John groaned miserably as he turned over and squinted at the clock. He hadn't really slept. He felt ill and had been getting worse over the past few days. He figured it must be some sort of flu he hadn't had before, maybe a virus native to Japan. He kept feeling hot. His skin burned like a fire. He'd never felt anything like it before. He had a headache that came and went, along with intense, searing cramps in his lower abdomen. I should see a doctor later...He reluctantly stumbled out of bed. The symptoms had eased somewhat for now, but they'd been coming and going in waves barely a few hours apart. The heat was the worst part. Hot flushes came and went, searing his pale skin and leaving him panting, sweating, and something else. It wasn't a feeling he was familiar with, but it made his skin tingle, and something inside throbbed with each wave.

He probably shouldn't go out, but he felt it would be wrong not to. He'd agreed to attend a meeting at SPR the week before, and he didn't want to let his friends down. He wasn't sure why, but the thought of stepping outside the comfort and safety of his apartment was making him anxious. He tried to shrug off the feeling as he grabbed a facemask from the bathroom. Being sick was somehow making his senses keener, especially his sense of smell. He was hoping the mask would dampen it a little. The aromas of those around his building were bombarding his senses with sweet, fruity, wholesome, spicy, flowery, soft, and sharp scents. As a beta, this was something he'd never experienced. Usually, he could only catch a hint of scents as people passed by. He'd never been this sensitive. He tugged on his light brown coat and headed out. He'd dressed casually, in tan slacks and a white, long-sleeved top. His body felt hot, but he always preferred the comfort that came with sleeves. He was almost grateful for the cool weather. Usually, he hated it. Today, he felt hot despite the cold weather.

John took the subway to SPR, glad that it was the middle of the day, and therefore quite quiet. There were mostly mothers and children around, plus the occasional alpha or beta businessmen on their way to meetings. Something felt off about the day so far. John felt like he was being watched or stared at. Mothers would look up at him with something akin to worry and sympathy as he swayed, clinging to the handrail. The alphas, on the other hand, were giving him looks he couldn't even begin to figure out. It was making unwelcome shivers run down his spine, and his heart was racing in his chest.

He wasn't sure what it was, but as he stepped off the subway, the hairs on the back of his neck prickled. Something in his head screamed at him to run, and John didn't have the mental capacity to shut it down. He let his feet carry him up the steps, only aware of the fast feet coming up behind him as he reached the top. He had no idea why he was suddenly so terrified. More to the point, why is he chasing me? All at once, a security guard dove behind him. Loud shouts, roars, and scuffling feet filled the echoing hall as he wrestled a young alpha, likely a student, to his knees. The young man had his sharp teeth bared, his eyes dark and scathing as he tried to wrestle the heavy guard.

"Don't stop!" the guard ordered as he looked up at John with sharp eyes. His strong, sharp tone forced John to obey. Another thing he wasn't accustomed to. It wasn't that he'd never been snapped at by an alpha. His sister was an alpha, and used to do so frequently. He'd never felt the undeniable urge to obey though, not until that moment. John's feet pounded through the station. Heads turned as he raced by. Seeing him approach, one of the gatekeepers unlocked the disabled barrier and waved him over, barely glancing at his ticket as he was allowed to pass.

John didn't stop running until he was at the bottom of the steps leading up to SPR. He suddenly felt physically weak and shaky as he slowly dragged himself up the stairs. His heart was still pounding. The scents of other people in the area filled his senses. He felt crushed by the amount of alphas in this part of the city. Why am I so sensitive to it right now? His heart pounded fearfully as he finally reached the door. Inside was a little better, but the enclosed space was making the lingering scents within especially strong. He almost choked despite the mask. He felt suddenly light headed as he fell to his knees. A deep spice assaulted his senses, subtly blended with pastry, sugar, and a light fruitiness. The scents seemed vaguely familiar, but they'd never been this strong before.

"John!" Mai hurried over and rested her gentle hands on his slightly larger shoulders. He'd never noticed it until now, but by her light citrus scent, he could sense that she was a beta. He was quietly surprised since. With her gentle personality, he'd assumed her to be an omega. Her touch was so nice on his shoulder, and as she caressed his burning cheek, he felt himself shudder with a sense of need he'd never felt before. Her touch was cool and almost calming. "What are you doing here? You shouldn't have come in like this!" she scolded gently as she helped him to his shaking legs and led him into the office. He didn't make the sofas before he was down again with a gut wrenching cry of distress.

Mai physically flinched away, clapping her hands over her ears at the almost feral sound that escaped John's lips. He sounded like a wounded animal as he doubled over and clutched his stomach. Tears escaped his terrified blue orbs. It was worse than before. Much worse. It was like there was something trying to claw its way out of his gut. John felt his teeth ache and lengthen, his incisors nipping his bottom lip painfully. His eyes widened as he reached up and felt them, quivering as he traced the sharpened edges of his incisors. What's happening? What is this? My...

"Shit!" a new voice cursed, hurried footsteps sounding on the carpet. John cried in objection as new hands grasped him almost roughly beneath his armpits and hauled him to his feet. The person touching him smelled wonderfully sweet, like freshly baked lemon tart. He was shocked to find that the omega dragging him into the large side office was Naru. Naru sighed as he slammed his door shut and twisted the lock, running a stressed hand through his short ebony locks. "Your file says you're a beta!" Naru grunted almost accusingly as he knelt in front of John's quivering form.

"I...I-am!" John's voice cracked and shivered as much as his vulnerable body. Naru looked shocked beyond words, his blue eyes darting around the room almost nervously. He wasn't sure how he could say it delicately. It would have been a shock for any normal person, but for John, his whole world was about to be turned upside down.

"John...You're in heat..." Naru announced finally, unsure John was really listening or following as he gripped his stomach and bent so far over that his head pressed against the thin carpet. If he was uncomfortable because of his position, it didn't show. He was in too much pain elsewhere to care. He finally shook his head in denial. "Betas don't get heats," Naru added meaningfully, letting his words sink in.

"I can't-be...Would-have-known...Tests!" John spluttered between the intense waves of pain, crying as his body grew hotter. Naru sighed and ran a hand through his hair again. He'd been like this once. His first heat had come as an intense and unwelcome shock. He'd been terrified beyond belief, and he'd been prepared for it. He'd known his position before puberty hit. His brother had been helplessly amused. How could the more dominant brother be an omega while the softer was an alpha? Naru supposed it was some accident in the womb. A cruel twist of fate. One that had doomed them both.

"The tests must have been wrong," Naru replied in a steady but sympathetic tone. He quickly folded out his couch into a bed. It wasn't much, but it was at least more comfortable than the floor. He helped John roll onto it, running a supportive hand through his tangled golden locks. John stilled suddenly, shuddering and choking out a sob as he gripped Naru's wrist and pulled him closer. He seemed terrified as his lips trembled and his eyes teared up even more. "What is it?" Naru asked softly, cursing silently as John's scent slammed into him, though as an omega, it didn't affect him that much.

"I...I-think I'm-bleeding...Am I? I-feel..." he stammered vulnerably, truly looking like the most beautiful and pitiable creature in the world. Naru felt a rush of warmth and the undeniable urge to take care of this new and vulnerable omega. His cheeks flushed as he realised what John was talking about. He didn't need to touch his rump to know his heat had now fully begun.

"It isn't blood. It's the slick..." Naru stroked John's hair as he buried his face in his arm. He was truly scared and miserable as he curled up on the small bed and hugged himself. "Just lie here. I'll be right back," Naru assured, watching John nod weakly before hurrying into the office. He closed the door as quickly as possible and turned the key in the lock. Outside, the others had arrived, and it didn't pass his notice that both Lin and Ayako had sharp incisors and stood far more stiffly than usual. He held the key a little tighter, though he trusted his friends to keep control. Especially considering who the omega was.

"That scent..." Lin said in a deep, gravelly voice, his dark eyes burning with need. He was close to going into a rut. Naru shifted away from the door, keeping the table between himself and Lin. Mai seemed a little nervous too, subconsciously stepping a little closer to Naru. It was ironic that she felt safest near an omega. Not that she knew, of course. Secondary genders weren't the sort of thing you openly discussed in the workplace. "Who is it?" Lin demanded sharply, his dominating tone making Naru flinch, though he managed to remain defiant. He'd answer, but on his own terms. Lin looked almost apologetic as he closed his eyes and took a breath. He hadn't meant to let his alpha side take control.

"John," Naru replied simply. Everyone in the room looked surprised. He couldn't blame them. This was a rare situation. Unheard of, in fact. "It seems his hospital records were wrong. He didn't even realise he was going into heat," he added worriedly, thinking of all the work that would need to be done. He'd need food, water, clothing, comforting scents and, ideally, a mate. Well, maybe we'll have to do without the last part. I doubt John would agree to that right now. Not considering John's standing in the church.

"Why can't we smell him now?" Mai asked curiously as she looked around the small office. Naru's cheeks gained a little colour as he turned his face away. He'd never been one to feel vulnerable. Perhaps John's heat was affecting his own instincts and making him soft. He sighed as he considered how much he trusted this group of friends. Revealing your secondary gender was a big step, as an omega.

"My office is a heat room." Naru allowed the implication to hang unspoken between them. He could barely meet Mai's gaze as he looked at her wide honey eyes, her own cheeks flushing in response. Usually, he wanted to crush Mai to his chest, drown her with his eyes and tongue, and dominate her smaller form. At that moment, he found part of himself wishing that she'd been born an alpha, so that she could do the same to him. His cheeks flushed. Damn John's pheromones! It's his first time, so they're stronger than usual. He winced in annoyance as he massaged his temples, waving Mai off as she fussed over him.

"But he's twenty! His heats should have started years ago!" Ayako objected, digging her deep red nails into her palms. The things she could do to that pretty little thing. She'd never pegged him as an omega, obviously. His job would be impossible for an omega. He was so soft. He'd writhe and whine beneath her as she-She dug her nails in harder. Those weren't thoughts she wanted to have of John, with his deep blue eyes, soft pink lips, curled blonde hair, and milky white skin. She drew blood, hissing as Lin growled in challenge. They both looked away, ashamed. John's lingering scent was pushing them both into a rut.

"Easy..." Monk-san interjected, tentatively reaching out and placing a gentle hand on Ayako's smaller shoulder. Her shoulder may have been small, but the muscle was absolutely there. He knew first hand. "Aya..." His own hazel eyes went a little hazy as he breathed in her over powering scent. It was rich. A heavy cinnamon spice that clung to his senses. Her cheeks flushed at his soft tone and affectionate pet name. It was something he usually only called her during her rut, or his heat.

"Sh-shut up!" she vented, prickled beyond words by the situation. Despite the heat room, John's scent lingered in the air, and clung to Naru's clothes. She wasn't mated, so it was torture, especially as she was approaching her prime. Lin was the same. Usually, they would both have taken a mate by now. Her eyes shifted briefly to Takigawa, who smiled warmly at her. Maybe during his next heat...That thought crossed her mind every time, and every time, she let the moment pass.

"This is going to be bad..." Lin murmured with a frustrated sigh as he rubbed his darkened eyes. He didn't want to feel this way any more than Ayako did. He had no intention of bonding with anyone. He'd had his chance. He'd decided a long time ago. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves and almost regretted it as John's cotton candy scent lingered, clinging to Naru's clothes. "We'll never remove him safely." It was a fact. John's heat was in full swing. Any alpha within a mile or so would pick it up straight away. They may have already.

"Agreed. He can stay here until it passes," Naru replied, having spent a few heats in his office already since coming to Japan. He'd made it liveable enough, and once he'd gathered a few things for John, he'd be quite comfortable. As comfortable as a first-time omega in heat, miles from home, and without a mate can feel anyway...Lin nodded his agreement. He was quite familiar with Naru's heat routine. While Naru was in heat, Lin would run the office and stand guard.

"Can we reschedule the meeting? I think I need to go," Ayako said finally, Naru nodding his silent agreement. Ayako didn't wait for any more than that before she gripped Takigawa's forearm almost painfully. She didn't need to voice her request. He smiled and quietly excused himself as well, promising to call Mai later for an update. Having remained quiet so far, Masako also excused herself. She wasn't so affected by the smell since she was a beta, but she did have some information to process. She had the feeling that Mai wouldn't care that Naru was an omega, but it was different for her. She wasn't overly biased, but she did have needs.

"Let me help," Mai insisted as she tugged Naru's jacket sleeve. Naru felt his heart flutter and turn soft at her words. That was so like Mai. Always ready and willing to help anyone in trouble. He agreed that Mai would accompany him to John's apartment, since she knew the way. Naru knew the things that John would need better than anyone else there, so he insisted on going, too. That just left Lin. Naru eyed him warily. He'd never had any doubts about him before, but this time it wasn't him in heat. It wasn't his body on the line. Lin was still an alpha. He still had biological needs to consider, and he wasn't as close to John as he was to him.

"Go. I can control myself," Lin assured, his dark eyes meeting Naru's. Naru held his gaze before nodding, saying that he'd return with Mai shortly. As they left, Lin's eyes shifted to the door worriedly. He was just able to hear the muffled sobs and cries within. He must be in so much pain...