Approaching differences…

Chap 2 : wow so far so good the farthest I have gone in fic

Well keep up the reviews k. tootles


The next morning she woke up into much a stupor to keep herself from thinking the whole culture shock was dream also. It was just a nightmare; it was surreal to be believable. She was so happy to be home! She checked her watch, it was about 7 or so . She realized she was dirty, she must look HORRIBLE and she felt bad when she looked horrible. She grabbed her bag and groggily walked over to the shower remembering her dream.She was still half-asleep. She noticed something was different, but couldn't quite figure out what it was. She made a pact with her self never to go three days without sleep ever again. She blindly groped for the doorknob to the bathroom.

She began taking off her clothes in the hall; she was in jeans and bra before she comprehended how to open the door. She heard the water running, someone must have left it on, and did she leave it on? Eyes half opened she entered into the small one sink bathroom. She could see the stream rising from behind a dark maroon curtain. She didn't remember her mom changing it. Something was wrong. She walked over to turn the shower off. Reaching her hand behind the shower curtain, she sleepily groped for the faucet. She froze when she felt something wet and muscular; she needed sleep. She would go lay back down after she managed to turn off the shower. Right? Why had she come in here? Her mind had a fog over it. Everything was in slow motion. She felt the other side finally grasping the cold, wet chrome to turn it off. She finally heard just the water droplets on the tile shower floor. She turned slowly to leave, and then she heard something move behind the curtain. She turned to see the curtain move again and something, if she heard right, something was breathing!! She panicked. She was too tired for this. She looked around the bathroom for anything that could be used as a weapon. There was only a plunger; she quickly, but quietly picked it. She sidestepped over to the shower curtain; she closed her eyes and took a deep breath then flung the shower curtain open and, without looking, swung the plunger as hard as she could. A "ow" was heard and from what it sounded like it was from a man! She swung again but this time she attempted to look at what she was aiming at, she could not stop herself before it was too late the plunger hit him again. He dodged it this time. It was a NAKED Shuuichi!

! What had she done!! It wasn't a dream!! Her eyes widened in fear and disbelief. She thought it was over!! This plight in Japan, no stupid boy who ignored her, no signs she couldn't read, no language she couldn't speak, and most of all no dad who was marrying some Japanese woman! She was so angry and she had already hit him. This would be a nice chance to get revenge for not noticing her; he would notice her now! She figured what the hell and shrugged as she began to scream and swing at him again and again! He managed to dodge most of them, but she had him cornered and flinching hands overhead and body turned somewhat where everything was almost unnoticeable. He was so surprised he didn't no what to do, for a while it continued. Then he finally seemed to recover. His muscular, tanned body very exposed, he grabbed the plunger from her and the towel from the rack at the same time. He covered himself and angrily shoved her out the bathroom door with her pounding him in the head with her fists now. He slammed and locked the door behind him. She kicked the door angrily and broke down in tears. She realized the house was empty, surely if someone was here they would have heard the ruckus. The house was empty and she was alone, so very alone.

She sank down in front of the door and cried into her hands, resting on her knees. For at least three years it had been this way, since her parents divorce. Was it her fault? It didn't matter she was still alone, but she had survived everything life could throw at her. The death of her best friend, the bankruptcy of her mom, the high school change, and the birth and now this, a whole new world, how lost she was. And now she had no way to get help from anyone because the only person that could maybe help her was a stupid Japanese boy who ignored her.

She realized the door had opened and a fully clothed Shuuichi stepped out.

He was stooping down even with her; she looked away angrily. Her day-old mascara was running and her hair was everywhere, she also realized she was just in her bra and jeans. She was such an idiot.

"Kara are you ok?" he said quietly, his voice almost comforted her.

"No! Dammit! I Am Not Ok! Ok?" She screamed at him, maybe someone would hear her. For once, maybe, but she knew she wouldn't be heard; she was invisible.She realized she was taking out her own problems on him, but he shouldn't have ignored her. A snobby, good-looking, perfect, know-it-all is what Shuuichi Minamino was.

He looked down at her then at his watch. He was dressed in a maroon school uniform.

"Can you get ready in less then fifteen minutes?" He asked.

"Yes, why?" she glared at him teary eyed.

"Because I am forcing you to come to school with me. You can't possibly stay here in this condition," for once he was opening up to her, not the usual to-do list Shuuichi take care of the new girl.

She wondered how far she could push him, "Why would you do that? I could not stay here and sleep, eat, and cry my eyes out over my sucky life and you could go to school one more day in peace without having me to usher around, because I know how much trouble I am. So, see we could both be happy if you left me here. It wouldn't be a bad deal. I could stay in my hole and you could take that stupid attitude you have and shove it up yours," with that she stood up and pushed passed him into the bathroom and slammed the door, but then walked right back out remembering her bag was in the living room.

He laughed when she did this only stirring her misery further, " You have only ten minutes to get ready now so you'd better hurry. If you're not out at a quarter to eight I'll come in there my self." Shuuichi ordered.

Kara turned to glare at him through cat-like, emerald eyes "I hate you," she said flatly and walked to the living room.

Within 10 minutes she finished and had all her make up on she walked out wearing her most striking outfit yet. It was a purple and white cardigan wrap with a long sleeve shirt underneath and jean that were embroidered with glitter and beautiful patterns, to cover it all up a long purple fleece coat with fur on the cuffs. Her hair wasn't done though, what was she going to do? Shuuichi opened the door interrupting her thoughts.

"Time to go," he grabbed her hand. She didn't budge.

"My hair is not done, I can't leave the house like this!"

"Yes, you can," with that he pulled her out the door behind him and she had time to do was grab her shoulder bag off the counter.

At least her, hair was dry she thought as she stepped out into the cold, it stung her nose. Her dark hair was in a long curly mass and her green eyes caught the outside world with awe. Once again it was very early and hardly anyone was on the street.

"You like dragging your guests into the early morning cold don't you," she offered as the set off at walk down the sidewalk. She was being very frank with the boy, she still felt bad about what happened earlier.

A few shop owners were beginning to open up they were sweeping snow off the sidewalk or unlocking doors. They all greeted Shuuichi and Kara with good morning or hello's in Japanese.

"No, I just like to get where I am going that's all," he shrugged.

" I am sorry," she stopped and looked.

"Hm. About earlier? What on earth were you doing?"

She blushed, " going take a shower. When I woke up I thought--- well, I thought I was home again and that this never really happened and my dad wasn't getting married. I was half way asleep really. I was so angry, I took it out on you after I realized it wasn't just a dream."

He didn't say anything.

Kara laughed, he looked up at her in wonder, "Well, it was kind of funny. I mean I was crazy sleep- deprived girl with a plunger and you were a naked guy in the shower. It's funny," laughed again.

He smiled an amused smirk, "that's easy for you to laugh about, you being the assailant. I think I have a bruise and by the way that was my back you felt," she blushed red.

"Ok, well to make it up to you I will let me show you around."

" How is that making it up, according to you that taking you around causes me "trouble" and it would keep you from crying over your humdrum life," he turned to look at her.

" Look, buddy if you don't want to help me out, then fine just tell me now and I will hire some other sucker! But,I. Can't. Survive. Here. Without. Your. Help. So sorry to cause you sooo much trouble. These are stupid arrangements anyway. I'll guess I'll have to figure out away for my dad to ship me back to America. I should have stayed in bed, one more day without having to face reality. I hate it! I am always always stuck roughing it on my own! I am alone! I am destined for loneliness that's what I am!" she walked away talking and throwing her arms up in exasperation.

These words struck a chord with Shuuichi, it was an all to familiar and deep feeling." No, you are going to come with me and I will teach you how to live here. I will be with you till you don't need me any more no matter how long it takes. I promise you that," Shuuichi meant it.

"Thank you," was all Kara replied. She didn't really believe him, but she didn't deny him, in truth he did seem different. Maybe he would be there…

They continued on down the sidewalk.

They came to a very large school building with a large concrete wall surrounding it. They stopped at the gap in between that served as a gateway into the schoolyard. Just as they were about to enter a short boy with dressed in black stopped them in their path.

"Hello, Hiei. What is it now?" Shuuichi inquired in Japanese, Kara had not the faintest clue to what they were saying.

"Hn. The spirit detective and his idiot friend are currently in need of our services."

"What am I supposed to do with the girl?" Shuuichi wondered.

"I don't know! That's your problem you deal with it fox. I have other better things to worry about then babysitting humans," the boy replied icily with a cold stare from his crimson eyes. With that he was gone.

Kara's first impression of him was that he was funny looking, like some devil worshiping goth. She realized he was just rude it seemed and he gave kara a very dirty look before he disappeared. She didn't like him much so far (don't worry her out look will change).

Shuuichi turned to her. What could he possibly do? He would have to let her go home by herself. He wondered if she would be ok. She wanted to go home anyway he didn't think she would complain much. But what would he tell her?

" I am sorry, Kara. Something has come up I'll have to take you up on this offer some other time. It appears I have confused my schedule; I am very late. So you will have to walk home by yourself."

At this Shuuichi got the most terrifying green eyed death stare of his life, she slapped him and replied, " You are such a liar!" then turned and stormed off down the street leaving a very surprised wide eye boy in staring at her when till she rounded the corner and was gone.

In the blink of an eye, after watching her, he was gone just like the Hiei before him.