There was a certain beauty about freezing to death.

Your corpse eternally frozen in place...the last moments of your life blessing your features as you stared out upon the world of the living with something akin to serenity. People who froze to death often died in their sleep, well, as far as she knew. She hadn't personally known anybody who knew someone who had died that way, nor had she met any of those unfortunates spirits.

What Haruka did know, is that if she were to suddenly lay down, give into the sweet surrender of sleep, her corpse would not be beautiful. Her face would be forever stained a harsh red with cold. Nose puffy and swollen with a flu that would not leave her alone. Her eyes clamped shut in sheer stubbornness, instead of resting peacefully against her cheeks.

If she were to die here, stood miserably at a bus stop – she surmised she would look like a corpse that had spent the last year under water, even minutes after death.

If her brain had not been numbed with the cold, she would have been horrified at her minds casual evaluation of corpses. Maybe the bad weather had frozen her sense of humanity?

Or perhaps she had been spending a little to much time with Yakumo and his detachment towards bodies with pulses had grown on her.

Either way, she was utterly miserable.

With only a ten days until the beginning of the new year, a heavy snowstorm had settled over Sagamihara. Bringing with it harsh, sixty miles per hour winds from both Tokyo and Sagami Bay. And just to make sure every soul who lived in the area was just the right amount of miserable, an unusual fog bank had settled over Tama. All trains had been limited to one per hour due to low visibility. The bus service had remained active, yet there was no guarantee that one would turn up at all.

Which meant she was stuck. Alone, cold, miserable and stuck.

Resisting the urge to sniffle frivolously, Haruka lifted her hand from the limited warmth inside her coat pocket to attempt to read the current time on her phone. As it had been for the last forty minutes, her attempt was futile. Even if she could see through the swirling snow and fog, her winter hat all but obscured her view. At best, she could make out the dull glow of her mobile's screen.

Nearing the end of her third year at Chuo University, she had spent the last two days preparing her junior class for the holidays. Interning at the Higashiatago Elementary School was both a rewarding thoroughly exhausting experience. She had been given the position of temporary substitute teacher after Miss Komai's death three months ago. A sudden promotion that she did not expect nor was sure she wanted.

After the incident with Masato, all Haruka had wanted to do was rest. She missed the life she'd had when she was simply attending her classes. Occasionally wondering off track to help Yakumo and Gatou solve a murder case. Or simply put a distressed spirit to rest.

But...it had been her dream since she was thirteen to be a teacher. And with her sudden promotion, that dream seemed to be within arms reach...she was not about to give up and suddenly change her major just so she could get a good nights rest and solve murder cases.

Letting out an irritated huff, Haruka slipped her phone and considerably numbed hand back into her coat pocket, sending a undeserving glare through the snow. As was common when constantly surrounded by a group of young children, she had caught a winter cold on the second to last day of school. Teachers were not immune to germs after all.

Her head hurt, her nose couldn't decide whether to leak profusely or burn and there was an ache in her bones that was getting worse with the cold.

It was at times like this she desperately wished she had a car. During the summer she had thought it pointless to invest in one, as the school was a ten minute walk from her apartment. Five if she cut through Atagohigashi Park. Now she was seriously regretting being sensible.

Earlier that morning, she had received a call from one of her tutors, asking her to make the trip to her university to collect her examination scores for the last semester. At that point the sky had only promised the chance of snow, so she had though it was safe to make the quick outing. Of course, she had barely stepped out of the Universities main doors when the storm had settled over her. Luckily, one of her classmates had offered to drop her at the train station. Not so luckily, all trains had been delayed until 'further notice'. So it was off to the bus stop she went, trudging grumpily through the increasing cold and snow. That had been nearly an hour ago, and she was still waiting.

A sudden icy gush of wind pressed at her back, threatening to topple her over. Letting out a small squeak, Haruka tipped forwards, her hands stretching out and whirling comically in the air as she attempted to centre herself. She still lost her balance, falling with a powder-like sounding crunch onto her hands and knees.

Instantly, the fabric of her jeans absorbed all the water and ice beneath her. And a very un-lady like curse spewed from her lips.

This was ridiculous! Damn this cold and damn this weather! Normally she would have been home by now. It barely took her half and hour on the train to get back to her apartment. She should be huddled up on her bed, dressed in her favourite over-sized night shirt and drinking a warm cup of hot chocolate. Not face-printing the snow, a good forty minute walk from anywhere familiar and dry.

It took the musical jingling of her mobile to remind her she was still on her knees. Huffing with irritation and self pity she stood, stomping her feet in an attempt to both remove the snow from her clothes and return her blood flow back to normal.

"What?" Her welcoming answer reflected her mood. On the other end of the phone there was a startled silence.

"Haruka?" The concerned tone in her mothers voice made her wince, and she instantly gave an apologetic smile.

"Sorry mama..."

"Are you alright?" Keiko asked softly. Letting out a deep sigh, Haruka simply made a small noise in response and lifted her spare hand to tug on her hat.

"I'm fine. I got caught in the snow storm...mentally preparing myself to walk home"

"You're out in that? I've been watching it on the news all morning...they are saying its going to get worse" Her mother stated, a quiet interference on the phone as she turned her head. Towards the television Haruka guessed.

"Really? Oh great..."

"Isn't there someone who could pick you up? What about Yakumo? He has his uncles car now, right?" Her mother asked. Haruka frowned, a familiar sadness washing over at the memory of Ishiin's death. She sighed, absently staring into the dense white in font of her.

"Yeah...he does, but its to dangerous to be out in a car now. And besides, he's probably asleep" She replied dryly. Keiko gave a small chuckle.

"Says the person currently stood out in the middle of that same storm?"

"Not my fault I was trapped in it. It wasn't snowing when I left earlier..." Haruka grumbled.

"Even so, you need to hurry up and get inside. How far away are you from your apartment?"

"I'm at the bus stops near the train station by Chou. So at least a forty minute walk. Over an hour really, if you take the snow into account"

"What are you wearing?" Keiko suddenly asked. Haruka blinked.

"Heh?"

"What are you wearing?" Her mother repeated. Haruka sighed and rolled her eyes. She was asking if she was dressed properly.

"I'm wearing my favourite polka-dot bikini and a pair of sandals"

Keiko huffed.

"And I'm sure you look beautiful. What are you wearing over that?"

"Over it? Nothing. I've decided I'm going to get myself a Yeti husband. This is me telling them I'm ready for marriage" Haruka grinned. She had started moving, slowly putting one foot in front of the other, the conversation with her mother distracting her from what was going to be a very long and very cold walk. On the other end of the line, Keiko let out a bark of laughter.

"Is that so? And here's me hoping you'd marry a kappa. I've always wanted to see an underwater wedding."

"I'm sure you still could. Who knows what Yeti weddings are like?" Haruka mused. Keiko chuckled softly to herself again then seemed to sober.

"Now seriously, what are you wearing?"

Haruka sighed, but her good mood remained.

"A black coat, white jeans and my chequered winter hat" She replied dutifully.

"The coat that your father got you last year? The thick woolly one?"

"Yes Mama. And my pink suede sweater underneath"

"Good. So...black coat, white jeans and a chequered hat. Got it"

Haruka blinked, slowing to a stop in confusing.

"What have you got?" She asked suspiciously. Keiko chuckled once more, and a little more interference echoed down the phone.

"I'll call you right back"

"Huh? Mama what are you doing?"

"Nothing dear. Try not to move to far from where you are"

"Wha-"

The line disconnected before she could finish her question. A confused scowl marred her features. Moving the phone once more in front of her, Haruka glared carefully at the darkened screen, mentally counting the seconds it took for her mother to call back. When she counted to sixty, she started again, using her free hand to brush stubborn snow flakes away from her eyes.

When the screen suddenly flashed, she jumped – having been concentrating a little to hard her mental number game. Letting out a small huff, she hurried the appliance back to her ear, her question already falling from her mouth.

"What was all that about?" She demanded. An irritated sigh was all that answered her for a long moment.

"Can you go a single day without getting into trouble?" A deep, familiar voice asked. Haukra felt her face fill with colour, her mouth dropping open in a silent, indignant retort.

"Yakumo! How did- Why are you calling me?" She asked. The irritated man sighed again.

"Your mother called me. I apparently have to come and save you again"

"My moth- wait, how does my mom have your phone number?"

After a short moment of nothing but the sounds of movement, and the tell-tale closing of a car door, Yakumo sighed again.

"Idiot. I gave it to her"

Scowling, Haruka put her hand on her hip, ignoring the icy wind that bit at her exposed fingers. She must have looked a little foolish. Stood in the middle of a worsening storm having an argument with her phone.

"Why?" She demanded. Yakumo sighed once more, and the sound of a car engine echoed down the line.

"Stop asking stupid questions. Where are you exactly?"

Haruka blinked, looking around her properly for the first time since she had started walking. She had barely made it six feet away from the now invisible bus stop.

"I'm still near the Chou University train station. Wait, does this mean your actually coming?"

"It would bother me greatly if you died"

"H-heh?"

"I have a feeling you would be more irritating as a spirit. I'd rather not have to deal your pestering for the rest of my life"

"Ugh...Was that last part really necessary?"

"Yes. Now go back to the bus stop. Is there a shelter you can stand under?"

Grumbling under her breath, Haruka span on her heel and trotted forcefully back the short distance she had walked. She needed to have a serious talk with her Mama. Why couldn't she have called Gotou? Or even Ishii? She knew her mother had both of their numbers saved on speed dial. She supposed she should be happy. She knew she should be happy. Yakumo was driving through a bad storm just to pick her up. But at that moment, her feet numbed to the point of pain with the cold and her breaths seeming a lot slower than she was happy with, she could barely find the energy to pretend to be annoyed.

"Hey, troublemaker. Are you still there?" Yakumo asked. Haruka blinked, coming to a stop in the exact place she had been standing in for the past hour.

"Yes I'm here. And n-no...there isn't a shelter. Just a p-pole with a sign on it" She replied, now shivering. It seemed the news report was right...the temperature had dropped significantly in the past ten minutes.

"Are you shivering or has your stupidity evolved into a stutter?"

"S-shut up. It's c-cold out here y-you know" Haruka fussed. Another sigh echoed down the phone.

"Is there anywhere with shelter near by? Somewhere you can wait?"

"I dunno. Can't s-see anything any more. To damn f-foggy"

"Try to use one of your braincells. How far are you from the train station? Can you make it back to it?"

Haruka huffed, her free arm wrapping around her stomach in an attempt to warm herself up. She could make it to the train station from here. If she stepped carefully and tried to stay on the pathway. It would be the perfect end to a perfect day if she stepped into the road and was hit by a car. Or even better, the bus she had been desperately waiting for. Letting out a sigh of her own, she continued her depressed march forwards, her eyes focussing on the barely visible dent that told her where the slightly raised walkway met the road. If in another ten minutes that dent would be covered by at least eight inches of snow. She sped up a little.

"I can m-make it. May take me a while, but I'll do it. Where about are you?"

Inside the happy warmth of his car, Yakumo risked a glance at the barely visible outline of a street sign. Fortunately, he knew where he was going, the glance was merely a reflex to Haruka's question.

"I've just past the Hara Clinic" He confirmed. Through his ear piece, he heard her let out a small noise of relief and acknowledgement. He could also hear the crunching of her feet as she struggled through the heavy snow. Meisei and Chou were not that far away from each other. A ten minute drive at best. So he was certain the weather was not any heavier than it was around him.

As if mocking his thought, the weight of the snow hitting against the windscreen increased. Beating a dark rhythm onto the hood and bonnet.

"Oh hell!" Haruka's voice exclaimed.

"What have you done now?"

"I f-fell over again..." She cursed. A lot of angry sounding movement drifted down the phone, accompanied by softly spoken insults. Despite the situation, Yakumo smirked. Using one hand, he turned the car to the left, moving onto the highway that would take him directly to the Chuodaigaku Train Station.

"Again? Did you decide you were not clumsy enough the first time?"

"I d-didn't do it on pur-purpose. Stupid w-wind knocked me over"

Flipping his headlights to their highest strength, Yakumo slowed his speed as his car aligned with the train tracks to his right. On a clear day the station would already be in sight by this point. He squinted, trying to make out the tell tale bulk of the building, and more importantly, to see if he could spot a small silhouette struggling through the whiteness. After a couple of more minutes, Haruka continuously grumbling to herself on the other end of the phone, a certain part of the stretch of white darkened, and the curved top of the station slowly faded into view.

"I'm close to the station. Where are you know?" He asked.

"I'm...I think I'm opposite the r-road that leads to the t-turn in. Can't really tell" Frowning slightly, Yakumo scanned that side of the street. She should be right in front of him. Although, given the strength of the snow and the low visibility, it was possible she had been walking in the wrong direction. It would not surprise him if that were the case.

"Try stepping into the road and flapping your arms. I will be able to see you then"

A shocked whisper of laughter was his response.

"How about you g-get out of the car and f-flap your arms. Then I'll be able to s-see you"

Easing the car forwards until the bulk of the train station was in front of him, Yakumo stopped. Thinking for a moment, he leant forwards and repeatedly pressed the button that controlled his headlights.

"Oh! Is that y-you? I can s-see headlights!"

"Move towards them" He ordered.

Haruka did as she was told, careful where to place her feet. Her latest stumble had hurt. The sudden gush of wind had been so unexpected and alarmingly strong, she had not had time to brace herself before she fell. Once again she had fallen to her knees, this time the joints taking her full weight. Now they stung. With both the cold and pain. She was unsure if she had actually cut one of them.

After three more struggling steps, her gaze determinedly fixed upon the cars headlights, the outline of the car came into view. She nearly cried out in delight, her hand stretching out to follow the smooth outline of the vehicle so she could find her way to the door handle.

With a victorious huff, her fingers eventually closed around the plastic strip. She took one last step forwards, and promptly fell face first back into the snow as her foot caught on something solid. For a short moment, she lay there, her face imprinted into the ground – arms spread either side of her. Her left leg balancing on what ever had toppled her over. She heard the pop of a car door opening, a soft amused laugh drifting to her even over the roar of the wind.

Blustering, she pushed herself up, intending to snap a harsh retort at his amusement, when her gaze landed upon the obstruction that had put her into this situation.

And then she screamed.

AN:

Okay, so I've did a little tweaking with some locations. (I was wondering around lower Toyko for bloody ages on Google Earth trying to make this as real as possible)

So we know from the series that Yakumo attends Meisei University. Haruka does not. But as much as I tried, I couldn't find another University close to Meisei that would be a believable distance for Haruka to travel to nearly every day to see Yakuomo. So for pretences sake, pretend she attends Chuo University – which I know, is a law focused Uni, but there wasn't another academy's around.

So, what's the verdict? Is it to slow? This is going to be a multi-chaptered fic, so I didn't want to start everything off to quickly. I've wanted to write a STY fanfiction for years. One of my favourite series. This is based of the novels/manga, but will occasionally have moments from the anime in it. So if your confused – go catch up :)

I'm going to need a few creative reviews if I'm going to be carrying on with this. Criticism is welcomed to. If no one likes it, ill simply delete it. No harm done.