A/N: So this is a total drabble. It's an idea I've had for ages, but never quite knew how to write it. This short story best goes along with the songs that ar elisted at the beginning of each chapter. It's very short. There won't be a sequel, but there will be five chapters, all of which have already been written.

This chapter's song:

Poemè - By Secret Garden (Takes some time for the violin; it's at 1:50)


The First Time

The first time he saw her, she was standing on a corner.

Like most people, he didn't stop to talk to her, nor did he acknowledge her as he passed. He had a tendency not to acknowledge most people, unless they pissed him off or wanted something from him. Generally, he was fine with ignoring just about everyone, and she was no different.

She even kind of blended into the background.

His feet pointed him towards home, towards a bed seldom made and an apartment that was as cold and empty as the rest of his life. He would have made it home, too, if the sound of music hadn't stopped him.

Shizuo Heiwajima didn't consider himself a connoisseur of the fine arts. Hell, he didn't consider himself a connoisseur of anything. He didn't even like music all that much, and the idea of staring at a painting for any amount of time made him almost physically ill.

But the music that had frozen him in his tracks was so out of place in this city of clogged air and bustling people, that he couldn't help but turn and look.

The woman he had passed looked more like a girl to him. She was tiny, slender, and a fragile centerpiece in a world that kept on moving around her. Everyone who passed was as oblivious to her music as he had been mere moments ago; they didn't stop to acknowledge her, and didn't even bother to throw a few yen into the case lying open at her feet.

The artificial light of the city reflected off her violin, illuminating the polished wood and the bow that slid expertly across the ivory strings beneath her fingertips. Her hair was a shade of midnight blue that he had to admit he'd never seen before, and her pale skin told the story of a girl who spent most of her time indoors, or in the darkness. Her eyes were closed, one soft cheek resting on the rounded edge of the instrument in her small hands, and he had no idea what colors those orbs were beneath those soft lashes.

He'd guess they were blue.

Her song was a haunting, lyrical masterpiece, and something deep within his soul was soothed and enticed all at the same time. Unconsciously, his eyes drifted closed, and he listened to the music, letting it fill him with a sense of…of something he'd never felt before.

Shizuo didn't know what peace was, but he was sure this came pretty damn close to it.

Then, as if out of nowhere, the music stopped. Shizuo's eyes jerked open, and he found himself watching the girl from a distance as she bent over and set the violin back into the case. There was no money inside, and Shizuo silently wondered what the purpose of playing on a corner was if not for the money, but the placid expression on her face told him that she didn't seem to mind.

The latches on the case were clasped tightly together, clicking shut with a sound that was inaudible to him at such a distance. Her fingers, so delicate and dainty, lifted the case over her shoulder, and Shizuo observed her as she checked a watch strapped to her wrist, as if she might be late for some other important appointment, frowning faintly.

She glanced back at him only once, the only unmoving stranger in a sea of milling people, and smiled.

Shizuo gave a start, and a scowl slid into place as he fixed the woman with his most intimidating glare. Her smile merely widened as she skipped off into the crowd, violin and case in tow, and disappeared.

His face relaxed only marginally, a thoughtful look marring his features as he watched her go, and idly, Shizuo wondered if she would be back tomorrow. Then, cursing himself and his stupidity, he reminded himself that it didn't matter, because she was just a stranger. He didn't care if he saw her again, because she was just some weirdo performing on a street corner.

As he turned to go, dreading the walk back to his empty apartment, Shizuo wondered when it was he started lying to himself.


A/N: Well, there ya go. First chapter. Tell me what you thiiiink. DO IT. Haha, I love you guys. This story is basically already written, so expect it to be posted tonight or later in the week.