Chapter Three: Skylight:

My cell phone rang that evening.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Anna!" Asato-kun exclaimed on the other line. I sat up in a heartbeat.

"Asato-kun!"

"I'll be home in a few minutes. I need you to do something for me."

"What?"

"Meet me at the top of the apartment building," he told me. I furrowed my brows, frowning.

"What?" I asked.

"I have a surprise for you," he said. "Just meet me in the corridor of the top floor." I smiled, still confused as to what he was planning.

"Okay�" I said. Asato-kun chuckled.

"I'll be right there," he said. "Love you." He hung up before I could speak. I stared at my phone. Okay then� What is that boy up to now?

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In five minutes, I paced around the empty corridor and peeked downwards outside. The city lights looked blinding. They reminded me of my college days in California. I began thinking about my friends. How are they now? How are Aunt Allison and Aunt Daisy? How is Henry these days? Is he married with children now? The sound of footsteps broke into my thoughts. I glanced behind me.

"Who's there?" I whispered. A strong pair of hands reached under my arms and pulled me in. He rested his chin on my head.

"It's just me," my husband replied in a low voice.

"Well hello there," I said to the child-like shinigami behind me. He chuckled as his hands went for the buttons on my lacy white shirt. I tried to keep a poker face.

"To what do I owe this lovely view of Meifu at night?" I asked.

"I'm going to be on a big case for a few days," Asato-kun murmured. His hand moved down to the second button.

"And?"

"I won't be home at nights." He went to my third button.

"So you called me up here just to tell me that?" I asked. Asato-kun shook his head.

"No," he murmured. I raised an eyebrow at him.

"No?" I asked. He turned my body to face him. I looked up to see violet eyes drowned in lust. His lips came within inches of mine.

"I just thought you would get bored without me," he murmured. I broke into a smirk.

"Oh, I'll manage," I said. He grabbed my hips.

"Yes, I know," he said. His hands unzipped my shorts quickly. It didn�t take me long to see where this was handed.

"Oh� that kind of bored," I whispered.

"Yes," he replied, aiming to sound husky and seductive. My white jean shorts dropped to my ankles.

"Out here, in this corridor, above the city?" I asked.

"If that's okay with you?" he whispered in my ear. I tried not to give in just yet as he nibbled on my ear lobe. I closed my eyes.

"What if we get caught?" I asked. He pressed his lips against mine; his way of saying, "Don't ask questions." I shut my mouth. Alright, you win there, boy. I'll follow your lead. His hands came down to my thighs. I shivered as he took his time pushing them apart. I let off a small gasp. He took advantage of this and darted his tongue into my mouth. His hands moved to my panties. I fought to stay calm, but I was already getting wet. My panties slid down to my ankles as well. Asato-kun broke off the kiss for air. His eyes stayed on my bra as he undid his belt. He already had a tent in his trousers. A hungry tent is more like it. He quickly took down his trousers and boxers and pulled me in close.

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It only rains two times a year in the city of water. The clear sky is only the prelude to the coming rain. Young and old watch the fat, well-hung clouds in the sky. They count down for the rain like the New Year. Despite the water splashing throughout the city, life is rather dry. Yet, everything looks as normal. In fact, everyone is setting up for the festival tonight. Pink and red banners float through the sky, welcoming the well-hung clouds. The drizzle has already started. The women in the city wait for the life-giving rain. To them, rain brings fertility. Even though they are barren, the rain makes them beautiful, even just for the spring. So, they put on their best kimono and their finest make-up.

A bored, handsome man wanders his waiting hometown. It's the same thing every spring and autumn. He sighs and looks at the drizzling well-hung clouds. He too loves the rain, but it's not enough anymore. The adolescent boy sighs to himself again. I just wish� Actually, he doesn't know what he wants exactly. He just wishes for something to happen.

Suddenly, a soft moan fills his ears. The boy looks ahead of him. A girl with russet hair lies on the ground, looking up at the sky. The big puddle next to her mirrors the fat, erect clouds in the sky. The drizzle falls upon her blue and white yukata. She's waiting for something or someone. He stares at her, curious. Who is this girl? The pale glow of her pure skin draws him to walk closer. The girl turns her head to him. The boy freezes in his tracks.

"Uh� hello�" he says. The boy in his kimono looks for the right words. "Have I seen you from somewhere?" The girl turns her eyes to the hung sky.

"No," she says.

"Then, are you new here?"

"No." Her eyes stay on the sky. "I'm searching." He stands over her at this point.

"What are you searching for?" he asks her. This girl smiles at the heavy sky.

"I'll know when I find it," she replies. He lies down to join her.

"What is your name?" he asks. The girl points to the sky. The well-hung clouds finally empty their heavy load upon the city. The rain fed the flooded homeland like it did last autumn. The women all feel their youth return. The men feel like children again. The boy feels his own strength rise again for the season. He turns to see that the girl in blue has changed. The blue in her yukata has smoothed down into white. The cool red in her eyes matches the flower in her hair. The boy lifts his head.

"You're�" he begins to say. The rain drowns out her voice as she begins to speak. He stares at her and then�

He has vanished.

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-Anna-

Asato-kun looked me in the eye. My head felt so out of it. I couldn't even respond when he asked if I was alright. His voice sounded so distant. My husband had to drag me along with him back to our own apartment.