Disclaimer(applies for the story in its entirety): I own nothing. Please don't get me!

Chapitre Un

I observed the old, run-down looking house with a criticizing eye. The house was far from needing just a few renovations. The paint was faded brown; the windowpanes were practically falling off; and the porch creaked with a low groan. In the backdrop of all the surrounding greenery, a little ways from the town's main square and secluded from any neighbors, it looked haunted.

"A quaint little house, is it not?" The landlady turned to me with a bright smile, misinterpreting my gaze. I gave her a neutral nod and agreed in my head that--in the most positive sense--yes, the house was quaint.

"It does look…historic," I vaguely commented as we stepped into the house.

I noted that the inside didn't look so bad. The morning sunlight was being let through the windows, and gave the house a homey, lived-in feel. And from what I could tell, nothing was falling apart. It wasn't the best, but it was tolerable.

And maybe needs a little dusting, I thought to myself as I sneezed, the dust particles floating around visibly through the air.

The landlady prattled on about the home and whatever, but I really wasn't in the mood to listen and exchange pleasantries. All I wanted to do was to get settled and get my alone time. I mean, the only reason why I even agreed to rent a room in here was to escape. I was tired and restless, and this lady here wasn't doing anything to deter it.

So, I decided to walk around the first floor of the house to distract myself while the landlady followed close behind. I picked up a few knick-knacks here and there; focused my gaze on the book shelf and scanned the titles; and ran my finger across a nearby tabletop, a little shocked to find the tip of my finger a rich shade of gray.

Yeah, definitely needs dusting.

After regarding most of the floor, my eyes fell on a framed sketch of a house. Picking it up from where it stood, I immediately recognized that the sketch was of this house and a fairly good one, too. I heard the landlady giggle and say something behind me; but I was finished paying attention to her. Instead, I studied the sketch and concluded that it was probably an old tenant's parting gift. Putting it back down, I sighed and turned towards the landlady, ready for her to leave.

Catching my hint, she smiled and made her way towards the door, wishing me a nice day.

"And remember that your room is upstairs, first one on the left. Not the right, got that? Because if you walk into that room, well, you know," the landlady wriggled her eyebrows and smiled, fully out the door by now. I raised an eyebrow in confusion as I followed her out to the porch, but the gesture went unnoticed.

"Oh," she called out to me from the dirt path, "There's a bathroom downstairs, too! Take care! I'll be back in a month. And don't worry about her. She's a little shy at first, but she'll open up eventually!"

And, at that, the landlady made her way down the path and back into the much busier portion of town. My eyebrows knitted together, and I wondered what she meant by her last few statements. I shrugged it off, however, when I realized that I was alone.

Finally.

I sighed tiredly and walked back into the house. Picking up my bags, I went upstairs and pushed open the door to my room. It, too, needed dusting; I noted this as I plopped down on the mattress and was attacked by a dust-induced coughing fit; but, then again, it seemed like this whole house was in need of a good clean.

"Home, sweet home," I said to myself as I tucked my arms under my head and stared at the ceiling.

All of this, here, was home now; and it was all to myself. I sighed again, but this time I did so happily. It was nice to be alone. For so long, it's just been disappearance after disappearance, battle after battle, journey after journey. I was tired of it. Right now, all I want is peace and quiet. I've wanted a breather, an escape from all that I was doing.

I closed my eyes for a bit, clearing my thoughts, then concluded that a shower is the best way to empty my mind. I needed water to start off this new peaceful life.

Gathering my necessities, I headed for the bathroom.

She said the bathroom's right next to my room, right? I asked myself, my hand turning the knob.

I opened the door, my eyes widened, and my jaw slightly dropped.

For there, bathing in the tub, was a young woman.

"Aaaaaaah!" She screamed upon seeing me, knocking me out of my shock. Immediately, I slammed the door closed and quickly backed away from the bathroom, as if even touching the door would be perverted.

So much for being alone, I thought to myself as I ran a hand over my face, blushing.

A/N: See author's note on the next chapter.