Miyuki to know the truth. If she knew she had another attack, the blonde 
would insist they take her back to the shrine and Takara had no intention of 
leaving without hearing Keitaro’s speech. “I’m fine, Miyuki-chan,” she lied. “It 
was just a little touch of vertigo. It’ll be okay once I get down from here. 
Uchizawa-san, help me.”

	With Miyuki’s worried eyes never leaving from her friend, Minoru gently 
lifted the miko off the fountain and placed her back on the ground. Takara 
thanked him before putting on her shoes, careful not to meet the blonde’s 
penetrating gaze. Miyuki had an uncanny ability to know when she was keeping 
something from her.

	“Come on, girls,” Minoru said once Takara finished buckling the back of 
her sandals. “The rally is about to start and I know just the place to stand so 
we can get a good view of Keitaro-kun during his speech without causing Asaka-san 
to have a coronary.”

	“Hey, I resent that…”

	The lanky redhead took the lead, rather boldly taking Miyuki’s hand. The 
blonde pretended to object, but Takara smiled, knowing her friend was enjoying 
the attention. She followed closely behind, grabbing Miyuki’s free hand as they 
once again swam in the ocean of spectators to a spot near the podium, just off to 
the side where it was less crowded. Like Minoru had said, standing there provided 
them with one of the best views of the activities. She could easily see Keitaro 
standing with a couple of the other speakers, looking very handsome and more 
laid-back than he appeared yesterday at the shrine.

	Her heart fluttered when he suddenly turned around, his soft gray eyes 
locking with hers. At first, she was worried that she was having another attack, 
but the feeling she felt in her chest was far different from anything she ever 
felt before. It felt warm and light and comforting all mixed together, like the 
beautiful quilt her mother made her when she was just a little girl. What was 
this strange feeling?

	And why did it feel so right?

					*****

	Keitaro discreetly wiped his sweaty palms on Minoru’s blazer, wondering 
why he suddenly felt so nervous. It wasn’t like him. Speaking in public never 
bothered him before. But today, it was different. Why was it different? Keitaro 
had no idea. He only knew that it was.

	Maybe it was the fact that the crowd today was much larger than he 
expected. Of course, this was an election year, so it shouldn’t have been much of 
a surprise that more people were attending the rally than usual. That was the 
trend, after all. Regular citizens rarely paid much attention to politics unless 
there was an election coming up or somebody was threatening to hike up their 
taxes, which really was a shame to someone like Keitaro, who lived and breathed 
politics, rarely thinking about anything else.

	No, he doubted that the large attendance was the cause of his sudden 
apprehension. Letting his attention wander from the conversation between Governor 
Negishi and a reporter from the Tokyo Daily News, he turned toward the crowd, 
looking for Minoru. He found the redhead in the company of two high school girls, 
one a serious blonde and the other a beautiful Shinto miko with hair the color of 
midnight.

	Unconsciously, he drew in a sharp breath as he met the gaze of Kondo 
Takara. Though she said she’d be there, Keitaro had to admit he had his doubts 
that she would actually show up, despite Minoru’s assurances otherwise. He would 
think that attending a boring old political rally was far down on the list of 
ways a teenage girl would want to spend her Saturday. She wasn't even old enough to 
vote yet.

	“Keitaro-san, I think it’s about time we begin,” Negishi said, resting a 
hand on his shoulder to get Keitaro’s attention. The younger man involuntarily 
jumped, startled by his mentor’s touch.

	“Y..Yes, sir,” Keitaro stuttered, turning back around to the governor.

	Governor Negishi Shinji, while almost nearing the ripe old age of 
seventy-three, still had the mind and heart of a young man. He winked at his 
protégé, knowing exactly what was on Keitaro’s mind. “Is she pretty?”

	“Who?” Keitaro asked, pretending to not know what he was talking about 
while at the same time wondering how the governor knew it was a girl who caught 
his attention.

	“The girl, of course. The one who has you off in the clouds, dreaming of 
love and romance.”

	Keitaro shook his head and pushed his glasses back up his nose. 
“Negishi-sama, I have no idea what you’re talking about. You know my views on 
love. Indeed, if I remember correctly, it was you who told me ‘Love is like a 
challenger in an election; sometimes you win, but most of the time you just end 
up making a big fool out of yourself.’”

	The governor chuckled at his own wit, his less than flat stomach bouncing 
merrily like a jolly Santa Claus at Christmas. “True, true, my boy,” he replied. 
“Never were truer words spoken. But…”

	His eyes saddened as he seemed to remember something from long ago. 
Keitaro never saw the governor act so strangely. “Sir? Are you feeling alright?”

	“Oh, yes, of course,” he said, breaking from his thoughts. “Just a little 
visit down Memory Lane. You know…there were good times too. Even fools win some 
victories.”

	The budding politician didn’t even try to figure out what he was talking 
about. Negishi was a pro at speaking yet managing not to say anything important 
at all. That was one of the things that made him such a great politician. 
Instead, Keitaro excused himself and walked over to the podium, pulling out the 
small stack of index cards outlining his speech from his pocket. His fingers 
briefly brushed against the good luck charm Takara gave him the day before and he 
smiled.  

	The crowd before him quieted down as he stepped up to the microphone and 
cleared his throat. He glanced over to where Minoru and the girls were still 
standing, returning the small smile the Shinto miko gave him. The nervousness he 
had before seemed to disappear as he began his speech.

	“Konnichiwa. We welcome you to today’s rally for the Liberal Democratic 
Party. Former Prime Minister and party leader Tachibana Yasuo-sama once said…”

					*****
	
	A certain young business major with the soul of a cupid in his heart 
watched with interest the discreet looks that passed between his best friend and 
the raven-haired miko, pleased that there seemed to be a mutual attraction 
between them that was even more noticeable than the day he and Keitaro visited 
the shrine. If this kept up, he might not even have to put Operation: Get Keitaro 
a Girlfriend into action. Although, what would be the fun in that? Especially 
since the plan allowed him to spend more time with the overprotective, yet 
beautiful, blonde named Miyuki.

	“You were right, Uchizawa-san,” Miyuki remarked after Keitaro finished 
the opening speech to a burst of thunderous applause. “Hino-san is a wonderful 
speaker.”

	Minoru grinned, leaning against a nearby tree. Of course he was right. 
Wasn’t he always? “Yes, he is. In fact, I think that was one of the best speeches 
he ever gave.”

	A few feet away, Takara nodded her head in agreement, though her eyes 
never left the podium until Keitaro took his seat beside Governor Negishi. Even 
then, she didn’t say anything, a soft smile on her face as she silently listened 
to the other speakers. Miyuki shot Minoru a knowing look, obviously thinking the 
same thing he was. 

	The rally ended about an hour later with the release of colorful balloons 
into the clear blue sky. Minoru reached up and grabbed a passing blue balloon for 
a blushing Miyuki as Keitaro walked up to the group. “Hey, great speech, man!” 
Minoru said, slapping his roommate on the back. “Never been better.”

	“It was nothing, Minoru-kun,” Keitaro replied modestly, sneaking a quick 
glance at Takara.

	“No, it wasn‘t, Hino-san,” the miko insisted, her hands folded over her 
heart. “You were wonderful! So passionate and eloquent. You really have a way 
with words.”

	“Arigatou, Kondo-san.” He bowed respectfully toward the two girls. “I’m 
glad that you and Asaka-san were able to come today.”

	“So am I.”

	The two exchanged smiles, the electricity between them very evident even 
though Keitaro quickly turned away to look at the large clock looming over the 
campus. A bell, signaling the start of a new hour, rang clearly through the air. 
“It’s getting late,” he remarked. “I’m sure you girls have work to do at the 
shrine. Why don’t we walk you home?”

	Minoru banged the back of his head against the bark of the tree, very 
disappointed in his friend. Idiot, idiot, idiot. What was he doing, sending 
Takara home so early? He thought Keitaro was finally on the right track, but here 
he was, pushing her away as if she had some kind of contagious disease. Looked 
like he was going to have to put Operation: Get Keitaro a Girlfriend in action 
after all.

	“Actually, Keitaro-kun,” he said, walking behind Miyuki and resting his 
hands on the blonde’s shoulders, “I promised Asaka-san that I would give her a 
tour of the campus since this is where she will be attending next semester.”

	“What?” she exclaimed, looking up at the tall redhead. “You did no such 
thing, Uchizawa-san. And for your information, I’m not attending Tokyo Uni-”

	“Sure, you are,” he interrupted her, throwing Miyuki a pleading look. Her 
mouth formed a silent “O” as she finally realized what he was trying to do. 
“Remember?”

	The blonde slapped herself on the forehead. “Now I do. Last week, I told 
Uchizawa-san that I was thinking about applying to Tokyo University and he 
offered to show me around sometime so I could get a feel of the place. It must 
have completely slipped my mind. Silly me!”

	Takara’s eyebrows wrinkled in confusion. “But, Miyuki-chan, weren’t you 
already accepted to that college in Osaka?”

	“Yes, but you know what I always say, ‘Always keep your options open.’”

	“You’ve never said that before in your entire life.”

	“Well, I do now,” Miyuki quipped, silently cursing Minoru for making her 
look like such a ditz. This apparent plan of his to get Takara and Keitaro alone 
together had better work. 

	The business major winked at Keitaro, taking Miyuki‘s hand. “And maybe 
while I’m showing Asaka-san around campus, you can take Kondo-san out to lunch,” 
he suggested to Keitaro. “Although I recommend staying as far way as possible 
from the cafeteria in Nakada Hall. That place is Barf City. Take her to that new 
restaurant overlooking Tokyo Bay. It’s not too far from here. Then we can meet up 
with you two later at the marina. Okay? Ja ne!”

	“Minoru-kun…” Keitaro lightly growled, but it was already too late. He 
and Miyuki had already left, not waiting for an answer. 

	The blond man sighed, shaking his head in defeat. Would that guy ever 
give up in his mission to set him up with a woman? He knew that the main reason 
Minoru wanted to drag Miyuki on a tour around campus was so that he and Takara 
could have some time alone together. Knowing Minoru, he probably had this whole 
plan set up from the time they left the Hikawa Shrine yesterday afternoon. This 
“suggestion” of his to take Takara to Umi‘s, noted as one of Tokyo’s most 
romantic and exclusive eateries, was a little too thought out for it to be a 
spur-of-the-moment idea.

	Nevertheless, Keitaro turned around to face the beautiful miko, who wore 
a tentative smile on her lips. He could tell that she too didn’t know quite what 
to think about this situation. The two of them stood in uncomfortable silence.

	“Um…Maybe I should head back to the shrine, Hino-san,” Takara finally 
said. “I don’t want to be a bother. I’m sure you have better things to do than 
keep me company. Goodbye.”

	“No, you don’t have to leave, Kondo-san,” he replied, taking her arm as 
she turned to walk away. Keitaro took in a deep breath, not believing what he was 
about to do. “Actually, lunch sounds like a good idea. Would…would you care to 
join me?”

	The miko smiled, taking the arm he offered.

	“I’d like that.”

					*****

	Lunch went rather nicely, considering the somewhat contrived 
circumstances surrounding it. Apparently, Minoru had put even more thought into 
his plan than Keitaro originally suspected. When the two of them arrived at 
Umi‘s, the fledgling politician was surprised to learn that somebody had already 
made reservations under his name. Not only that, they were given one of the 
tables on the outside terrace, noted as usually reserved for only VIPs and 
special guests. 

	As they sat down and looked at the menu, Keitaro couldn’t help wondering 
how Minoru managed to pull this whole thing off. He didn’t know whether he should 
thank the guy or strangle him when they got back to the apartment. On one hand, 
Takara did seem to be enjoying herself as she watched the waves crash against the 
shore, the cool breeze coming from the waters blowing her raven tresses gently 
behind her. But, on the other hand, Keitaro did not take kindly to people 
interfering in his life, no matter how good Minoru’s intentions were. If he’d 
really wanted to take Takara out on a date, he would have done it himself. 
Eventually.

	Okay, so maybe he had needed a little push in the right direction. 
Keitaro never went on many dates. In fact, he could probably count the number of 
dates he had on one hand. Romance was never very high on his list of priorities. 
Politics and his schoolwork always came first and that was the way he liked it.
There was less of a chance of getting hurt. 

	His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of the waiter, who quickly 
took their orders and sat down a couple of glasses of green tea. Taking a sip of 
her drink, Takara sighed, still entranced by the beauty of Tokyo Bay. “Isn’t it 
beautiful?” she asked, a wistful look on her face. “The view from here is 
perfect.”

	“Yes, it is,” he agreed, for the first time looking around at the 
scenery.

	“Do you come here often?”

	Keitaro shook his head. “Actually, no, I don’t. Occasionally Minoru-kun 
will drag me to the piers for one of his fishing trips, but usually I’m far too 
busy with school and my internship at Governor Negishi’s office to have time to 
just relax.”

	The miko blinked her eyes, obviously impressed. “You really are on your 
way to becoming Prime Minister, aren’t you?” she lightly teased. “How did you 
become so interested in politics, anyway? I could tell by your speech that 
government is something you are very passionate about.”

	Keitaro shrugged his shoulders as a waiter brought their salads to the 
table. He poured a little dressing on top of the lettuce before answering her 
question. “Well, I suppose it was partly because my uncle was a politician. Ever 
since I was a little boy, I was always taught that working for the government was 
a noble profession, despite what other people might think. Since I often worked 
for my uncle’s campaigns and saw what good it did, I decided I would follow in 
his footsteps. In fact, he was the one who arranged for my internship with 
Negishi-sama.”

	“That was nice of him. Are the two of you close?”

	Gray eyes darkened in sadness and Keitaro turned away, overcome with the 
same emotions he felt yesterday when he was talking to Minoru. He never should 
have brought it up. Sensing his grief, Takara reached across the table, a slender 
hand covering his own in comfort. “We were close,” Keitaro finally said softly. 
“Very close. My uncle was my idol. But he passed away right before I started my 
second year of college.”

	Silence fell over them, uninterrupted until the waiter brought the rest 
of their meal. He sat a large steak in front of Keitaro and a plate of shrimp in 
front of Takara, but food was the last thing on their minds.

	“I’m sorry, Hino-san,” Takara apologized once the waiter left. “I didn’t 
mean to upset you. I know how you must feel. My okaa-san died when I was eight 
and sometimes I still miss her so much it feels like the tears will never stop.”

	Her hand traveled to her neck, clutching the gorgeous heart shaped ruby 
pendant that hung from a slender gold chain. Takara took a deep breath before she 
continued. “This necklace was the last thing she ever gave me. It was a birthday 
present and I remember being so happy that day. I thought it was the most 
beautiful thing I ever saw in my entire life. Okaa-san helped me put it on and 
she told me that the pendent was a little piece of her heart that I could always 
carry around with me when she wasn’t there anymore.” She bit her lip, trying to 
hold back the tears that threatened to fall. “At the time, I had no idea what she 
was talking about. I knew okaa-san was sick, but I always thought she would get 
better. When you’re eight, you think your parents are invincible, right? But, 
about three weeks later, she died and ever since that day, I’ve worn this 
necklace. It’s silly, but every time I look at it, it feels as if she never left, 
as if her heart is really with me. You know? Or maybe you just think I’m crazy 
for thinking like that.”

	Keitaro shook his head, offering his handkerchief. “No, Kondo-san, I 
don’t think you’re crazy at all,” he said. “That’s the same way I feel about 
politics. After my uncle’s death, I threw myself into my internship, knowing that 
it was always his dream for me to be elected to public office. Even after he was 
gone, I still wanted to make him proud. And sometimes I imagine he’s still here, 
cheering me on…” 

	His voice trailed off as he reached for his fork and knife and started 
cutting his steak. He didn’t want to talk about his uncle anymore. It was still 
too hard. Understanding, Takara let the subject die, starting on her own plate. 
The rest of the meal passed without incident.

					*****

	After the delicious lunch, Keitaro and Takara went down to the docks to 
wait for Minoru and Miyuki. They were early or rather, their friends were late, 
probably wanting to give them as much time alone together as possible. So, the 
two of them decided to walk down the piers, neither saying very much. But it was 
a comfortable silence.

	Sighing, the raven-haired miko glanced up at her companion, noticing he 
still had that same sad look in his beautiful gray eyes from the restaurant. 
Though things had went well after that first initial uncomfortable moment, she 
could tell that he was still upset by his reawakened feelings of grief. Takara 
wished there was something she could do to make him feel better. She hated seeing 
anyone unhappy.

	Without thinking, Takara instinctively reached for his hand, finding it 
cold to the touch. It was becoming colder by the minute as the sun set in the 
distance, painting the sky a palette of soft reds, pinks, and oranges. She 
shivered, feeling a pleasant chill run up her spine.

	“Do you want my jacket?” Keitaro asked, slowly pulling his hand away from 
her grasp. 

	“No, I’m fine,” she answered. “How about you, Hino-san? Are you okay?”

	He chuckled. “I’m fine. I got the jacket.”

	“That’s not what I was talking about.”

	The tiny smile on Keitaro’s face disappeared and he dug his hands into 
the pocket of his slacks. “No, I didn’t think so.”

	Takara pressed her lips together, looking out toward the bay. The water 
was inviting, blue and calm. She suddenly got an idea. “Come on,” she said, 
taking his arm and pulling him down the pier to the beach down below.

	Keitaro reluctantly followed her, surprised when she stopped near a sand 
dune and slipped off her sandals. “What are you doing, Kondo-san?”

	“You’ll see,” the miko replied with a smile, dusting the sand off the 
back of her red dress. “Take off your socks and shoes and roll up your pants.”

	Confused, yet intrigued, Keitaro sat down on the dune and began doing as 
she asked, setting his shoes and socks on Minoru’s neatly folded blazer. While he 
was doing that, Takara ran ahead, standing at the water’s edge. She giggled as 
she quickly sprinted away when a small wave crashed on shore, trying not to get 
wet. It didn’t work, as the hem of her dress was damp, but Takara didn’t seem to 
mind. She immediately resumed her position at the edge, waiting for next wave.

	Despite himself, Keitaro smiled, unable to take his eyes off the 
enchanting teen. If he thought she was beautiful before, Takara was positively 
gorgeous now, playing in the ocean as if she didn’t have a care in the world. A 
combination of woman and child, she was unlike anyone he ever met in his entire 
life. She was truly a free spirit.

	“Come on, Hino-san,” she shouted, waving her hands over her head when she 
noticed he hadn’t joined her. “The water’s great!”

	The future politician finally stood up and walked over to the edge, 
letting the water wash over his bare feet. She was right. The still warm water 
felt wonderful in the coolness of the sunset. Spotting another wave, the miko 
grabbed his hand and they both ran toward the dry shore, laughing as some of the 
water managed to soak the bottom of their clothes.

	They continued playing their little game for the next ten to twenty 
minutes, not even noticing when two figures appeared by the sand dune where they 
left their shoes. Takara and Keitaro were oblivious to everything around them. 
However, they finally stopped when Takara nearly tripped, falling straight into 
Keitaro’s arms. She closed her violet eyes, hoping the dizzy spell would fade 
away soon. One of the shadowed figures gasped, but the other held the woman back, 
not wanting to interrupt.

	“Kondo-san, are you okay?” Kietaro asked, alarmed. He wrapped his arms 
tightly around her, helping her stand.

	Takara nodded, looking up at Keitaro once the dizziness passed. She was 
surprised to see worry in his soft gray eyes. “I’m fine,” she insisted, wearing a 
brave smile. “I just got a little dizzy from all that running. It’s nothing to 
worry about. It happens every so often.”

	“Are you sure? Maybe I should take you-”

	A slender finger reached up to touch his lips, silencing his words. “The 
only place I should be is here, with you,” she whispered, finally saying what she 
had been wanting to tell him since the rally.

	Keitaro’s eyes widened, not expecting her to be so forward. “Kondo-san…”

	“I’m sorry,” she said, embarrassed. “Maybe I should go…”

	The miko attempted to pull away from his embrace, but found herself 
unable. Instead, Keitaro lifted her chin and bent down to brush his lips against 
hers. The fluttering she felt earlier at the rally returned in her heart, but 
this time she understood what it meant. Stepping on her tiptoes, she reached up 
to kiss him again, wrapping her arms around his neck as they melted into one. 

	In the shadows, two figures watched the new lovers, pleased with what 
they saw. 

DISCLAIMER: Sailor Moon is the property of Takeuchi Naoko.