This is my new fic, the fist chapter's a little short, just an introduction.

Fade

Blue eyes opened as air rushed painfully into deprived lungs. At first the pulse of her heart was deafening, it's push of blood through her veins almost painful as the nameless terror subsided. Then there was silence, broken momentarily by the whine and whoosh of air brakes as a truck came to a stop outside the apartment building before continuing it's journey through the dimly lit streets. The off white walls stood bare in the yellowed light that slid through matching blinds, green carpet was transformed to black by the winter's night. Kaoru shifted under heavy blankets, clutching a well-worn stuffed cat close to her. It was her first night in the apartment, her first night alone since the accident five years ago. She was fifteen, with little thought of the future or worry for tomorrow. Everything seemed mush simpler then; family (even though her parents traveled and were home very little she never minded) school, friends, kendo. . .suddenly the apartment's empty space brought back helpless memories.

**Flashback** It was 10pm on January 23rd, 1997 and she was sitting up waiting for her parents to come home. She remembered that this trip had been cut short; her mother had called that afternoon to tell her that they would be home by midnight, just in time to be there for her birthday. An exited Kaoru lounged in front of the TV, barely paying attention to the movie. She had seen "Labyrinth" enough times to be able to recite it, but it made for good back ground. Yawning she looking at the clock, two more hours left until her parents got home. A loud knock echoed through the living room, causing her to jump. Still startled she walked to the front door, wrapping the blanket around herself and wondering who could be stopping by this late. Carefully she opened the door, her blue eyes settling on the silver glint of a badge.

"What can I do for you, officer?" She smiled sweetly up at the man, whose fingers fidgeted with the rind of his hat. He looked to be in his mid twenties, with brown eyes and cut brown hair. An air of tension rose from him like summer heat.

"Ms Kamiya?" His voice came carefully, words sounding unsure.

"Yes."

"There was an accident, the plane your parents were in crashed a mile off coast. . ." He looked down, pausing "I. . .I'm sorry, but they haven't found any survivors ma'am."

The young Kaoru dropped to her knees, her arms coiling protectively around her chest as a wordless wrenching shriek of loss tore from her throat.

**End**

Old tears forming behind blue eyes, and she shook her head free of the memories. Holding the worn cat, she curled under the heavy blankets, fighting back the pain of an unhealed wound. She couldn't cry now, crying didn't do any good; her tears wouldn't bring them back.

From the depths of her closet the shadows watched her through a door left ajar, and in the living room the shadows of the old hose came out from their hiding places to wander through her sparse belongings.



Morning sunlight flowed persistently through the closed blinds, dragging a weary Kaoru from her now dreamless sleep. Only the hinted memory of last night followed her into conciseness with the memory of moving shadows and red hair. With a stretch and a tired sigh she slide out from under the welcoming warmth and shivered at the chill morning. Outside the world with a bright place of ice covered surfaces. Tree branches sparkled in the clear morning as road crews battled the weather with salt and cinders. Across the street the college remained dark, the usual early cars absent from the icy parking lot. With a triumphant smile Kaoru walked into her living room, planning to spend the day unpacking. The living room was much as she had left it the night before, but instead of her crates being sorted into different stacks they were piled up beside the door.

"Ok, I think I missed something." Wondering if she had dreamed staying up and sorting the crates, Kaoru walked into the bathroom, turning on the hot water and going to the kitchen to make tea.

Yawning again, she set the cup on the edge of the tub and turned off the water. Tying her hair up in a bun she discarded the big T-shirt and stepped into freezing water. "Damn it." She hissed, shivering and wrapping her robe around herself. Her landlord said it was an old house, but he never said anything about the hot water not working. Experimentally she turned on the faucet, and put her fingers under the water. With a gasp she pulled her hand back, quickly turning the water off and wiggling her burned fingers.

"Stupid house." She hisses, glaring at the walls as she got dressed and set to unpacking.