Title: Kindred
Author: GrapeSmshr
Rated: T
Disclaimer: I'm just sitting here, owning these two glorious anime and reaping the royalties...
Posted on: October 5, 2006
A/N: Omg, I can't believe I'm writing in this category again, much less starting a NEW fic! Well, for the past few weeks, this has been my category of choice, and I am quite rejuvenated. Yay for me! So this one's gonna be a two-shot. Read on and enjoy!
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Chapter 1: Innocent Party
She walked a bit faster down the deserted street, hugging her arms close to her body. For the past couple of blocks, she had been followed by some shady character. In the last half a block he was joined by a friend. They had yet to make any move, but it was only a matter of time. It wasn't that she couldn't take care of herself; those guys would have nothing on her. She just didn't want to deal with such an annoyance.
As their voices got louder, she knew that she would have to confront them. Turning a corner, she spotted a lone figure walking toward her. Quickly formulating a plan, she acted on it before she could hesitate and rethink the situation.
"There you are!" she cried with a giant smile, jogging up to the man and throwing her arms around him. She gave him a pleading look before standing on her tiptoes and kissing him.
As he had never been the victim of a kiss-and-run, he was unsure of exactly how to react in such a situation. Glancing behind the woman, he saw two thugs shoot them evil looks. After a moment's pause, he took what was the most obvious course of action--he kissed her back.
He didn't know when the two men slunk back into the shadows, but when he noticed their disappearance, he slowly pulled out of the kiss.
Staring over her shoulder, she heaved a sigh of relief at the now deserted street. Turning back to the stranger, she told him simply, "Thanks for your help." Then she walked off nonchalantly.
Staring after her in wonder, his mind was racing a mile a minute. Did that even just happen? Before he could stop himself, he called out, "Wait!" The woman paused, so he jogged over to her. "Let me walk you home," he requested of her as he approached.
"No, thanks. I can find my way home," she politely declined.
As she made to walk away again, he blurted out, "They might still be lurking around somewhere."
She rolled her eyes, somehow knowing that this man would not take no for an answer. "Fine, if it'd make you feel better." She continued down the sidewalk with him at her side
They walked in silence for a while, the fluorescent street lamps casting eerie shadows across their path. At this time of night, there weren't too many people out. That was precisely the reason why she chose to walk around at such a time. Her friends were great and all, but she valued her peace and quiet as well.
She could tell he was looking at her every so often, probably wondering what kind of nutcase crossed his path. She snorted in amusement. Well, he was an innocent party. The least she could do was apologize for causing him discomfort. She stepped in front of him, making him pause midstep. "Hey. I'm sorry for that back there. It was just easier dealing with them like that instead of the old-fashioned way." Without giving him a chance to ask the question she knew would follow, she plowed on smoothly, "I appreciate the help. I didn't mean to violate your personal space." For some reason he looked the type that didn't care to be around others.
Shaking his head, he told her, "Don't worry about it."
She stared at him for a moment before grabbing his hand and shaking it firmly. "I'm Tsukino Usagi."
"Trowa Barton." He paused before adding, "I hope you don't take this as an insult, but you are quite strange, Usagi." He braced himself for her inevitably scathing retort. His comment wasn't intended to be rude, but he just couldn't help himself.
To his amazement she only laughed, long and hard. "You're not the only one to think so," she reassured him with a wink as they started walking again. Giving him a sidelong glance, she inwardly chuckled as his flushed cheeks. So he embarrassed easily. She mentally noted that. "Tell me, Trowa, what brings you out here at this time of night?" Who cared if the question was nosy? She was never one to censor herself.
He looked surprised at the question. He actually hadn't been up to anything; he had just wanted to get out of his apartment for a while. But he would feel foolish telling that to her. Then again, she had just kissed him to stave off those thugs, so maybe she had an appreciation for the ridiculous. "I just didn't have any place to be," he finally answered with a shrug.
She gave him a strange look before bursting into laughter. At his guarded expression she stifled her giggles and said, "I'm sorry. I'm not laughing at you. It's just that, well, I'm out here for the same reason." Smiling faintly, she replied offhandedly, "Look at that. I think we're kindred."
They walked the rest of the way in a now comfortable silence, finally arriving at Usagi's door. Sizing him up for a moment, she asked cautiously, "Would you like to come up?"
Trowa shook his head. "I don't think so," he declined regretfully. Not this time, at least.
She smiled wryly at him. "I didn't think you'd agree. Ah, well." Standing tall, Usagi leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Have a good night, Trowa Barton." With one last wave she entered her apartment.
In all honesty, Trowa could say that he had never encountered such an odd and wonderful woman. Not that he spent copious amounts of time around females. But he could tell that she was special, an enigma. It just figured that the one female whom he was beginning to take a liking to had just walked out of his life.
Well, such is the way things go, he mused. He began to walk toward his own apartment. Remembering her words from earlier, he murmured to himself, "I may never see her again, but we'll always be kindred."
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I know, I know, not the most original thing in the world, but I just couldn't get it out of my head. I thought it was cute, at least. The next (and last) chapter should be even better, just so's ya know.
So please read and review! I'd love to know that this category isn't a complete ghost town... I know it'd be impossible to revive it to its once thriving glory, but we can at least keep it from winding down to a complete stop!
Thanks for reading! Until next chapter, then. Peace out!
