Yuki's POV

I sped out the door, biting down the last of my breakfast. I say breakfast, but it had really been my second - I had always eaten more than others, like I had to sustain more than my own body. I had learned that if I tried to lessen the food, I often paid for it later on by feeling weak, and sometimes sleeping for hours more than I normally would have otherwise.

The door slammed behind me. It was the first day at my new school, and I didn't want to be late. But even so, something made me falter, and then stop, as I reached a cherry blossom tree in the lane. The sun was filtering through the leaves, and I stood for a moment beneath them, the morning quiet broken only by the sounds of birds singing nearby. It was quite beautiful... had I dreamed last night? The whole picture had the feel of a dream. De-ja-vu? I often dreamed of odd things, but had never much worried about it. Perhaps it was just the intense quiet of the place that had made me stop.

And then another noise reached my ears, one of small wheels rolling, and then, not as loud, two larger wheels. I turned towards the sound, and watched as two people came into view. One was a young girl, bright pink rollerblades strapped to her feet. She was trailing behind someone, although he was in shade of another tree, so that I couldn't quite see... and I caught my breath.

It was another high school student, and although it was rude to stare, especially at someone I didn't know, I couldn't help it.

It wasn't his face, though I could see even from here that he was handsome, with dark brown hair and eyes darker still. He looked strong. Safe... And before I could work out what this joyful feeling was that rose inside of me, he had slowed down, and stopped his bike right in front of me.

I smiled at him, while it seemed his turn to stare at me, dark eyes searching. Did I have something on my face? But for one moment, just one moment, he seemed to see straight through me, as though he could see something I couldn't. It terrified me and yet exhilarated me, both at once.

With relief I saw him eventually smile back at me, and extend his hand.

"Good morning. I'm Kinomoto Touya. And this is my sister, Sakura."

He gestured behind him, and I smiled at the green-eyed girl. She seemed to find me a little intimidating, because she squeaked out a greeting before turning an interesting shade of pink. I grasped the offered hand.

"Good morning, Kinomoto-san. My name is Tsukishiro Yukito. Pleased to meet you."

"Please, call me Touya", he replied. He seemed surprised at his own voice. I nodded, pleased at the friendly gesture. I wanted to return the unexpected friendliness.

"To-ya", I said, liking the sound of it. "Then you can call me Yuki!" Something happened to the words on the way out, so that his name was pronounced differently than the way he had said it. He didn't seem to mind, though; his smile grew then, softening his gaze, and I could see a quiet strength that no doubt drew others to him like a magnet, regardless of who they were.

Looking back, I know somehow that this meeting marked the day that set everything off.

It was the day I met Touya.