"Just a little closer..." A girl with jet-black hair and brown eyes took a few steps closer to the edge of the lake, her normally big eyes were narrowed in concentration, "Just a little more..."

She zoomed in the lenses of her camera and leaned forward, but she still couldn't quite capture the object clearly. A sudden wind blew her bangs across her face as she took another step forward and...

"Watch out!"

The girl found herself losing her balance and tipping toward the edge of the lake. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms tightly around her camera as a pair of strong arms pulled her back just in time. They both stumbled onto the green, just inches away from the cold dark waters.

"Are you okay?"

The girl glanced at her rescuer and saw a pair of beautiful blue eyes. She couldn't help but stare at this perfect stranger, and in her mind, a shutter clicked off to capture this exact moment in her memory forever. She blinked and when she met his face once more, his eyes were seemingly closed. She shook off the restless feeling and nodded.

"Yes...I'm fine...but..."

The girl trailed off as she realized that the boy and she were in a rather compromising position. She hesitated and averted her eyes and the boy got the message. Like a gentleman, he got up and sat gently in the grass beside to her.

"You should be more careful," The boy said, breaking the awkward silence, "If I was a second late, you would have fallen into the lake!"

"I...I just wanted to capture the water lilies, but..." The girl played around with her camera, checking for any signs of damages, "I guess I'm not that good with focus and zooming yet..."

"That's no excuse for putting yourself in danger," The boy said firmly, "You should have known better and..."?

"I'm sorry." The girl replied softly as her brown eyes lowered and looked away into the distance. Knowing not what to answer, knowing not what to say, knowing nothing, her mind went blank...

"I didn't mean to...criticize you..." The boy corrected himself as he noticed the girl's discomfort and his voice became more comforting, "Anyways, may I see some of your pictures? I'm a bit of a photographer myself."

"Here..."

The girl passed the camera to the boy without a glance and the boy accepted it carefully. He snapped the camera into view mode and scanned through the thumbnails of the images. His eyes were seemingly closed through much of the film, but suddenly, his eyes opened wide as he stared at a single picture for a long, long time.

"Is something the matter?"

The girl was anxious, which picture could have caused such a reaction? She was only an amateur photographer, there was no way she could have captured the intensity and meaning, the story and imagination that defines a good photograph. So why was the boy staring so keenly at this one photo?

"This...is a self-portrait of you?" The boy motioned toward the image in the frame as he said slowly, "You look...different?"

"Um...yes..." The girl replied as she took a peek at the image, "I was experimenting with black and white textures."

"You had your hair down."

"Um...yes..." The girl turned red as she unconsciously pulled at her ponytail and twisted the ribbon a little tighter.

"It looks nice." The boy said simply before he closed the power on the camera and handed it back to the girl. "You should wear it down more often."

"Thanks," The girl flushed as she accepted back her camera, "I'm , , and you are?"

"Syusuke," The boy replied as he reached over and brushed a leaf off 's head, "Fuji Syusuke."

A year later...

"Syusuke!"

Fuji turned at the sound of this familiar voice and even before he saw the caller, a smile had already subconsciously appeared on his face. Yes, it has been a year since he had first heard her voice, but he remembered every conversation, every change in tone, every signature laugh, everything...

"."

"You're taking picture again?" glanced toward the tripod, the camera bag, the lenses, the films, and gazed at Fuji, "I thought...you said it was a date?"

"I am and it is." Fuji replied simply, pointing at a cherry blossom tree a few meters away, "And you are my subject."

"Huh?" was obviously confused as Fuji half pulled and half dragged her to a marked spot under the tree. "But..."

"Be still!" Fuji rushed back to his camera and zoomed in. The cream pink colored petals of the cherry blossoms contrasted beautifully with her jet-black hair, the light from the sun poked through the leaves to create a luminous light about her presence, the apparent amusement caused a glitter in her eyes and brought the photo to life.

*Snap

*Snap

*Snap

"Syusuke?"

"Hmmm?" Fuji didn't look up as he clicked away at the shutter, trying to capture the moment and recreate it in his prints. The dazzling background and her: it was too perfect...

"Remember that day last spring?" continued as she laughed at Fuji's concentration, "The day we met?"

"Yes?"

*Snap

*Snap

"I have never asked you this, but..." paused and dusted off a few petals from her skirt before she continued, "What were you taking on your camera that day?"

"Why do you want to know?" Fuji asked, removing himself from his camera supplies and sat next to under the giant tree.

"Just curious," giggled, "You saw what was on my film that day and it is only fair that you show me what was on yours!"

"Fine, fine."

Fuji reached into the front pocket of his uniform and took out a small leather cardholder. He flipped it open as shifted closer to get a better look. Under the sunlight, a familiar figure stared back at her, a figure with black hair, brown eyes, and a camera in hand.

"Me?" said slowly as she looked at Fuji, "You were photographing me?"

Fuji nodded as shook her head in uncertainty. Too many things were going through her head, too many thoughts were racing around her mind, too many...

"I love you."

Three simple words, a snapshot, eternal happiness.

Written by Amiya
November 6, 2007