walkyourownway | Of Love and Roses

Title: Of Love and Roses
Chapter: 1
Fandom: Yu Yu Hakusho, Sailor Moon
Character(s): Aino Minako, Kurama
Genre: Romance, drama, friendship
Rating: K+/PG
Disclaimers: Sailor Moon © Naoko Takeuchi, Yu Yu Hakusho © Yoshihiro Togashi
Notes: I had this idea one day when I was looking through one of my old crossovers, and I remembered a picture I saw of Yusuke and Usagi getting married, in honor of Yoshihiro Togashi and Naoko Takeuchi's marriage. But as cute as that was, it didn't feel right since Yusuke and Usagi both have people who they love. So after thinking about which characters would work well and unite the two universes, I decided to pair my two favorite characters from each. Enjoy.

Summary: "A floral symbol sacred to Venus and signifying love, the quality and nature of which was characterized by the color of the rose." ~ The Dictionary of Christian Art

~*~*~*~

"Man!" Minako exclaimed as she sprinted down the sidewalk. "I can't believe how late it is! Mom is soooo gonna kill me!" She shot a glare at the white cat that ran beside her. "Why didn't you come and get me sooner, Artemis?!"

"Hey, I tried!" Artemis defended. "It wasn't my fault that you and the girls wanted to finish that movie!"

"Well you don't expect us to just leave in the middle of it, do you? We had to see how it ended!"

"Well, let's just hope your mom thinks that's a good enough reason for getting home so late!"

Minako gave an exaggerated sigh, glad that it was dark and late enough that there was no one else around to see her arguing with her cat. Looking at her wristwatch, she winced and hoped that her parents were asleep so she could sneak in without getting caught. Though she felt it wasn't likely, she could still hope.

'Maybe they'll believe we were still studying and just lost track of time,' she thought. It was the reason she was still out in the first place; as they often did, the group got together to study at Makoto's apartment so Amy could help them with any problems they had with homework. That's what they had done at first, but then just as they were wrapping up the study session for the day, Usagi found a romantic movie on television that just had to be watched.

Ami and Rei had returned home shortly after that, but she, Usagi, and Makoto decided to finish the movie and see how the heroine would win back her lover. The movie turned out to be a tragedy, when the heroine died before she could tell her lover how she truly felt, but it was such a worthwhile movie anyway.

Except it lasted for much longer than she expected it to, and she knew that if her mother caught her out this late, she was going to die as well.

She suddenly heard Artemis give a loud screech, and just as she looked down at him curiously, she felt herself crash hard into something. Caught off guard, she recoiled and fell back, landing harshly on her back. Her schoolbag clattered to the ground, spilling all of its contents onto the pavement.

"Are you all right?" a low, soft voice asked suddenly.

"Ow…" she muttered her reply, pushing herself up on one elbow and reaching up to rub the back of her head with her free hand. Opening her accusing eyes, she looked up at the one she was sure she ran into. "Say, why don't you watch where you're…?" The anger died on her lips as the figure stepped under the streetlamp.

The figure's crimson hair seemed to shine as he stood under the light, flowing down behind his back and standing out brightly against his white collared shirt. His blue slacks rustled softly as he knelt down beside her, and she saw the concerned frown on his handsome features. Looking up into his sparkling emerald eyes, seeing them watching her curiously, she felt heat rising to her face.

"I'm so sorry," the man said softly, offering his hand to her. "I should have been more careful where I stood."

She swallowed the lump in her throat, her mouth suddenly dry as she shook her head. "N-no…it was my fault," she managed to say, placing her hand in his warm, gentle one. "I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."

She gasped softly when he lifted her to her feet so easily. "You're not hurt, are you?" the man wondered.

She shook her head again. "No, I'm fine."

A small smile appeared on the man's lips, and Minako felt her knees suddenly weaken. "That's good," he said. Then looking at the ground, he knelt down again and began to gather her scattered belongings.

"Oh, here, I've got it," she said, kneeling down and gathering some of her books as well. Picking up her schoolbag, she stuffed whatever she could into it. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "Thanks."

"It's no problem," he replied, straightening some of her loose papers. "But it's rather late, isn't it? You should be careful walking alone at this time of night."

She felt herself blushing again, taking her things as he offered them back to her. "It's okay. I'm almost home anyway." As the sentence left her lips, she gasped and looked at her watch.

"Oh no!" she exclaimed, jumping to her feet. "Now I'm even later than I was! Mom's gonna be furious!"

As the stranger rose to his feet questioningly, she snatched whatever books and papers he was holding and dashed past him down the street. "I-gotta-get-going-now-thanks-for-the-help-sorry-I-ran-into-you-bye!" she yelled as she ran.

Artemis, just as confused as the redheaded stranger, ran to catch up with her. Once he thought they were out of earshot, he said, "Well, don't count on your mom being asleep after that, because that probably already woke up the whole neighborhood."

"Shut up, Artemis," Minako snapped, looking at her watch again. "Man, how could something like that take up so much time?!"

Glancing over her shoulder, she could just make out the outline of the figure still standing under the streetlamp as she continued farther away from him. 'But it was worth it,' she thought with a smile. 'He was so cute!'

The bolt of the lock clicked softly, and Kurama slowly opened the door and entered his new apartment. His eyes scanned the residence through the darkness, closing the door behind him and heading past the small foyer and into the bedroom.

The entire apartment was rather bare, equipped with only a sparse amount of objects that he would immediately need and some furniture. The rest of his things were arriving the next day (or rather, later today), and he could only hope that they would come after the school let out for the day.

"Cutting it rather close," he murmured to himself as he sat on the narrow bed, running pale fingers through his crimson mane. He had arrived in Tokyo only a few hours ago, and had spent most of the time putting away the few things he had brought with him before finally going to find the school he'd be teaching at the next day.

Normally he would have been more prepared than this, and had actually planned to arrive a week ago in order to situate himself and settle in before he needed to start teaching. But Hiei's surprising visit had thrown off all his plans, and the news of sudden unrest in the Makai was enough to delay his trip for a few days.

No one knew quite who the demons were or what their purpose was, but the stir they were causing was noticed by many. So far, nothing too serious happened, yet if Hiei was concerned enough to find them and tell them, then it could possibly be a problem in the future. They were told to be ready…just in case.

They spent the little time left making plans; coming up with ways to contact him quick enough if something happened, thinking of ideas for him to travel fast enough to get back there…Juggling that with preparations for his move to Tokyo and making up excuses for why he hadn't left yet kept him busy enough. Before he knew it, the scheduled time for him to start teaching was close enough that he couldn't stall any longer. The only means of normal contact with him was by cell phone until he could get a landline service connected in his apartment. But they hadn't quite figured out how he would get back. The most direct bullet train still took five hours to make the trip from here and back, and there weren't many ways to shorten that time.

Kurama sighed softly and shook his head. He'd think of something eventually.

Turning so that he sat more on the bed, he leaned back a bit to open the window and let some air in. As he did so, however, he winced a little when something in his back pocket dug into him. Quickly opening the glass pane, he then sat upright and reached into his pocket, pulling out the golden crescent-shaped object.

He was returning from a brief exploration of the vicinity when he ran into that girl. He had sensed her coming, but her speed surprised even him and he hadn't reacted fast enough before she ran into him. As brief as their collision was, it was enough for him to detect an energy that coursed through her, alerting him that there was something…different about this girl.

Though she hadn't been paying attention, he still felt at fault for standing in the dark that way. So it only made sense for him to help gather her effects. She seemed to be in a hurry, though, and she took her things and left in a quick flurry of words and movement. He had watched her leave for a moment, a little uneasy that a young girl would travel alone at night like that. But as she grew farther away, and though he thought he heard her talking to someone as she left, he was distracted when he felt a small vibration on the ground beside him.

The crescent object rested on the pavement where the girl had landed, and he realized that it must have dropped from her person when she fell. Looking at the article, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something strange about it. But he managed to ignore it as he wondered how he would get it back to its owner.

The uniform she wore indicated she was possibly in high school. Maybe she was…?

When he bent down to pick up the item, he felt the vibration again against his palm, and the feeling returned tenfold. He could sense that magic lay dormant underneath the golden gadget.

Fingering the design carved into the crescent, Kurama carefully examined the object until his fingers found what he needed to know; at the tips of the crescent were small hinges, and in the middle of the rounded outside was a small latch. With the slightest hesitancy, he slowly opened the compact and found himself staring into his own curious eyes.

It was a strange design for a compact mirror. The two halves of the crescent each held a reflecting surface, separated by the circular gap in between. Opened, the circular object lay flat in his hand, and he suddenly felt another vibration shoot up his arm and spread throughout his whole body. As he looked longer into the top mirror, his eyes widened when his reflection faded into his Youko form.

The mirror fell from his hand and landed on the bed without a sound. Kurama inhaled deeply, calming his quickened heart back to normal pace. What did…? Was that…real? But how could it be? Seeing his other self in the mirror…Perhaps it was only a trick of the mind?

Yet as he looked down at the mirror again, seeing golden eyes staring back at him, he knew that he wasn't wrong.

How did that girl come to possess a mirror like this?

Slowly picking up the item, he held it under the light of the moon in hopes of getting a better view of it. As he did so, the mirror began to glow with a pale white light. A wave of curiosity crashed over him as questions raced through his mind. Carefully he placed the compact on the window sill, watching the mirror continuing to reflect the soft radiance.

He felt…something tugging the back of his mind. But for the life of him he couldn't figure out what it was.

The classroom was filled with the sound of friendly chatter, words bumping into each other and getting lost in others' ears. The students had dispersed into groups, finding ways to entertain themselves as they patiently waited for their teacher to arrive.

In their own group, Minako gave a wide yawn and let her head fall back on the chair. "Man, if I had known we were gonna wait, I would have slept in a little longer."

"I wonder what's taking so long," Makoto said before trailing off into a small yawn of her own.

"The teachers are all still discussing," Ami replied, putting her book down and removing her glasses. "Today is the day they start the dual teaching method."
"Oh yeah," Usagi said, hiding a yawn behind her hand. "Where they have two teachers teaching one subject during the week? I wonder what that's gonna be like."

Watching her friends for a moment, the blue-haired girl then frowned curiously. "Did you guys really stay up to finish that movie last night?"

The three giggled nervously, averting their eyes away from the accusing gaze. Ami sighed. "That movie must have finished really late. What time did you guys get to bed?"

"Well, after Usagi-chan and Minako-chan left, I managed to fall asleep at one or so," Makoto said sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head.

"One?" Ami repeated. Turning to Minako and Usagi, she asked, "Your parents must not have been happy that you two returned so late!"

Usagi giggled again, clasping her hands together and twiddling her thumbs. "Actually…" she said slowly, "after I left Mako-chan's apartment, Mamo-chan let me stay at his place."

The three exchanged doubtful looks. They had a feeling that it wasn't really Mamoru letting her stay at his apartment so much as her convincing him to let her spend the night there.

"You must be really happy to have him back, huh, Usagi-chan?" Makoto asked with a small smile.

With a vigorous nod, the shortest girl smiled brightly. "Yeah. Even though Mamo-chan said he might stay longer in America, he decided it would be better if he came home."

The three guardian Senshi smiled this time, knowing exactly why Mamoru chose to stay.

"What about you, Minako-chan?" Usagi asked, turning curious sapphire eyes towards the other blonde.

The warrior of love waved her hand dismissively. "My mom was pretty mad when I came in," she replied nonchalantly, "but I guess that's what happens when you stroll in at two in the morning."

"Two?!" the other girls exclaimed in surprise.

"How could you get home at two?" Makoto demanded. "You don't live that far away from me!"

Minako grinned mischievously. "Well, I would have been home sooner…but it just so happens that on my way back I ran into this absolutely cute guy…"

The brunette's attentions suddenly peaked. "Yeah?" she wondered. "How cute? What'd he look like?"

The conversations suddenly faded as the classroom door opened, and the students returned to their seats as an older woman stepped inside. Her crisp, clean light blue suit jacket and skirt reflected her meticulous personality, and her dark brown hair was pulled into a tight bun at the back of her head, keeping any strands out of her stern, tan face. She entered the room with a commanding air around her tiny form, warning those around her that she was not to be messed with. However, beneath her round-rimmed glasses, her warm brown eyes revealed the true kindness the woman was capable of, and the gentle smile she wore as she faced the class showed just how much she truly cared for the students.

She waited for them to settle completely before clearing her throat. "Good morning, students," she greeted in a light but firm voice.

"Good morning, Nakagawa-sensei," the class responded dutifully.

"As I'm sure you're all aware of," she continued, "the school is trying a new teaching method that alternates teachers during the week, in hopes that students' ability to learn will improve with the different teaching styles provided to them."

Murmurs rose through the classroom, but the woman quickly silenced them with a gesture of her hand. "We are not here to question it, and the success of this system will determine whether or not it will be a permanent part of your education. Now," she added, and her smile seemed to grow as her eyes sparkled with amusement, "I'd like you all to meet your additional history teacher."

The classroom door slid open again, and Minako's eyes widened as the young man entered.

His bright crimson hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, reaching down the middle of his back and starkly contrasting the gray suit jacket he wore. A grayish-brown vest covered most of his white shirt, and the collar was held together by a light blue tie. In one hand was a brown leather briefcase, while the other was hidden in the pocket of the matching gray pants. Placing the briefcase on the desk behind him as the older woman began writing something on the blackboard, the man then turned to the class.

A wave of whispers rose among the students, but only for a brief moment as the bright emerald eyes surveyed the room, passing over each one of them. His pale, almost feminine face was pulled into a thoughtful, curious expression. Then suddenly, a gentle smile graced his thin lips, and many of the girls sat on the edge of their chairs.

Finished with her writing, Nakagawa-sensei returned her attention to the class, coming to stand beside the taller, younger man. "Class," she announced, "this is Minamino Shuuichi-sensei."

The redhead bowed slightly. "Good morning, students," he greeted in a soft, friendly voice.

"Good morning, Minamino-sensei," most of the girls sighed in response.

"Minamino-sensei just arrived to Tokyo yesterday afternoon," Nakagawa-sensei explained, motioning to the fellow teacher beside her. "Last year, he graduated from Meiou High School, and is currently attending KO University. Now, even though Minamino-sensei is only a few years older than all of you, I expect you to show him the same respect as any teacher. Though Minamino-sensei and I are teaching you on separate days, we will be collaborating together in assessing your grade and class performance. If Minamino-sensei tells me that you have been misbehaving," she added with a serious stare, "he will not be the only person you will have to deal with. Understood?"

"Yes, Sensei," the students answered.

With an approving nod, she then turned to her coworker. "Well, Minamino, I'll leave them to you."

The red-haired man gave her a courteous bow. "I'll do my best," he promised.

She gave him a reassuring smile, and with one last warning glare to the class, she left the classroom and slid the door closed behind her.

The man waited until she was gone before turning back to the class. "I apologize for the late start this morning," he said, walking around the desk and placing his briefcase on the floor beside it. "As Nakagawa-sensei mentioned earlier, I only just arrived in Tokyo yesterday, and I haven't been as prepared as I'd like to be. So, because this school is experimenting with all these changes, I would like to start with something different."

Erasing his name from the chalkboard, Minamino dusted his hands off. "This morning will be an independent study. As you work, I will call you up individually, just for a minute or two, and try to determine how well you are doing in the class." He chuckled a little as a light groan drifted through the room. "It won't take too long, and it will give me a chance to get to know you all."

Sitting at his desk, he reached for his briefcase and pulled out a folder. With a smile, he said, "Shall we begin?"

Some students rose from their seats, drifting to other corners of the room to "study" with their friends. The four girls gathered together as well, their eyes focused on this new teacher. "My God," Makoto said. "He is gorgeous!"

"He must be very intelligent as well," Ami added, placing a thoughtful finger to her chin. "Meiou High is one of the top high schools in Japan, and he's even teaching here while attending KO University."

Usagi glanced around at some of the girls, noticing them whisper and giggle as they watched their red-haired instructor. "It looks like he's going to be really popular with the girls," she noted.

"You guys!" Minako whispered, pulling them all down into a closer huddle. "That's the guy! He's the one I ran into last night!"
"No way!" Makoto replied. "For real?"

The Venus warrior nodded. "For real! I bumped into him last night…and I mean I literally bumped into him."

Ami sighed. "You weren't paying attention to where you were going, huh?"

"So?" Minako retorted. "It was worth it for the chance to see someone like him. He even helped me when I dropped my stuff."

Usagi grinned, pulling on Minako's sleeve. "I bet you'll be one of his favorite students now, since you were one of the first ones he met."

Minako scoffed. "I doubt it. We didn't really get a chance to talk, and he doesn't even know my name! He probably doesn't remember me."

"Aino Minako-san," the red-haired teacher suddenly called, causing the four girls to look up at him.

Scrambling to get out of the group, Minako quickly made her way to his desk, meeting his patient expression with an eager one. "Here!" she exclaimed cheerfully.

"So, it's Aino Minako-san…then?" he asked softly.

She nodded energetically, flashing him her brightest smile. "That's right, Minamino-sensei!"

He nodded, taking a moment to jot something down. "I'm glad to see you made it home all right, Aino-san."

She blinked, a curious frown replacing her liveliness. "What?"

Minamino looked up at her again, resting his chin in the palm of his hand. "Well, I assumed that since you showed up in class this morning, you arrived to your home safely."

Minako felt her heart skip a beat. "So…you do remember me from last night…" she whispered.

The teacher didn't seem to hear her as he began sorting through some of his papers. "Aino-san, it seems that you're performance is…quite average when it comes to history," he stated as delicately as he could.

She winced, rubbing the back of her head with an embarrassed smile. "Yeah, well…some parts of history are easier to learn than others."

He nodded slightly, tapping his pencil on the desk. "Well, I believe that if you work hard, Aino-san, you would be able to improve your grade significantly."

She wasn't sure why, but she felt a sudden heat burning her cheeks. "You…really think so?"

Minamino nodded again, giving her a gentle smile. "I do. So let's work hard together, all right?"

Fidgeting a little, Minako then returned the nod, pumping excited fists in the air. "Okay. I'll try my best!"

He laughed softly at her enthusiasm. "All right."

She smiled again, and turned to head back to the girls when she heard him calling again, "Oh, one more thing, Aino-san?"

She looked back at him and watched him reaching into his pocket. "I think," he said slowly, "that this belongs to you." As he held out her crescent compact, she gasped.

"Oh my God!" she exclaimed, taking the mirror from him. "What…how…?!" She looked up at him. "Where did you get this?!"

"I found it on the ground last night after you left," he explained. "You were in such a hurry; I guess you didn't notice it had dropped."

She nodded, clutching the item to her. 'If Artemis ever found out I lost it, he'd kill me!' she thought. A sudden thought passed through her mind, and she looked at him curiously. "If you had just come to Tokyo yesterday, Minamino-sensei, how did you recognize my uniform?"

He shook his head. "I didn't, actually," he replied, straightening some papers. "I just kept it with me, in the slight chance that I could return it to you sometime."

Minako's body froze, save for her heart pounding beneath her hands. Did he just say…he was waiting to see her again?

Looking up at her again, he smiled. "Is there anything else?"

She swallowed thickly, her suddenly dry tongue sticking to the roof of her mouth. "N…no…" she finally managed, her voice so soft that she barely heard herself. With a slight bow, she murmured a quick 'thank you' before heading back to her friends.

"Minako-chan!" Usagi exclaimed. "You're all red! Are you okay?"

Minako nodded numbly.

"What did he say?" Makoto wondered.

Quickly pocketing her mirror, Minako glanced at the redhead as he spoke to another student. "He…remembers me, apparently," she replied softly.

TBC