Being late wasn't normal for Kisumi, she was always on time, if not early even. Today however, Kisumi didn't realize was no school today and was rushing, books in her arms for first period in the mid morning light.

She was nearly in tears, no way she was late, how could this be? She hardly had a moment to take in the beauty of the bright Spring morning, or the way the cherry blossoms floated in the air, it was almost surreal. She closed her eyes, as if doing so would make her run faster, running with your eyes closed has consequences, like ramming headfirst into unsuspecting bystanders and falling to the ground.

"I'm so sorry!" She said, clamoring for her books and once she had them hugged safely to her modest chest she looked up with wide violet eyes at the person before her and she stopped. Her heart jumped up into her throat, she couldn't breathe. Eclipsed in the sun was a pair of electric blue eyes, eye's she'd never forget. It was the guy who saved her back then...but wait...not a guy, this was a Spica student, that meant it was a girl. Her savior, was right here in front of her.

When time started moving again, Kisumi turned red from her toes to the top of her head and her heart started pounding. "It-It's you!-No, I mean, it's me! I-I was bullied and you, back then, ano, thank you!"

She stood up and bowed deeply, having never been able to thank her savior. She was shaking, like in the presence of a celebrity or divine being. Bowing like this, she found herself frozen, unable to look up. What if she was wrong, if it wasn't her? If she hated her? Didn't recognize her? Thought she was weird? Or a freak? Or her hair-! Her hair!

She stood up touching her hair, and looking even more shy, her books falling again as she touched her pink locks. The anxiety was getting to her, she might cry again, "I-it's short now-I..." She was short of breath, she had so much to say, but just then, nothing else would come out save for her stilted breath and sound of her beating heart.

A breath fled from Zuko's chest just as she was reaching out to pluck one of the petals descending around her from its wayward journey. It was certainly unexpected to have someone slam into you while you were taking a leisurely stroll, but of course it was on Zuko as well. If she had been watching where she was going instead of daydreaming about a certain pink haired girl for the millionth time that morning, the collision could have been altered. Her hand had reached out to catch the other, but her reaction was a little too slow and the girl crumpled to the ground. Her vibrant hues widened slightly as the first hint of recognition hit her. The color it was exactly the same.

The blunette's hand was still stretched out toward her when the girl looked up and the world stopped. Those violet orbs were exactly the same, the hair was shorter, but it was her it had to be! Even when the girl started speaking, Zuko could do nothing but stare. Her mind was reeling with the possibilities of if this really could be her and if all that had happened was a heavensend to reunite them.

A quick, tiny shake of her head moved her dark bangs across her forehead and her gaze locked on to the girl's lips before the rest of her body finally moved. Normally, she would have simply picked up the girl's books, handed them over and been on her way without glancing back. But this was different. It was her.

The hand that had been extended for some time now, suspended in midair rose and touched her fingertips against the smooth plane of the girl's jaw, angling her head up with the gentlest of coaxings. Their eyes met once more and Zuko offered a dazzling smile before her free hand made a motion as if to slow down and the hand that was resting against her jaw caressed over the skin and laid gently against her lower lip before drawing back and motioning to her own eyes then her ears. She hoped she got her point across as her eyebrows lifted in questioning.

Play it cool, Zuko. Breathe, let her say it again. Make sure. You have to be positive.

Her panic slowed at the touch, mind going blank save for the warmth on her chin, at her lip. She looked with a most vulnerable expression at the prince, she could do just about anything in that moment and Kisumi would be hard pressed to think, much less resist. Then she smiled, and Kissu melted, her trembling slowing to marvel at the sight. She could almost see rainbow bubbles around her in the air, like something out of a manga. Then she was motioning something, Kissy had to force her mind to work again.

What? Her ears? She--oh no...

She blinked a few times, as if to reboot. Her hero couldn't hear? It made her blush (still?) and she swallowed hard, the thought of her lips being watched so closely by this person made her tingle all over.

"You s-saved me a long time ago, I-I-I never got to say thank you." She was back to trembling, trying very hard not to stutter and failing. Her held one wrist firmly with her other hand to keep from fidgeting and her gaze, kept floundering, finding it hard to look at the Prince of her dreams, and even harder to look away. She loved looking though, the curve of her eyebrows, the color of her eyes, as if she hadn't already memorized the lines long ago, she set to memorizing them again. Meeting those blue eyes seemed to capture her floudering gaze, keeping it from doing so again. She felt her knees going weak, "I have always....admired you..." she mumbled, eyes shining. Then, realizing her error her hand flew to her mouth, deepening her flushed expression and she moved as if to hurry and get her books. She wanted to run away, and yet how could she, everything in her body wanted this person to stop her from her reflexive urge to run away from anything intimidating.

She fumbled and dropped the book she meant to pick up, clumbsy from being in front of this person. She sat on her knees and rubbed the moisture away from one eye, this was so wonderful and embarrassing, and perfect why was she crying? Kisumi you dummy, she thought to herself, trying to wipe tears from both eyes. She was just so overwhelmed, the tears wouldn't stop, she tried to smile to show the prince she was okay, but it made her look nearly exactly the way she had that day so long ago.

It was true! Her body felt like it was floating on air. The girl that haunted her thoughts for years now was standing right before her. She almost reached out to touch her again, just to make sure, but she refrained. Don't scare her away before you even know her name.. But she had thanked her, appreciation needed to be shown accordingly. Zuko reached out once more and took hold of Kissy's hand so she could draw the digits to her lips as she bowed over them. The blue haired teen was making a show of it, for sure, but all this had been locked away for so long, it needed to be free! Her lips delicately brushed over her knuckles showing her gratitude of being thanked even after all this time.

As Zuko straightened she let Kissy's fingers slip from her own while her eyes caught the form of words her lips provided. Her own parted slightly in surprise and she froze for the second time in under five minutes. She was admired.. who would have known. When the girl turned from her and started collecting her books Zuko almost went into a frantic talespin but collected herself by kneeling next to the girl and lifting one of the books. She acted as if she were going to hand it over, but paused and instead tucked it behind her back. The older girl grinned playfully, one corner of her lips pulling up a bit higher than the other.

"Zuko." Her voice was far softer than one would expect from a prince, barely above a whisper. While kneeling she pressed a finger against her own sternum then raised a singular eyebrow at the other. She was definitely not letting her get away with out a name. And if she persisted on trying to get the book before her question was answered there were surely places she could hide the book that the girl wouldn't reach for. This time it was Zuko's turn to blush, but only from the thoughts that were rushing through her mind. If it were an anime a little line of blood would be trickling from her nose by this point. A quick mental shake and she was focused back on the girl before her, only to notice tears were trickling from the corners of her gorgeous eyes.

Zuko looked around frantically, trying to figure out what to do. She was so out of touch with how to handle other people's emotions besides anger that she thought her heart would flutter to a stop with panic. She couldn't let her cry. Zuko used her free hand to gently wipe her tears away, then giving up the book, she dropped it on the ground and wrapped the girl up in a tight hug. "Sorry.."

So many things were going through her mind it was hard to follow all of them. the girl knelt and offered her name, Kissy's breath caught once again, her blush fading. Zuko. finally, the dream prince had a name. Everything felt so much more complete, she had a flash back of the only memory she had of her and now placed a name on that scene. Her place on the ground, looking up at the strong back of this person. She sighed a little dreamily, though it was interrupted by a hiccup caused by her tears. Then she did something so encredibly attractive Kisumi thought she'd faint, hiding the book, pointing. She wanted her name,

"I-I am,ah!" Her whole body lit on fire, suddenly her prince look concerned and apologized for taking the book. But what had her on fire was the pair of arms around her, her voice softly by her ear. She enjoyed it for a second and wanted to pull back, wanted to blush and run and tell her she shouldn't touch her or...or she'd....a tightness welled throughout ehr body and she foudn herself unable to do anything at all.

"P-please...." she didn't know what she was asking for, but eventually put held her hands up, hesitating a moment, then she moved within the hug, hiding her face in the other's chest, her hands in teh same place agaisnt the other's chest in fists. She felt save in here, with this person all around her. She took in her scent, the feeling, even though she was more weak in the knees than ever before she made herself look up, knowing she'd have to if she wanted to be heard, "I'm Kisumi,"

But she stopped, her name, the common mishearing that she was saying 'kiss me' in English, being held like this, with her face like this, her lips parted, vulnerable eyes looking so pleading. How could she explain herself? It was her name, not a request. "It's my name," she tried to correct, "my name is Kisumi...Zuko-kun..."

She couldn't, and didn't want to move or be let go. This was weird, wildly inappropriate to be feeling and acting like this moment was this intimate, but for Kissy it was. It was as of she was in a trance, so close to her...now it was her turn to look at lips. There was no way, but, this close, how could she not think about it? She wanted to tell her not to be sorry, that she was just being silly, that she was normally clumbsy and a crybaby and nothing had changed except there weren't bullies anymore but all she could do was look at her mouth. Her head was swimming, this was like dream.

"Kis..ume.." She repeated her name pronouncing the syllable as she watched them flow from those darling lips. A grin quickly pulled at the Prince's own as if she had just won the best prize at the festival. She finally knew the name to go along with that event. Though this position they held felt comfortable and even.. right, Zuko knew it was inappropriate and slowly took a step back, but kept her hands on Kissy's biceps until she made sure the girl was steady. When she stepped back the sweet scent of honey and vanilla that seemed to surround the girl faded. She then turned and kneeled down to gather up the rest of her books, but instead of handing them over she tucked them between her arm and chest before motioning for her to lead the way. Her free hand made a gesture of walking then she touched her lips once more before her ear then pointed looked to the pink haired girl. Obviously asking if she would tell her about herself as they walked.

Zuko obviously wasn't much for telling about herself, but if the girl knew any sign language she could tell her anything she would like to know. She would even write it out for her if they decided to sit someplace. As long as she could spend more time with Kissy, it didn't really matter what they were doing. She didn't want to give up this feeling just yet and she hoped to the high heavens it wasn't just a dream.

class was forgotten, not that there was any, Zuko had her full and undivided attention. Here they were, in maiden park, they could walk together, sit together. Kisumi fantasied that she'd never leave her side again, lest she disappear. Speaking of disappear, the security all around her faded as her prince respectfully stepped back. But then her gesture so they could walk together, so Kissy could tell her...this opportunity, she could say so much and all Zuko could do was listen.

"Well, ah..." she felt so special, she was carrying her books for her, like something out of a movie, "my mom had me transferred here so I wouldn't get bullied any more. I um...ever since that day, I wanted to be like you...brave and stuff,, it's why I cut my hair," she reached up and touched it, the hand then settling on the back of her own neck as they walked, "...but the truth is, I'm kind of a coward. I like music and skateboarding and books and running track, but I can't save anyone..."

She shrugged and looked over at the Prince, the tightness returning in her stomach. So handsome. It made her heart beat faster. She gestured to the bench beneath an especially nice cherry tree so they could sit and she reached for her books, blushing at any physical contact between the two of them from this and retrieved her notebook and pencil. She didn't know sign language, but she wanted to talk to her, know everything about her. Was this what it felt like to be in love? Kisumi was content to believe it so.

"You...you're amazing, and I'm...I've tried to be like you but, I'm just me," she bit her lip, "I want to know about you though, I've always wanted to...what's your favorite food? What do you like to do? Your favorite color? Anything, I...missed you..."

She was being silly, "Ah sorry, I mean, I can't miss you I don't know you..not really, but..I really want to, not miss you, but know you, I mean..." she was twisting the pencil over and over, she wanted everything about this person, wanted to hear her voice, feel her touch, this obsession, respect, attraction, it was getting easier, but the words kept coming out and getting more and more embarrassing.

This was a skill she had gained at a young age, being able to walk and watch the lips of the girl next to her without tripping over any obstacles. She maneuvered around them with ease, stepping over a stick here and there. All thanks to her martial art training she had an ability to pick out all that was around her without even thinking about it. She wanted to be like her.. No, no this would not do. Zuko liked Kisume just the way she was. No changes were needed to make the little pinkette perfect. Of course she didn't really know her.. but she was perfect nonetheless. But the Prince kept her thoughts to herself for now, letting the girl go on. She smiled softly and reached up to lightly brush one of the silken locks that hung at her temple indicating she liked the look.

When they finally settled on the bench, Zuko shifted the books so Kissy could have access to them and then settled the rest next to her once the girl had found what she needed. After taking the paper and pencil from her hands, letting the touch of their fingers linger longer than needed, she twirled the pencil in her left hand and then drew it across the pad. With having so much practice at the art her script was flowing and neat, but hurried.

'I like you just the way you are. There isn't any reason for you to try to be like me. You are you and I am me.'

She turned the paper so the girl could read it then dipped her head once more as she scrawled across the lines. Anything to indulge this cutie.

'I like sushi. And sightseeing in Fall. When the leaves turn. My favorite color is violet. Girly, huh? What about you?'

The Prince grinned as she looked back up to Kissy and without looking at the paper she wrote one last thing.

I have missed your smile.

Her touch was so warm, was it her imagination or did her fingers linger a little longer than what was needed to hand over a pencil? It made her tingle all over. She couldn't help smiling as she started to write, watching her fingers move like a student ballet.

"I like sushi too," she said, already imagining them eating together in a date like setting, and her favorite color....her eyes were violet, that made her a little at a loss for words but the last note set a blush to her face and her hands reached up to cover it. It made her so happy, but self concious too. She groaned a little, and then remembered something. The present she'd gotten for her, even thinking they'd never meet again. The problem was, the gift was at her dorm and no way she could be alone with her in a place like that, she'd explode and melt all at once.

Eventually she peeked through her fingers at those beautiful blue eyes and dark hair. That's right, Zuko liked her hair, it made her feel silly for crying about it a minute ago. She had touched her hair too, she wanted her to do that again but would never voice it unless given the right circumstances.

"I..." She couldn't say any more, flattered and happy to finally be at her side, or so she thought, "I," she let her hands be pulled away, "i have s-something for you, I've been saving it..."

The dark haired prince quickly scrawled across the paper then set both the pad and pencil on her lap so she could take hold of Kissy's hands and slowly lower them. She gave a reassuring grin then pointed to the paper.

'Will you come to dinner with me tonight? It's sushi night.'

Her gaze dropped back to that perfect Cupid's bow before a puzzled look over came her handsome features and she quickly looked back up to her violet hues. Her head cocked off to the left, stating her wonder at what exactly she had gotten for her. Zuko released one of the girl's hands to retrieve the pencil moving it over the pad that was propped on her knees.

'You bought something without even knowing we would meet again?'

She turned the paper for her to see again then lifted the hand she still clasped to her lips so she could brush her lips against her knuckles in appreciation. Zuko knew she would cherish this gift as long as she lived without even seeing it. It didn't matter though, if it came from her Dreamwalker.

The other's hands on hers were warm and pleasant, sending tingles from her fingertips down her arm to her core and back again. She couldn't pull them away, it was simply too much, instead, she looked with wonder at the paper. An invitation? To dinner? For sushi? A date? Her fingers tensed at the idea, making her hold the other femboy's hands without intending to. One hand left hers to write something more.

"Y-yes...I did, I...I don't know why, I just thought maybe....if we ever did meet, I could finally thank you properly. I'll bring it t-tonight."

That was an acceptance to her dinner idea. Kisumi's mind shot off to what to wear. Was it a restaurant? Or was she invited to her dorm? Either way she was instantly nervous as well as over the moon. Then suddenly her thoughts came to a screeching hault, wait a minute, this person....felt similarly? She liked her too? Really?...Like really, really?

As she thought this the other pulled the hand she still held to her lips, kissing the skin of her knuckles.

"Z-zuko-kun?" She asked, staring at the gesture, belly tight, was this a dream? Her body began to tingle and she couldn't help trying to feel the other's fingertips with her thumb in an attempt to show her own affection in a subtle way. After all, if she was wrong, then she didn't want to get hit. Not that fear was an emotion anywhere in her mind, she was burning, but in a good way.

"Ah...where is dinner g-going t-to be?" she stammered, still red at the thought of going to Zuko's dorm, perhaps eating at a small table on the floor. Surely that's not what she meant, but if it was, she wanted to be near the prince and take in every moment with her. Anything she might do, say, write, Kisumi was happy to witness and experience it all.

Zuko slowly lowered the hand from her lips and let a coy smirk take over. Her own thumb slowly caressed over Kissy's digits while she watched her lips. A slight nod indicated she was fine with her bringing it with her. While still watching her lips move, Zuko scrawled across the bottom of the paper.

"Meet me at the gate at five. I usually just pick it up and return to my room, but if you would like, we can stay in town and look around? I haven't really been outside the gates other than to make a few store runs.'

The blue haired girl shifted a bit so she could glance at her watch. They still had plenty of time to do whatever they liked, at least.

Her hand flattened over the paper to keep it from fluttering around in the sudden intense breeze, but when she turned to back to Kissy that hand went to her mouth. The girl looked absolutely adorable with her hair mused by the wind. Almost like.. bed head. A barely visible blush touched her cheeks as she reached out and ran her fingers through the pink locks to set them back in place the withdrew her hands to her own person.