"Why do stars fall down from the sky,
every time you walk by?
Just like me, they long to be,
close to you."
-The Carpenters

Davina's final class of the day moved with a swiftness she had not anticipated—during the period, she found herself steadily growing more and more anxious about Shuichi's impending visit to her apartment. Perhaps her impulse to invite him over had been premature, even if it was only to study. He would enter the premises as her first official visitor—as excited as she was to have him all to herself, the idea made her nervous. There were a million things she could say or do to make a mess of things, and her brain, always a glutton for punishment, touched on a wide variety of them during time that should have been spent paying attention. Perhaps her mother was right—he was a distraction, and that could easily prove detrimental to her studies. Despite this, she wasn't willing to reconsider or rescind her offer—she would simply have to find balance in entertaining both. It might take a brief period of adjustment, but she would manage. It was worth the effort to keep his company.

It was a good thing he was willing to share his notes with her, for she failed to take more than two paragraphs worth during this final class that preceded her examination—while she was fairly confident she would do fine even without his assistance, given that the subject of sociology wasn't a particularly difficult one, she was grateful for it. A refresher certainly wouldn't hurt—she only hoped she'd be capable of paying the necessary amount of attention to the notes needed to retain the knowledge for the impending test. To know that he would be existing in close proximity with the added factor of privacy they had yet to really be afforded would no doubt inspire her to consider engaging in things other than studying, and those unspoken urges were things she would have to willfully ignore, despite the pressing urge to entertain them.

When class was finally dismissed, Davina immediately headed home—she quickly scoured her apartment, making sure everything was tidy, and then took a quick shower, changing into a comfortable pair of dark gray leggings and an oversized black sweater that exposed the cusps of her shoulders. To appear somewhat prepared, she collected the notebook containing her own notes and her sociology textbook and placed them upon the coffee table. She brushed out her lengthy copper hair and pulled it into a messy bun, and then quickly scrutinized her face in the washroom mirror, finding it acceptable. On a whim, she lit some candles, the potently sweet and spicy aroma of apples and cinnamon slowly flooding the living room.

Taking a deep breath to collect herself, Davina located her phone and sent Shuichi a brief message, announcing that he could head over whenever he was ready to do so. No return message appeared, which caused her to wonder if he would even show—but less than twenty minutes later, a firm knock at her door echoed throughout the small space of her apartment, announcing her companion's arrival.

Slowly, she made her way over to the door, opening it to reveal Shuichi's presence. His bag hung from his shoulder, and in his arm, he cradled a wide purple binder. He smiled down at her disarmingly, fixing her with a casual greeting, which she quickly returned, then stepped back to permit him entrance. Once he had crossed the threshold, she pulled the door closed behind him. Once he had removed his shoes in the tiny foyer, the pair headed into the living area and perched upon the couch.

"Here you are," he said, offering her the binder, which was heavy with the weight of the paper it contained. Davina accepted the item and flipped open the cover to reveal pages upon pages of detailed notes, all carefully recorded in his neat handwriting. Upon a quick scrutiny, she realized that they perfectly matched her current class curriculum and sighed with relief.

"You're a lifesaver," she offered with an appreciative smile.

"Happy to help," Shuichi replied, appearing rather pleased with her accolades. He reached for his bag and withdrew his advanced chemistry textbook, along with a spiral notebook, and placed them down on the coffee table alongside Davina's materials.

"Before we jump in, did you want something to drink?" she asked softly, reminding herself to play a proper hostess and see to her guest's needs. "Coffee? Tea? Water?"

"Tea would be wonderful."

"Black, green, or chai?"

"Surprise me."

Davina nodded and rose to her feet, placing the binder down before heading over to the small kitchen. She withdrew two mugs from the overhead cabinet and turned the coffee maker on to make hot water as she liberated two chai tea bags from the nearby shelf and placed them in their respective cups. Once the water was prepared, she generously filled the vessels, allowing them time to steep as she returned to the living room and reclaimed Shuichi's binder, flipping through the pages until she came upon the notes she would need. Her companion was already engrossed in his efforts, comparing the information he had personally collected to that offered by the book, his eyes racing over the pages with impressive speed. He didn't even look up from his work when she returned back to the kitchen to claim their tea, and Davina had to clear her throat to glean his attention as she came back and held out his mug for him to take.

"Thank you," he offered in turn, shooting her a grateful smile before returning to his notes. Davina reclaimed her spot on the couch and delved into her own studying. The better part of the next hour was had in comfortable silence as the pair concentrated on the task at hand—the information Shuichi had provided proved to be quite useful, easily providing the knowledge she needed to fulfill the voids within her own collective. Davina was feeling quite confident now, her familiarity with the content assuring that she would earn a high grade on her impending test. A soft growl echoed forth from her belly, announcing to the world that she was starting to get hungry. Shuichi was still absorbed in his books—she decided that it couldn't hurt to fix a quick meal for them, moving quietly as not to distract him.

Returning to the kitchen, Davina got to work, deciding on making something simple—she opted for a vegetable stir fry, accompanied by some udon noodles and pan seared chicken. In the half an hour it took her to prepare their meal, Shuichi did not stir, moving only to turn a page or cross reference his notes. Once the food was ready, she approached him slowly, reaching out to lightly touch his shoulder—the subtle contact startled him out of his study induced trance, and as if by some deeply buried instinct, he lashed out to seize her wrist with his hand, squeezing her with surprisingly firmness. A gasp of surprise escaped her lips, prompting him to immediately drop the iron clad hold he had on her.

"My apologies," he said quietly, looking both contrite and concerned in the same instant.

Davina swallowed hard, trying to shake off the shock that had been born of his swift and concise movement—he moved as if he had been anticipating an attack. The realization prompted questions, all of which she knew better than to ask. Instead, she fixed him with a small smile in an attempt to diffuse the situation, hoping to diminish the sudden tension that had blossomed.

"No worries," she offered, her voice laden with a calmness that did not match her internal feelings. Her wrist throbbed briefly, but she did her best to ignore the sensation. "I'm sorry for interrupting you, but I made some dinner, in case you're hungry." He appeared surprised at her explanation, his brow quirking at her unanticipated offer.

"Actually, I am quite famished," Shuichi admitted after a long moment of silent consideration, sounding somewhat sheepish. "That was kind of you to go through the trouble of cooking…"

"No trouble at all," Davina replied, gesturing towards the kitchen. "Why don't you take a little break and grab a bite to eat?"

As if on cue, a soft growl echoed forth from Shuichi's belly, causing Davina to chuckle.

"I do believe that I will," he responded, smiling at her mild mirth. Shuichi placed his materials atop the coffee table and rose to his feet, stepping over into the kitchen. He eyed the spread of food with obvious pleasure, grabbing an empty plate from the counter and fixing himself a generous helping. "This looks wonderful, Davi. Thank you."

She felt her cheeks grow warm at his praise, her smile widening. "It's nothing amazing, trust me." She began to fix her own plate as he relocated to the tiny dining table that sat abreast of the kitchen, and waited for her to join him. They began to eat, and after a few bites, Shuichi smiled over at her appreciatively.

"It's delicious," he offered, claiming another mouthful of chicken with his chopsticks.

"I'm glad you think so," she replied, feeling her face become heated once more, even as her gaze fell onto the food in front of her. In truth, she took pride in her cooking—she had learned from an early age, and her skills had only improved with time. Her father liked to say that the way to a man's heart was undeniably through his stomach—it was a timeless adage that seemed to be fairly accurate. However, she hadn't learned how to cook out of the need to impress anyone, but rather, to be capable of surviving on her own. Her abilities had certainly proven to be useful—she couldn't flirt to save her life, but she could prepare one hell of a damn decent meal.

The rest of their supper was had in pleasant silence, until both parties were delightfully full. Shuichi had cleaned his plate, and had even gone back for seconds—she had cooked plenty, and there was still enough remaining to fill a small container to serve as leftovers for later.

Having eaten his fill, Shuichi sat back in his chair with a sigh of contentment. Davina rose to her feet and collected the empty plates, placing the dirty dishes in the sink before packing away the remaining food. She had just placed the container within the fridge when she heard the water being turned on in the sink, and turned to glance over her shoulder curiously. Shuichi stood there at the counter, making ready to wash the soiled dishes.

"You don't have to do that," she protested, only to be met with a stern stare.

"You were nice enough to cook," he argued mildly. "In the very least, I can clean the dishes for you."

"But you're my guest," she retorted, despite being more than happy at having the chore taken off of her hands. She hated washing dishes, almost as much as she hated folding laundry—she would often get scolded as a child for keeping a basket filled with clean clothing within her room. She was notorious for picking out the articles she needed when dressing, rather than folding or hanging them and putting them in their respective homes. It was a habit that had irked her mother endlessly, and while Davina had overcome it as an adult, she was still loath to complete the chore when it came around. Back at her home in Denver, doing the dishes simply meant rinsing them and loading them into the dishwasher, but here in her small apartment, there wasn't the luxury of one. But she had to protest, if only to remain courteous.

"And as your guest, I would like to do the dishes," he replied firmly, leaving no room for further discussion. Davina conceded with a sigh, smiling in spite of herself.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome—you should go get a bit more studying done while I clean up."

"Honestly, I think I'm good—your notes were quite helpful."

"Glad to hear it. I'm nearly done myself. Just have two more sections to touch up on—I'll finish up when I'm done with this."

She nodded her agreement, and then returned to the living room, where she closed up his binder and returned her own books to their respective places. After some consideration, she decided to grab her sketchbook and drawing materials from her desk within her bedroom—an idea had come to her while she had been tidying up, and the urge to sketch it quickly followed. Davina returned and, after placing her items down atop the coffee table, lowered herself onto the floor and made herself comfortable. She swiftly turned to a blank page, not wanting to catch sight of her most recent addition to the book, lest it upset her. With a graphite pencil, she began to sketch, quickly losing herself in her work. Even when Shuichi had returned to his previous spot after finishing tidying up the kitchen, Davina failed to acknowledge his presence, focused on her current task.

With a deft hand, she drew her grandmother's birdfeeder in the prime condition of which she could recall from her childhood, populated with the birds she could remember visiting as she and Eri watched from afar. Several oriental greenfinch and a pair of daurian redstart were among them—carefully, she added pastel color to give them their appropriate hues. She had just begun to add in a tree sparrow when the sudden pressure of a curious stare was felt upon her. Davina paused in her efforts and looked up, immediately meeting Shuichi's inquisitive gaze.

"You have quite a talent," he offered softly, fixing her with an appreciative smile. It was then Davina realized that his books were no longer taking up residence on the coffee table—he must have finished with what remained of his studies while she had been concentrating on her drawing. Immediately, she felt sheepish, ashamed that she had failed to notice him sitting there, awaiting her attention.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you," she replied quietly, quickly putting down her pencil. "I take it you're all done studying?"

"No need to apologize," he replied swiftly. "I was enjoying watching you work, if I'm being honest. And yes, I do believe I've prepared enough. I can always give my notes another once over just before my exam, if necessary."

Davina nodded her head and then made it a point to check the digital clock on her phone. "Well, it's only 7:34—did you need to be getting home or did you want to hang out for a bit longer? You're more than welcomed to stay, if you like." Secretly, she hoped he would opt for the latter—she wasn't ready for their evening together to end, but ultimately, it was Shuichi's decision to make.

"I'll hang around for a while longer," he announced after only a brief moment of hesitation. Davina found herself smiling at his response, happy to have the pleasure of his company for a bit more.

"Want to watch a movie? Or perhaps a TV show?" she asked, unsure of what else to suggest for an activity.

"A movie sounds fine. I'm not much for television," he admitted quietly. "Why don't you pick something out for us to watch? I just need to run to the restroom for a moment before we start." She nodded in silent agreement and then rose to her feet, venturing over to the shelf that housed her severely downsized collection of DVDs. Shuichi left the couch to take care of his needs, and Davina poured over the movie options she had on hand, unsure of what title to select. Most of the movies she had brought with her for the move were quite an odd collection, consisting mostly of crime dramas and horror, with the occasion saucy comedy thrown in for good measure.

She had little idea what would appeal to Shuichi when it came to the available choices—it was hard to think of him as someone who would enjoy cheesy horror films or a salacious story driven by sex fueled jokes or references to indulging in illegal activities. Something in the sci-fi genre could have sufficed, but her current offerings on the subject were next to none. Several animated movies were among the titles, and after some deliberation, Davina selected one of her personal favorites, Howl's Moving Castle, in its original Japanese format. She wasn't sure if Shuichi would approve of her choice, but in light of things, it seemed the best option. She only hoped he wouldn't think her childish—but then again, he was best friends with Kazuma, whom she knew from previous conversation owned a collective of anime so vast, it would make even a seasoned collector envious. So hopefully, he wouldn't think less of her for it.

Shuichi returned just as she was slipping the disc into the DVD player, and he quickly reclaimed his place on the couch. After asking if he needed anything before they began and his subsequent refusal, Davina perched him next to him and reached for the remote as she settled in. When the title screen came into view, she glanced over at her companion, curious as to his reaction to her choice. He met her stare almost instantly and smiled warmly.

"I hope this is okay," she offered as she clicked the play button. Shuichi nodded his head, but remained silent, his visage not alluding to much of anything. She took his lack of a negative reaction at face value and placed the remote back down upon the coffee table before leaning back and relaxing into the comfort of the couch as the movie began to play.

. . .

When Shuichi received the correspondence from Davina that he had been eagerly anticipating, he quickly gathered up the things he would need, abandoning the efforts he was already making in studying in order to make the venture over to her apartment. He took his time, not bothering to reply to her invitation as he repacked his school bag and placed the binder he had offered to bring for her atop it, lest he forget. After quickly freshening up, Shuichi hit the door, slowly making his way through the mere block or so that separated them. He climbed the stairs to the second floor of her building and fixed her door with a firm knock to announce his arrival, the purple binder containing his old sociology notes carried within the nook of his arm.

Several seconds later, the door swung open to reveal his companion, and he couldn't help the smile that formed on his lips at the sight of her. She looked comfortable in her current wares, her ginger hair pulled back in a loose tie, with several wayward locks falling free to frame her face in an endearing manner.

"Hello," he said quietly, meeting her eyes as she returned his greeting, then took a short step back to allow him to enter her apartment. He moved inside, walking past her to slip off his shoes in the tiled foyer, taking in the sights and smells of these new surroundings. Hers was a small space, but clean and inviting—the faint smell of apples and cinnamon lingered in the air, a scent he found pleasant and inhaled deeply with appreciation. Shuichi allowed her to take the lead after she closed the door, and followed her into the living room, which was little more of a space than his bedroom, and furnished simply with a gray couch, low rise black coffee table, a trio of short, matching bookshelves, heavy with a collection of novels, and a mid-sized flat screen television that was perched atop them. The materials she needed in order to study were already laid out on the coffee table—they claimed the couch, and Shuichi held out his binder for to her take.

"Here you are," he announced, watching as she accepted the heavy article and began to peruse it, a large sigh of reprieve escaping Davina's lips upon her realization of how thorough his notes were.

She fixed him with a wide smile of gratitude, relief clear across her diminutive features. "You're a lifesaver."

"Happy to help," he offered with satisfaction as he reached inside his bag to withdraw his own books and added them to the surface of the coffee table. She offered him a drink, and he eagerly accepted, watching subtly from the corner of his eye as she ventured into the tiny kitchenette that stood just alongside the far end of the living area—he began to leaf through the pages of his notes as Davina prepared their beverages, quickly loosing himself in the consumption of information. It was only the minute sound of her clearing her throat several minutes later that gleaned his attention, and he accepted the steaming mug she held out to him with a small smile of appreciation, thanking her for the kindness. She returned to her previous position on the couch and took up the binder to begin her own efforts to study. Shuichi relocated his previous spot, and picked up from where he had left off without hesitation.

Time passed in a rapid manner as their read their respective texts—Shuichi's mind devoured the information provided by his notes, finding that he recalled nearly everything he would need for his impending examination with ease. In truth, he hardly needed to study at all, as his memory was nearly unprecedented and he had no trouble at all in retaining such knowledge. But it was a habit, one ingrained within him from a very young age during his span as a human, and he knew he had to maintain appearances, in the very least. At some point, he vaguely noted Davina leaving their shared space, but thought nothing of it. A little while later, a subtle, but delicious aroma flooded the apartment—it was because of this smell that Shuichi realized he was starting to get hungry, but he ignored the urge, moving onward to the next page of notes that contained in-depth formulas for specific calculations.

He failed to hear Davina as she approached him on nimble feet, and when he felt a hand touch the curve of his shoulder, he lashed out in surprise, grabbing the wrist of the unseen entity and squeezing it harshly, prepared to break the bones of his unanticipated attacker. Only when a pained gasp of surprise reached his ears did Shuichi immediately release his steely grip, his eyes swiftly moving upwards and meeting her own. The look of utter shock on her face, coupled with the stern press of her lips prompted concern—for a split second, Davina appeared terrified, a realization that made him feel awful. He hadn't intended to frighten her—his reaction had simply been one born of deeply seated instinct. Given who and what he was, one could never be too cautious.

"My apologies," he said softly, desperately wanting the fear that had blossomed behind her eyes in that instance to dissipate. He overheard the sound of her swallowing hard, as if she were attempting to gather her faculties.

"No worries," she replied calmly, but Shuichi knew that her statement lacked sincerity. "I'm sorry for interrupting you, but I made some dinner, in case you're hungry." Her unanticipated offer of sustenance surprised him, prompting him to quirk a curious brow in her direction.

"Actually, I am quite famished," he responded, opting to overlook the moment of sheer awkwardness he had caused in favor of moving on in a more pleasant direction. "That was kind of you to go through the trouble of cooking…"

"No trouble at all—why don't you take a little break and grab a bite to eat?"

As if summoned by the idea of food, Shuichi's stomach let out a tiny groan—the noise caused Davina to laugh softly, and Shuichi couldn't help but smile, realizing that their previous moment of tension had been forgiven.

"I do believe that I will," he said, returning his books to the coffee table before rising to his feet and making his way over into the small kitchen. He eyed the small spread of food with curiosity, eagerly claiming an empty plate and covering it with an impressive amount. It was a simple meal of stir fried vegetables, chicken, and noodles, but the looks and aroma of it had his mouth watering with anticipation. "This looks wonderful, Davi. Thank you."

"It's nothing amazing, trust me," she replied, but the sound of pleasure in her voice was unmistakable. She moved to make herself a plate as Shuichi ventured over to the tiny dining table that sat along the wall at the opposite side of the kitchen, claiming a spot for himself but waiting for her to join him before digging in. When she approached, they began to eat—much to Shuichi's satisfaction, it was scrumptious—the fact that she knew how to cook only served to further impress him. It had come as a shock to discover that many of the females he had been involved with prior were not skilled in the kitchen—it seemed strange to him, for he had learned how to cook alongside his mother from a very young age, and it was such a necessary ability when it came to one's own independence.

Shuichi had never understood the excuses given over the matter, either—it wasn't difficult to follow a recipe, especially when the step-by-step instructions were provided. He was aware that certain exceptions did exist—there were people who couldn't boil water without burning down the kitchen, but they were far and few in between.

"It's delicious," Shuichi announced after swallowing another bite, and delving back in to claim another morsel with his utensils. His belly had thankfully grown quiet, content with his current position.

"I'm glad you think so," Davina replied, her pale cheeks suddenly growing a soft shade of pink.

The remainder of their meal took place in comfortable quiet. Shuichi was happily full by the time he conceded, resting his chopsticks atop his empty plate after he had returned to grab a secondary helping. He relaxed back in his chair, sighing happily. Davina rose to tend to the kitchen, snatching up their soiled plates and placing them within the sink before turning her attention to securing the food that remained. While she did this, Shuichi left his seat and ventured over to the sink to take care of the dishes. It was a force of habit, really—he felt that the person who had cooked the meal shouldn't have to deal with the dirty dishes that followed. There were plenty of nights where he had to see to the completion of both tasks due to the late hours of both his mother and stepfather's work schedules, but on the evening where one or even both of them were at home, the division of duties held true.

Shuichi reached for the sponge, pouring a generous amount of soap onto the surface before holding it beneath the rushing water to produce plenty of suds. He was reaching for the first pan when Davina interrupted his efforts.

"You don't have to do that," she announced, sounding almost embarrassed. He shot her a hard stare, ignoring her decree of protest as he began to scrub.

"You were nice enough to cook—in the very least, I can clean the dishes for you," he offered in a stern tone.

"But you're my guest," she sputtered sheepishly.

"And as your guest, I would like to do the dishes," he retorted, and heard her sigh in defeat, internally smiling at his small victory.

"Thank you," she said plainly, sounding strangely relieved.

"You're welcome—you should go get a bit more studying done while I clean up," he instructed, placing the now clean pan within the empty dish drainer and reaching for the pot.

"Honestly, I think I'm good—your notes were quite helpful."

He was satisfied with her statement, and content with himself for holding onto the old notes that he should have long discarded. He hadn't expected them to come in handy once he had completed the course, but they certainly had.

"Glad to hear it. I'm nearly done myself. Just have two more sections to touch up on—I'll finish up when I'm done with this," he replied, dropping the sponge into the sink as he raised the pot up to the water to rinse away the soap. After a brief moment, he heard her return to the living room, feeling her presence lessen as she put distance between them. He turned his full attention onto the task at hand, and, in just about ten minutes time, he finished up the dishes, even going as far as to wipe down the counters and the dining table before returning to the couch.

Upon his return to his previously occupied position, Shuichi was quick to notice that she had exchanged her study materials for art supplies, and was currently indulged in creating—he couldn't help but watch her for a lingering moment, silently impressed with the ease in which her hand maneuvered over the page of her sketchbook. So engrossed in her existing task, Davina did not seem to notice his presence, her eyes drawn to the paper before her as her nimble fingers danced across the blank space with a graphite pencil. There was something hypnotic about the way she moved, her face locked in an expression of calm concentration. Shuichi forced himself to pull his gaze away from her, once again reaching for his class materials and quickly returning to his previously abandoned chapter.

A mere half an hour, he completed the last of his study efforts, satisfied with his progress. Quietly, he collected his books and returned them to his bag, his attention once again drawn to his companion—she was drawing an ornate bird feeder, occupied by a number of exquisitely detailed birds. Shuichi watched as she abandoned her pencil in exchange for pastels, painstakingly adding in little bursts of color, adding life to the dark lines she had laid out upon the page. He remained silent, not wishing to interrupt her efforts—there was something relaxing about watching her lost in her element, and he felt a sense of calm wash over him as he continued to watch her creation blossom. After some time, Davina glanced upwards at him, no doubt having finally noticed the presence of his curious eyes.

"You have quite a talent," he said, his words accompanied by a warm smile. She appeared surprised for a brief moment, her eyes widening at the realization that his books were no longer taking up residence in his vicinity.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you," she offered quietly, her tone apologetic as she lowered her utensil. "I take it you're all done studying?"

"No need to apologize," he retorted quickly, hoping to quell her feelings of contrition. "I was enjoying watching you work, if I'm being honest. And yes, I do believe I've prepared enough. I can always give my notes another once over just before my exam, if necessary."

Swiftly, she reached out for her phone, glancing down at the time.

"Well, it's only 7:34—did you need to be getting home or did you want to hang out for a bit longer? You're more than welcomed to stay, if you like." Her words were conversational, but there was a hopeful pang behind them that spoke volumes—she wanted him to stick around, of that, he was certain. The evening was still fairly young, and Shuichi was in no rush to conclude their interlude, so he accepted her invitation to linger.

"I'll hang around for a while longer," he responded favorably, which triggered a pleased smile to perch upon his companion's lips.

"Want to watch a movie? Or perhaps a TV show?"

He could think of several things he'd like to do with her, all far less innocent than that of what she suggested. But he'd happily settle for curling up on the couch beside her, able to enjoy the newfound closeness between the two of them while they took part in her offered activity.

"A movie sounds fine. I'm not much for television. Why don't you pick something out for us to watch? I just need to run to the restroom for a moment before we start." She quickly nodded her agreement and rose to her feet, approaching the nearby shelf to make a selection while he removed himself from the couch and headed towards the bathroom. He took his time, relieving himself and washing his hands before giving himself a quick once over in the mirror that hung above the sink. The evening was going even better than he had anticipated, and the thought of what could come next had his mind titillated with eager possibility.

He reappeared just as she fed a disc into the narrow slot of the DVD player, returning to the couch and situating himself.

"Do you need anything? Something to drink?" She offered, to which he quickly shook his head no. Carefully, she lowered herself into the vacant spot beside him upon the couch, leaving a small valley of space between them as she reached for the remote. When the title screen revealed itself, he wasn't necessarily surprised at her selection—in truth, he wasn't a huge fan of cartoon animation. Kazuma had attempted on multiple occasions to entice him with the genre, but it just didn't appeal to him. He really didn't watch a great deal of television, and when he did, it was mostly documentaries and science fiction, with the occasional drama (primarily on behalf of his mother's preferences) thrown in for good measure. Shuichi could feel her curious stare, and responded with a kind smile, not wanting her to feel out of place

"I hope this is okay," she said quietly as she tapped the play button on the remote. He nodded his head, but kept his face stoic. She placed the remote back down upon the surface of the coffee table, and reclined back into the soft plush of the couch as the film commenced.

As the movie progressed, Shuichi silently admitted to himself that it wasn't entirely what he had been expecting—the story was actually quite captivating, and she had been kind enough to select a film in his native language. While he was familiar enough with the English language to get by, her consideration for his comfort was endearing to realize, and he found himself appreciating the effort she had made to pick something he too could enjoy. What he didn't appreciate, however, was that gap of space that separated them—it was only several inches, but enough to keep them apart. He decided that such a thing didn't suit him, and made it his intention to close the distance by casually putting his arm along the back cushion of the couch to open himself to her. His movement, although subtle, did not go unnoticed.

Davina's gaze darted to the blank space for a moment, then reached up to meet his own, mild curiosity blossoming behind her hazel eyes. Shuichi didn't expect her to take the invitation, believing her to be far too shy to be so forward without a request of some sort, so he obliged by gesturing with his other hand for her to scoot closer.

Davina hesitated, but slowly did as she bid, navigating herself into his space. The length of her thigh pressed pleasantly against his own as she settled in, and he couldn't help the tiny smirk of satisfaction that came to rest upon his lips as she slowly rested herself alongside him. The faint scent of her sweet perfume once again kissed his nose, prompting him in inhale it deeply, and the warmth that radiated forth from her body was a welcomed sensation. She surprised him by gently resting her head against his shoulder, a bold maneuver that he knew was impulsive on her end, but one he was grateful for. While she was tense upon first contact, he could gradually feel her relax as she adapted to this new closeness. After some time had passed, Shuichi rested his cheek against the crown of her head, enjoying the softness of her hair as it tickled his skin. A little contented sigh escaped her at the contact, and Shuichi felt himself smiling—they spent the remainder of the movie in such a position, snuggled up together in silent ease.

As the movie came to a conclusion and the ending credits began to scroll across the screen, Shuichi lifted his head from its comfortable perch, allowing her room to reposition herself. Their eyes met and they shared a simultaneous smile, a soft flush of heat suddenly coloring Davina's pale cheeks. She opened her mouth to speak, only to be interrupted by a sudden ding—the noise quickly claimed Shuichi's attention, and he snatched up his phone, curious as to whom might be texting him at such a late hour. The message was from his mother, curious as to when he would be returning home—it was nearing ten, and it was in that moment Shuichi realized he had failed to correspond his plans for the evening with her prior to leaving for Davina's apartment. He typed up a swift response, apologizing for his lapse in communication and assuring her that he would be in shortly, and placed his phone back down upon the coffee table.

"Everything okay?" Davina inquired, her tone mild, but face awash in concern.

"Of course. It was my mother—I may have forgotten to let her know that I was going to be home late. She was just checking in," he replied quickly. Her visage calmed at his explanation, and she smiled softly.

"I hope I didn't get you into trouble by asking you to hang around," she offered quietly.

"Not at all," he assured her without hesitation. "I'm the one to blame—it must have just slipped my mind." Truly, it had—he had been anticipating their rendezvous so much, he hadn't focused on much else. "Unfortunately, I should be going. It is getting rather late."

Davina nodded in agreement, and slowly rose from the couch. He followed suit, grabbing up his satchel and slinging it over his shoulder. Together, they approached her door, pausing for a moment for Shuichi to slip into his shoes.

"Thanks again for sharing your notes," Davina said, reaching for the door knob and pulling it open before stepping aside to allow him room to move past her.

"Happy to help—thank you for dinner, and for a lovely evening," he replied, pausing in the doorway to glance back at her. A mild chill hung in the night air, and the smell of nearby damp earth immediately filled his nostrils—it had rained during their time together, and the outside world was covered in a mild sheen of the remaining condensation.

"I'm glad we got to spend some more time together," she offered, absentmindedly tucking back a stray lock of copper hair behind the cusp of her ear.

"As am I."

"Would you mind sending me a quick text when you get home? Just want to make sure you get there in one piece."

Warmth washed over him once again at her request—she was so genuinely sweet. Her continued concern for his well being, while unnecessary, was truly endearing. He could certainly get used to such a thing.

"Certainly. Good night," he said in farewell, making his exit and heading for the stairs. He hesitated at the top of the stairwell, glancing back over at her thoughtfully.

"Would you like to make the trip to school together tomorrow?"

His request seemed to surprise her, but she was quick to react.

"I'd like that," she responded with a smile.

"I'll see you in the morning, then. Sleep well."

"Good night, Shuichi."

He made his way down the stairs, making it to the bottom just in time to see her close the door. On swift feet, he began to make his way over to the sidewalk that would take him to the crossing, but he had barely made it half way to his destination before he heard Davina's voice from above, calling his name. The unexpected sound startled him, and he paused, glancing over his shoulder and staring up at the direction in which her voice had hailed from. She stood on the second floor landing, his phone clutched in her hand.

"I think you may have forgotten something," she said with a teasing smirk, amusement clear in her voice. Sighing at his forgetfulness, Shuichi spun around on his heel and made his way back to the building. She was half way down the stairs as he approached, so he waited at the bottom for her to arrive. But as she descended, Davina misjudged one of the stairs and fell forward, unable to regain her footing. With swift action, he lunged forward to catch her, breaking her fall and preventing what would have been a nasty spill. He helped her right herself, and although her face turned a vivid shade of red with embarrassment, she smiled widely.

"That was almost bad," she offered with a nervous chuckle, handing him his forgotten device. "Thanks for saving me from eating the pavement."

"Glad I could be here to catch you," he teased, chuckling at her candor as he pocketed his phone. Once again, they shared goodbyes, and she turned around to make her way back upstairs while he began his short commute to the sidewalk, stopping briefly at the crossing to look back. Davina had disappeared into her apartment during his venture, and he sighed softly to himself as he continued onward in the direction of home.

. . .

From an unseen perch just abreast of Davina's apartment building, nestled carefully within a cluster of dense bushes, the creature sat, it's large, onyx eyes watching curiously as the pair parted. The male, despite bearing the scent of a human, was heavy with potent demon energy—there was no mistaking the sensation of his powerful aura, and the realization struck a deep chord of fear within the creature's heart. At first glance, he appeared friendly with the wayward princess, but that did not mean there wasn't some sinister plot afoot. The creature's mistress had charged him with the task of keeping a close eye on the girl—her safety was vital, and this man could very well be a threat to her wellbeing, even if he wore the guise of a friend.

The creature waited patiently for the male to retreat, keeping a watchful gaze on him as he crossed the street and continued on his way. More time passed, if only to make absolutely certain that no threat of discovery lingered. On swift feet, the creature emerged from hiding, racing off in the direction of the park from which it came, taking care to stick to the cover of darkness. Upon its return, it dove immediately into the lake from which it emerged, swimming to the bottom as the pitch black waters swallowed it, leaving only a minute splash in its wake.

The portal awaited the creature, glowing brightly even in the presence of the dark waters, humming with foreign energy. It slipped within, barely able to breach the tight space, and, with great effort, pushed itself onward. Its mistress was eagerly pending its return, and the creature did not wish to keep her waiting.